The Rest of the Story
John 21:15-17
15 When 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 sheep." (NIV)
16 Again 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."
17 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." (NIV)
Many are familiar with the above story,
very few are aware of what went on
in this conversation between Peter and the Lord,
and what the real message is.
Greek is a very precise language,
greek can say in one word..
what it takes a whole sentence to say in english.
For example the greek has two words for under.
One word for being under something stationary,
another word for being under something falling.
Greek has a word for something brand new,
and another for something made from something old.
The same with the word love.
In our language love is a generic word.
From the love God has for man,
to I love pizza, all the same word.
Greek has different words for love,
depending on the degree of affection.
agapao [Agapao] is the highest form of love,
the love God has for us,
the love between a husband and wife, etc.
phileo [Phileo] translated love in the New testament
is a lesser form of love,
better translated to like someone or something
or as some interlinier bibles translate it,
to have affection for.
The conversation between Peter and the Lord
has an amazing revelation if translated accurately.
The first time Jesus ask Peter, do you love me,
the greek word for love is agapao.
Peter replies with
yes Lord You know that I love you.
The greek word for Peter uses is Phileo.
The second time Jesus uses Agapao,
Peter replies with Phileo,
the third time Jesus uses Phileo,
and Peter uses Phileo.
The conversation if translated correctly
would read like this;
When they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
"Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"
[Speaking of the fish the disciples had hauled on the shore.]
Peter says to him, "Yes Lord, you know that I have affection for you."
Jesus says to him,"Feed my lambs."
A second time Jesus asks him,
"Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter replies, "Yes Lord, you know that I have affection for you."
Jesus says to him, "Shepard my sheep."
A third time Jesus asks him, "Simon son of John,
Do you have affection for me?"
Peter was grieved because Jesus had asked him a third time
and answered, "Lord, you know all things,
you know that I have affection for you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."
It was only a short time after Peter had denied knowing Jesus
on the night of the crucifixtion
and Peter was feeling pretty down on himself.
It's evident that the Lord was aware of this
because in Mark 16:7 the women that went to the tomb
to anoint Jesus' body were told by the angel
that Jesus had risen.
The angel told them to go tell Jesus' disciples
and Peter,
that he would meet then in Galilee.
The angel put an emphasis on Peter
to make sure that it was known that he was included.
Peter probably felt that he was not worthy
of being in the presence of the Lord,
much less to preach the gospel.
Peter had denied knowing the Lord three times,
Jesus told him three times to take care of his sheep
or on other words to preach the word of God
[feed my sheep].
Peter was always unstable,
not to say that he was crazy,
but that he was childish in his actions.
Jesus said that he was like a reed blowing in the wind.
You could always count on Peter to do or say something stupid.
After Jesus had finished talking with Peter
and telling him how he was going to die,
Peter looks over at John and says,
"Well what about him?"
Jesus replied, "If he remains until I come again,
what is that to you?"
In other words, it's none of your business
what I do with him, you do as I told you.
There is more in the New Testament
about failings of Peter than anyone else,
yet this is the one God chose
to preach the church into existence on the day of pentecost.
The more the spirit worked in Peter
the more he bacame the rock Jesus said he would be.
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
to God's elect, strangers in the world,
scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia,
Asia and Bithynia,
2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of
God the father, through the sanctifying work
of the spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ
and sprinkling by his blood:
grace and peace be yours in abundance.
3 Praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his great mercy he has given us new birth
into a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish,
spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you.
5 who through faith are shielded by God's power
until the coming of salvation
that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now
for a little while you may have had to suffer
grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that your faith--of greater
worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--
may be proved genuine and may result
in praise, glory and honor
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him;
and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him
and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
9 for you are recieving the goal of your faith,
the salvation of your souls.
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In verse 8 above you can see the amazement
that Peter had for the new converts,
how much they loved Jesus having never met him.
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