“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you LOVE me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.” Jesus said, “FEED MY LAMBS.” (John 21:15) [This is right after Peter and others caught a big load of fish after following the directions Jesus gave to them. Now Jesus spoke to Peter (who had just told the others that he was quitting the ministry and going back to fishing) the problem: Peter fished all night and caught nothing.] “Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you LOVE me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “TAKE CARE OF MY SHEEP.” (John 21:16) [Jesus was reminding Peter what his divine calling was, but more importantly revealing to him what it means to LOVE Jesus.] “The 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.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17) [Why was Peter hurt? The first two times Jesus said do you *LOVE me? (*ἀγαπάω, agapaō: A love of devotion regardless of the others feelings, godly love). Peter’s response to these first two inquiries was: Yes, Lord you know that I *LOVE you. (*φιλέω, phileō: an emotional love, dependent on another’s actions) now the third time Jesus says: Peter do you phileō me (do you even love me with an emotional love?] “Truly, truly, I say to you…when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (John 21:18) [It would be good for us to ask ourselves “Do I love Jesus with a love of devotion?” No matter what happens to me, or do I just love Him when good things happen?] [When Jesus was asked: ‘What is the greatest commandment?”] “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind.’ This is the FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT.” (Matt. 22:37-38) [So, I am convinced, after serving the Lord for these past 44 years, of the following:] “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39)
Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that:
NOTHING IS ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!
-Bill Stockham