QT Sharing (16 Apr(

Scripture Reading: JOHN 21:15-19


Jesus Reinstates Peter

15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

18Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

3 times Peter denied Jesus. And 3 times Jesus questioned Peter, "Do you love me?" The response was "I love you." From his words, we can see that Peter really loved Jesus or that's what we think. I truly believe that Peter really loved Jesus but not in the way Jesus would want Peter to love. If we are to read this book in its original language, which is Greek, the love used by Jesus was different from the love Peter replied. Jesus asked Peter if Peter agape Him and Peter's reply was he phileo Jesus. Agape in short is unconditioned love; the ultimate love; the divine love of God towards His Son, human beings and believers. Whereas, Phileo means to have an ardent affection and feeling or also defined as brotherly love. From the definitions, we can see that Phileo has fallen short of Agape. So when Jesus questioned Peter, Peter's reply was always short of the expectation of Christ.

This is something we really have to think, or even more so reflect upon. No doubt we do love God. But what kind of love. "Yes we love God but............." or "Yes we love God (full-stop)" I know we can never reach the dimension of being able to exercise Agape love but are we just contended where we are. Are we feeling comfortable, saying that "I am giving enough love for God."? We need to have a reality check on where we are. We should always strive to love God more everyday. Our God is an Agape God, a God of grace and He will still accept us even when our love fall short of His expectation, just like in the incident of Peter. However, we should not take this for granted and the more we should move towards the direction of Agape. In this story, Peter never met the expectation of Agape. However, later, after Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, he was filled with Agape love, serving others with his life and eventually the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom. (P.S. I am not suggesting martyrdom so to reflect our Agape love for God)
The second part to this is that when our reply to God is that we love Him, His reply to us is to 'feed His sheep.' Who are His sheep? Simply put, the sheep are His people. Much earlier on, when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, His reply was 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' - Matt 22
We love our God and do we love our God's sheep?

Lord! Forgive us when our love has fallen short. Forgive us when we turn our eyes away from You. And thank You for Your Agape love for us. Help us in our daiy life to love You more. Help us also to love Your sheep more each day. May my life be a pleasing sacrifice to You!