LOVE vs love (Tell Peter! part 2)

April 8, 2021 (Thursday)

 

Peter had failed, fallen, and forsaken Jesus in the critical moment. In a false sense of bravado Peter had declared, “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.” [Matthew 26:35 NLT] Here’s the thing about the word “never:” it almost always guarantees you will do it.

 

So what happens to Peter now that he has denied Jesus three times? I am so glad you asked. There is an encounter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee with Jesus. After fishing all night and finishing with empty nets… kind of sounds like how Peter’s story began, eh?

 

After fishing all night and coming up empty Jesus tells them to cast the nets on the right side of the boat. The catch was so huge they couldn’t haul it in! Kind of like life. We live it alone we will come up empty. We live it with Jesus and the nets will be too full to haul in bounty.

 

They count the number of fish, 153. This must have been an amazing catch…. because they took the time and effort to count the fish. They were also surprised the nets did not tear. We read in John 21:14, “This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” [CEB] Despite having seen Jesus two previous times, Peter must have been feeling unglued in his relationship with Jesus. Let’s dig into the rest of the story.

 

“When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you LOVE me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” [John 21:15 CEB] Let this sink in. Jesus did not refer to him as “Peter” (the rock: see Matthew 16:18, John 1:42). I think it is notable that Jesus made it a point to call him “Simon.” [Disclosure: Jesus never directly addresses Peter as “Peter.”]

 

The name Simon takes Peter back to his pre-disciple status. I’m guessing that’s where Peter felt at this point. My theological take: God loves us and accepts us where He finds us. Notice there are two challenges to Peter in verse 15.

 

The first is “more than these.” Peter’s fake bravado was an attempt to place himself above the other disciples. In answering Jesus, Peter does not place himself above the other disciples. In fact there is another shade to the verse that doesn’t translate into English.

 

Jesus asked if Peter LOVED (agapao) Him. Peter could only say he loved (phileo). Jesus asked for the unconditional love. Peter was willing to offer brotherly/friendship love. Again Jesus questioned, “He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you LOVE me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” [John 21:16 ESV] Again Peter side steps the issue of unconditional love.

 

With the issue of placing himself above others settled, Jesus then asks about unconditional love. As Jesus narrows down the issue for Peter we see Peter void of any of his past grand delusions. His answer to Jesus is humble, but not exactly what Jesus is wanting.  

 

“He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” [John 21:17 CEB] Notice I didn’t bold the word “love” in this verse? It’s because Jesus switched over to phileo. It doesn’t matter to Jesus if Peter felt he could offer (or promise) unconditional love. Jesus was willing to take the brotherly/friendship type love. Point: everyone starts somewhere.

 

With three separate questions, Jesus rips Peter’s failed, fallen, and forsaken view of himself and his behavior down. You see, it’s not about IF we LOVE Jesus. It’s about HOW we love Jesus. That my friends is the question that changes everything. Jesus will take you as you are because loving Jesus will change everything. Loving Jesus will change you. One day you might be startled to realize you LOVE Jesus.