Gentle Jesus

If you would, please stand as we say together our memory Scripture for this quarter:

Matthew 6:31-33

“Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

And our memory refresher Scripture is …

1 Peter 3:15

“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Please open your Bibles to John 21:15-25

In the Bible we see many facets of Jesus.

We see Jesus worshiping the Father and often in prayer

We see Jesus at the temple or in a synagogue on the Sabbath

We see Jesus weeping

We see Jesus teaching

We see Jesus experiencing compassion

We see Jesus debating

We see Jesus angry

We see Jesus as a prophet

We see Jesus as the coming King and judge of all

But today let’s take a look at what I call the Gentle Jesus

And, with that in mind, let’s go ahead and read John 21:15-25

In the past few weeks we have taken a look at loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and how that is the path to a holy life.

We also looked at Agape love, which means to love unselfishly to the point of sacrifice versus self love which was the problem in the church in Corinth in the Bible and a great problem in many of the churches around the world.

And, today we read in this passage Jesus asking three repetitive questions about Peter’s love for Him and what Peter’s responses were.

In an English translation of the Bible we see that the word “love” is used seven different times. But in the original Greek there are two distinctly different words being used here for love.

Two times the Greek word Agapao or Agape is used which means to love unselfishly to the point of sacrifice.

Five times the Greek word Phileo is used which means a deep affection for, as for a friend.

We have already read the passage from the NIV translation, now let’s hear it with phrases substituted for the Greek words for love …

John 21:15-17

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you have an unselfish love for Me to the point of sacrifice more your love for these others?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I have a deep affection for You, as for a friend.”

Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love have an unselfish love for Me to the point of sacrifice?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I have a deep affection for You, as for a friend.”

Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.”

17 The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you have a deep affection for Me, as for a friend?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you have a deep affection for Me, as for a friend?”

He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I have a deep affection for You, as for a friend.”

Jesus said, “Feed My sheep. - What an amazing passage, right?

I remember as a youth, reading this and thinking about how Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times and now Jesus was letting make up for the denials with three confessions of his love for Jesus.

Later on, probably in my teen years, I heard about the Greek meanings of the words being translated as love and I remember thinking, “There goes Peter, blowing it again!”

But my mind is changing about this and I’m thinking, “Is this just the Gentle Jesus rephrasing the question so that Peter in his weakness can get the answer right?”

You see, our fallible brother Peter had a habit of overstating his position!

In Matthew chapter 26 Judas has gone to betray Jesus to the Jews. The last supper has been completed and they are on their way to the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus will spend time in agonizing prayer, be betrayed into the hands of sinners and be arrested.

In Matthew 26:31-35 Jesus says to them …

“This very night you will all fall away on account of Me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”