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by: ZigfredDiaz
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Word Count: 704

Those words could be said by lovers in this month of hearts. However such words were not said by one lover to another, rather they were uttered by our Lord Jesus Christ as written in John chapter 21 verses 15 to 17.

The passage is somewhat a familiar one among Christians. However I believe that most christians has not fully grasped the meaning of the passage for failure to closely examine the meanings of the words used by Jesus Christ.

The story begins with Jesus and Peter having dinner. During that time, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him to which Peter replied in the affirmative. Jesus told then told Peter to "feed my lambs."

Later on Jesus ask Peter again the same question to which Peter gave the same reply. Jesus told him to "Feed my sheep."

Jesus asked Peter again the third time the same question. However the verse says that "Peter was grieved" and instead of replying in the affirmative, he simply told him "Lord thou knowest." To which Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep."

Several people believe that Peter was grieved because Jesus repeatedly asked if he loved him. But I believe there is another reason why Peter was grieved.

To fully understand the passage let us take a closer look at the word "Love" as used in the text.

At the first instance, when Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, the word used by him is the koine greek word "agapao." In other words the intensity or weight of the love that Jesus was talking about is a pure or ideal kind of love, such love that would be willing to die for another person. In other words Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him so much to the extent that Peter would die for him.

Peter answered him "Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." The word used here by Simon Peter is the greek word "Phileo" which only refers to a love with a lesser degree than agapao. Phileo is the word used for "brotherly love." Christ asked Peter if he loved him to the extent that he is willing to die for him, but Peter replied in the negative by offering only "brotherly love."

The second time around, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him using the same word "Agapao" to which Peter answered with the same word "Phileo."

The third time around, when Jesus asked Peter if he loved him he did not use the word "Agapao." The word "Phileo" was used by Jesus. In other words the brotherly love that Peter has for Jesus was even questioned by him. In short Jesus asked Peter if he even truly loved him as a brother.

Now we can see the real reason why Peter was grieved. It was not because he was asked three times by Jesus if he loved him. Peter was grieved because even his brotherly affection for our Lord was questioned by no less than Jesus himself. Having no answer, Peter just humbly told the Lord that He knows everything already.

In all of the three instances after asking Peter his commitment of love, Christ always ends the conversation with Feed my lambs once and feed my sheep twice. He was telling Peter that it is not enough that you say you love. You must demonstrate your love by action. That is to feed His lambs and the sheep. The lambs and sheep here being referred to are the followers of Christ.

The lesson that we can learn here is that we need to ask ourselves, do we truly love Christ. Do we love him to the extent that we are willing to give up our lives for him? We might not be able to fully understand this because we live in a free country and we are free to worship God. But what if we are tortured for Christ? Are we willing to die for His name ?

But to prove our love for him, we do not have to be tortured for our faith. All we have to do is demonstrate our love for him by being a good example to other Christians, discipling them and helping them grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

About the Author

Zigfred Diaz may not always blog about love meanings everyday but he regularly blogs about how to invest in the Philippine stock market, financial management, investments, as well as other informative topics Why don't you visit his blog today ?

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