"Jesus said to Simon
Peter, Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these? He saidth unto
him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." John 21:15
When I was about 15 or 16, I heard a minister speak on this scripture. It had
always confused me. Peter clearly tells Jesus three times that he loves Him,
Jesus doesn't seem to believe him. I had always heard that Jesus asked Peter
three times because Peter denied him thrice. That could have been the case.
But the minister showed something deeper by examining the Greek text. I was so
impressed that the next week, I checked out a book on Greek from the library.
It was the start of my study of this ancient language. I would like to share
this explication with you.
First, lets review the story. It's after the resurrection. Jesus appears to
the disciples who have went fishing. They experience their second draught of
fish. After dinner, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me more than these?" Peter
says, "Yes, Lord you know that I love you." Jesus asks a second time and a
third with the same question followed by Jesus command to "Feed my sheep."
The key to understanding this scripture lies in two Greek words: Agape
and philios. The Word Agape refers to divine love. It is love
which is completely devoted and unconditional. It is not affected by the
moment or whether someone is attractive or if they give you a gift or make you
feel good. It is love which hangs in there regardless. It is love which gives
itself completely to another. It is total, self sacrificing love. Philios,
by contrast, is conditional Thayer's Lexicon calls it "an inclination prompted
by sense of emotion." Philios happens to you. Agape is a choice. Philios
is an emotion. Agape is a commitment.
With that in mind let's see what this scripture literally says in the Greek.
Jesus says to Peter, "Peter, do you love(agape)me in the most complete
way more than these?" And Peter responds "Lord, you know that I have affection
(philios) for you." Jesus is asking Peter if he has total devotion to
Him. Peter answers by saying, in essence, you're my friend. Jesus repeats the
question and gets the same answer. Finally, Jesus says, "Peter do you have
affection (philios) for me." And Peter is grieved because he
understands that Jesus is disappointed in him. And I can see Peter hanging his
head in shame and saying "Yes, Lord I have affection for you."
Today, Jesus asks that question "Do you love me?" And when we say, "yes," we
often mean, "Yes, Lord, I feel affection for you because things are going well
for me, and you give me good feelings, and you do things for me." But, that's
the natural philios love which demands nothing of us. But what he wants
to hear is "Yes Lord, I love you and totally commit myself to you even when
things aren't going so well. Even when I don't seem to hear any answers to my
prayers, I still love you and remain in your service. Yes, Lord, I want to
share your nature which the apostle John says is summed up in one word
AGAPE! (I John 4.8)