LOVING OR LIKING?

LOVING OR LIKING GOD?

John 21 [MKJV] … Then when they broke fast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love [agapao] Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love [phileo] You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. He said to him the second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love [agapao] Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love [phileo] You. He said to him, Feed My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love [phileo] Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, Do you love [phileo] Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things, You know that I love [phileo] You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep. …

  This morning I imagine the situation in John 21:

  Adrift without Jesus’ leadership the men were at loss as to what to do with themselves. Peter, still a very much think-last-feel-first kind of action guy, declared he wasn’t going to sit around moping, he was going fishing!

  Though working hard at the nets they caught no fish.

  In the early morning light a stranger shouted from the shore suggested they fish differently. Why did they listen to him? Was it that in despair and despondency we grasp at straws even from those we don’t know?

  They caught a lot of fish.

  Peter then recognized the man was no stranger, He was Lord Jesus. In his normal loud voice he declared so. Peter didn’t wait for overloaded slow boat to take him ashore. He leaped into the sea and moved the 300 feet or so to shore. (It doesn’t say the mode. Did he walk as once before?)

  Jesus invited them to breakfast as He had prepared enough food for all of them. Remembering the young men’s appetites after 3+ years with them, He told them to bring more fish from those they just caught.

  Peter and the others noticed an odd thing as they were retrieving some fish from the net. Though it would typically tear under such stress, it had not done so.

  At this point they wanted to hear Him say He was Jesus, but suffering a huge emotional shift from despair to delight, they did not do so.

  Then while the others listened Jesus asked Peter if he selflessly loved Him more than his pals and the comradeship, brotherhood, of fishing together? Exactly how much do you love me Peter?

  Peter responded saying he loved Jesus with great affection in regard to their close friendship.

  Jesus again asked Peter if he loved Him without reservation as to what would result from selfless love?

  Peter again responded as before; expressing his phileo for Jesus.

  Why was Peter so grieved? Because Jesus quizzed him 3 times about his love for Him? Or was it because Peter could not yet honestly say “I agapao You Lord!”

  That was then. This is now with question as to how many times must the Lord press us to get our attention? When He does so, is it to hassle us or to prepare us for the future with Him? Reading of Peter’s life I very much suspect the latter.

EBB4