[061]. A Message From A Poem – Do You Love Me More Than These?

[061]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM – DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

How sound is our love? How enduring is it? How sturdy is it – does it flicker on and off like some lights? Is your love for the Lord, your Saviour, prepared to go to a martyr’s death?

The inspiration for this poem came from that incident in John on the shore of Tiberias. {{John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.”

John 21:16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

John 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things. You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”}}

Some think Peter was grieved because the Lord asked three times and Peter’s denial was three times. “More than these,” is speculated to be more than love for the fishing. It certainly is not comparing Peter’s love with that of the disciples. That would be monstrous. That may be so that it was the three times, but there could be a greater reason I think many of you will know. It concerns the Greek words for love. We are looking at “phileo” and “agape”.

(The Greek characters may not work in the formatting). In verse 15, Jesus asked, “Do you LOVE Me” ??ap?? (from the strong word for love – a sacrificial love). Peter answered, “You know I LOVE You.” f??? (the word for a friendship love). Peter felt he could not measure up to that strong love the Lord used.

In verse 16, Jesus asked again, “Do you LOVE Me?” ??ap??. (Strong word for love). Peter replied this way, “Yes, Lord, You know that I LOVE You.” f??? Peter used the same word for friendship love. He could not get to the deep word for love.

In verse 17, Jesus asked the third time, “Do you LOVE Me?” f??e?? (from f??? ). Jesus reverted to the friendship word for love that Peter was using. Peter responded, “You know that I LOVE You.” ( f??? ) Peter answered with the same word again. Then he was grieved. It is suggested that he was grieved that the Lord have to drop to the lesser word for love because Peter felt he could not measure up.

Does our love measure up? One verse, small, but so important (NASB) – {{1 John 4:19 “We love, because He first loved us.”}} The AV inserts a “Him” in there – We love Him.

Why did the Lord chastise the Ephesian church in AD 96? Here is the reason – {{Revelation 2:4-5 “BUT I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU, THAT YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first, or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place - unless you repent.”}}

I hope you enjoy the poem.

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DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

Peter, do you love Me more than these?

More than you may love these men?

More than all these fish that please?

Peter, do you love Me best of all?

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Peter was distressed at what he heard.

Jesus set the benchmark high.

Thoughts of loyalty were stirred.

Peter promised once for love he’d die.

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Thrice the question to him Jesus led,

“Do you love Me more than these?”

“Lord, I love You,” Peter said -

But the lesser word for love he used.

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Christian, do you love Me more than these?

Where are your desires set?

Do you heed My loving pleas?

Christian, what would your response then be?

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Christian, is your love mixed clay and steel?

Christ commands your highest love.

Love for Jesus must be real,

Matching His own selfless sacrifice.

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Things of earth are temporal at best.

Time will see them all as dust.

Not in them should your love rest.

Love’s affection on them will be lost.

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More than these? How measures up your heart?

Set affections on what’s Christ’s.

Set your love for Him apart.

He is worth far more than you can give.

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14 October 1999 R E Ferguson 9-7-7-9