BUT PETER, DO YOU LOVE ME?

Good day my most wonderful friends. Thanks for joining me again as we explore the Living Word together. Here in the U.S.A. we celebrate a holiday called Valentines Day. On this day, most of the men go crazy trying to come up with the most perfect gift for their sweetheart. I am sure that the flower, card and candy industry really get a boost during this time. Well, you know my thoughts on most of the holidays we celebrate. I say, "why not do this type of celebration year round?" Today we will look into how we can, each and every day, celebrate Valentines Day with our first love...Jesus. The conversation Jesus had with Peter, after His resurrection, will give us some clues. As always, let us pray.

Most Holy God, creator of all things, both visible and invisible, we lift up our hearts and voice to worship You. You are high above us and we humble ourselves at Your feet. Thank You for loving us and giving us life. Help us to love You and others. May we be found serving You with great faith at Your Appearing. Holy Spirit, please help us to understand the Living Bread which we are about to partake of. Give us courage to live in the days ahead. Day's which are full of evil and uncertainty. Fill the earth with Your Glory that all may know that You are God over all. In Jesus name we pray, that sweet covenant name............AMEN.

Are you ready? Then let's get right to it. Our flagship verse is found in John chapter 21.

Chapter 21

Fishing

1 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed "Twin"), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing." The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. 4 When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognize him. 5 Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?" They answered, "No." 6 He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens." They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in. 7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Master!" When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in by boat for they weren't far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. 9 When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it. 10 Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught." 11 Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn't rip. 12 Jesus said, "Breakfast is ready." Not one of the disciples dared ask, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Master. 13 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

Do You Love Me?

15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16 He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep." 17 Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You've got to know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I'm telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don't want to go." 19 He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, "Follow me." 20 Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. 21 When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, "Master, what's going to happen to him?" 22 Jesus said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you? You—follow me." 23 That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn't die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, "If I want him to live until I come again, what's that to you?" 24 This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate. 25 There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can't imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.

John 21:1-25 (MSG)

I Know this is a very long discourse, please bear with me. You wouldn't believe the wealth of treasure we can gleam from this chapter. Before we get into the conversation that Jesus had about Peter's love, let's look at a few cool things from this passage. First, the world not able to hold all the books about the doings of Jesus after His resurrection is mind boggling. Secondly, I always think it is funny how the disciple, John, always refers to himself as the "one Jesus loves." I bet that drove Peter crazy. You see how, after Jesus prophesied about Peter being crucified, that Peter wanted to make sure that John went through some hard stuff too. Pretty funny things to think about. Isn't it cool that the disciples were flesh and blood people with problems just like ours! I easily relate to Peter because he seemed to have a head strong nature with a lot of pride. Well at least until he was baptized with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. After that he was a new man all together, just as we are.

To properly understand what Jesus meant when He asked Peter about his love walk, we must first interpret a few words into their original language. Let's start with the word love. The original Greek which Jesus used in His first two questions to Peter is agapao. It means a deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle or duty. (It is a matter of the HEAD, a soul choice). The third time Jesus questions, and all three times Peter answered, the Greek word phileo is used. It means to be a friend to or to be fond of. Having affection for. (It is a matter of the HEART).

Now, let's look at the words sheep and lambs. The Greek word Jesus used for sheep is probaton. It means those belonging to the Lord, but are still the lost sheep of Israel. The Greek word Jesus uses for lamb is arnion. In this verse it is defined as young converts. The previous translations, with definitions, were found in Vines Expository Dictionary.

Notice that Jesus called Peter, Simon. Before Peter had the revelation of who Jesus was, he was called Simon Peter. We find that in Matthew 16:15-19. Well, we might as well turn there now. Besides, some of you, my dearly beloved, may not have the Word at your disposal.

15 He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. 18 And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. 19 "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."

Matt 16:15-19 (MSG)

OK, did you get it? Jesus, intentionally, called Peter by the name before his revelation. Why did Jesus do that? He knew it would dig deep into Peter's prideful nature. Jesus wasn't trying to hurt Peter, He was trying to prove a point. I can hear Peter talking to himself, saying things like: "Jesus, please, your embarrassing me in front of my buddies. Don't you remember? I was the one who (by the inspiration) of the Holy Spirit, first knew that You were the Christ." By the way, the rock that the church was to be built on was just that (and nothing more), revelation knowledge.

Peter was going crazy during this conversation with Jesus. At first, Jesus, used the word agapao to describe what He knew Peter would soon walk in. It is the same kind of love that God demands of us all. It is a choice. A choice to obey God and do what is right. Jesus used it twice on Peter. By then, Jesus knew that Peter didn't understand that type of love so He used phileo the third time. But it was embedded into Peter's spirit and he would remember it after he was baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days afterwards. I can still hear Peter, can't you? "But Jesus, you know I love you. Don't you remember? I was the one who walked on the water with you. I am the one who was at the Mount of Transfiguration. I was the one who cut off the soldiers ear when they tried to take you. I was the one, who just now, got out of the boat and swam to shore to be with you. You know I love you!"

Asking Peter the third time did not go unnoticed by anyone. Everyone there knew that it was Peter who denied that he knew Jesus...three times. Jesus also asked Peter if He loved Him more than his livelihood. His fishing. I bet we all have problems with that from time to time. I do. For instance, when I have a dire emergency, I get on my knees. I fast and pray. I do everything I can think of to get God's attention. I praise Him. I love Him. I stand on His Word (faith) about the situation. But, do I love Him the same when things are going good? Or do I just play the game when I need something? I believe this is an area we are growing in, especially as His Glorious Appearing nears. At the time, Peter couldn't agapao the Lord Jesus. But we can, at least those who are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is He who sheds God's Love (agapao) into our hearts and gives us the grace to, on purpose, love the Lord at all times.

Let's talk about sheep and goats for a moment. Do you need a break yet? Go ahead, take one because I know this is really getting long. But isn't it good to study to show ourselves approved unto God? The Living Bread is rich beyond description. OK, when Jesus used the word sheep the first two times, He was talking about those who belonged to the Lord, but were the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus was describing to Peter his calling. The purpose he was created for. After being filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter would be preaching the gospel to the house of Israel. And he did. On the day of Pentecost, he preached (full of the Holy Spirit) and over 3 thousand people were converted and added to the Kingdom. The third time Jesus talked to Peter about lambs. Here the word arnion was used. It means young converts. Jesus was also prohesying that Peter would be loving, tender and patient with the new converts while they grew in the things of the Lord. He would be humble. What? Peter humble? Yes, dear hearts. The Holy Spirit will take you and make a complete new and different person out of you. Check out I Peter 5:5-6. It says: "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." Way to go Peter. Way to go....Holy Spirit!

What do we do with this priceless information? How do we relate this to our own lives? What was Jesus telling Peter? He told him that to love Him is to obey Him. He told him that his focus should be always being ready to give an answer about the hope which was in him. He was to be a living epistle read of men. He would have to humbly care for and nurture those growing in the faith. So it is with us my dearly beloved. If you have not done so...let today be the Day of your eternal state with God. Repent of your sins and accept the forgiveness and love which was poured out for you on Calvary's tree. Make Jesus your Lord and master. Go on from there and ask God for the gift of the Holy Spirit. From there you will have the love of God in your heart. You will have God Himself living within you. Your spirit will then be able to willingly obey God. You will have power to be an ambassador of Good News unto others. So, what will it be for you and me? Shall we have the courage to answer the call? And what will that call be? For you and I the call from the Father will be this: (your name) DO YOU LOVE ME?