So much was happening that last day in the city of Jerusalem. Maybe they missed it! The constant refrain of Jesus’ teaching the last night they were together!
Time and again, He steered their lengthy discussions back to the subject on His mind. Love!
Beginning from the Last Supper in John 13, until He was taken by the mob to be crucified, love was the focus of His last words to them. It is love, above all other things, the Teacher wants to emphasize to His students.
Read John 13 through 17 again. Notice how many times Jesus initiates a conversation about love. Observe how easily the students are sidetracked and ask questions that go in a different direction.
See how tolerantly their Teacher allows them to get off topic. He patiently answers all their questions. But above all, note His persistence in returning to the thing He wants them to understand as He is about to leave them!
Love!
And here again, the Teacher returns to that most important lesson for His students.
Three times He asks Peter:
Do you truly love me more than these?
Simon son of John, do you truly love me?
Simon son of John, do you love me?
Today, this is still the question on the heart of the Teacher for every student!
Love sent Jesus into the world. In love for us, Jesus lived and died. And it is His love in our hearts that validates our relationship with Him.
We may ask other questions. Become distracted by numerous ideas. But always the Teacher calls us back to the question: Do you love me?
Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Our english doesn't do this passage justice.
ReplyDeleteAgape was a word meaning unconditional love.
Phileo meaning brotherly love.
Jesus asked Peter - do you Agape me
Peter responds, I phileo you
Again, the same.
The third time Jesus asks, do you phileo me?
Then Peter was hurt.
At times I have wondered if Jesus was asking if Peter really loved him like a borther because he was unwilling to say he loved him unconditionally. Yet someone else pointed out that while today we view unconditional love as being the deepest form of love, that in the Greek language and culture phileo was considered a more true love than phileo.
Regardless, denny was right. the teachings of John 13-17, all Agape - unconditional love. even if Peter thought he was responding with a deeper form of love - as a brother (phileo) Jesus, the teacher, was trying to get them to understand that Agape - unconditional love - was what he desired.
How are we at showing agape love for our brethren?
How are we at showing Agape love to the world?
Jesus showed us His agape love while we were still sinners.
How are we following Him in Agape love?