Love Follows Series

Love Follows

Text: John 21:15-25, Luke 22:31-32

Last Sunday I said, God gives us very clear commands in His Word, and He expects us to follow them. They aren’t suggestions. And I said that God’s Word is authoritative for the simple fact that it is God’s Word. It’s from God. Those commands are from God. But there’s also another reason Jesus expects us to follow Him and serve Him. It’s the expectation of love. And by God’s grace, we’re going to see that today.

Let’s go to our text – John 21:15-25 (READ).

So they finished their fish breakfast and Jesus looks at Peter, and asks him a question. Let me read to you verse 15 once more, (READ)… so notice first off – Jesus doesn’t call him Peter. He doesn’t call him “Little Rock”. He calls him “Son of John”. His name is Simon, but during His earthly ministry Jesus had re-named him Peter, “Little Rock”, because of the amazing confession – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of God.” But in light of the recent events, Peter hadn’t acted like much of a “rock”, not even a “little rock”. Instead, he acted more like a fallen man, like his earthly father, than a born again child of God and new creation in Christ. But notice, Jesus didn’t call him “Simon, son of the Devil.” No… He did call the Pharisees that one time, but instead he says, “Simon, son of John.” It’s a mild rebuke. A loving rebuke. And then Jesus asks him, “Do you love Me, more than these?”

Now before I get into that, let me just back up a little bit and take you back to Luke 22:31-32 (READ).

So Jesus knew that Peter would stumble, and Jesus had later on told Peter, “Peter, you’ll deny Me 3 times before the rooster crows.” Jesus knew. Satan had petitioned to sift him. But I love verse 32 where Jesus says, “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. AND WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED AGAIN, strengthen your brothers.”

That’s the difference between Judas and Peter right there. It wasn’t that Peter was stronger, or better, or somehow able to pull himself up – it’s Jesus. JESUS IS THE DIFFERENCE!

And so, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love Me?” In the Greek, Jesus says, “Do you agapao Me?” In-fact He says, “Do you agapao Me, more than these?” Now some theologians have argued, that Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me more than you love these other guys?” And some have argued that Jesus asked, “Do you love Me, more than these other guys do?” I tend to take it in the first sense based on my reading of the Greek. Jesus asks, “Do you love Me more than you love these?” Probably pointing to the other disciples and maybe even to the boats, the sea and the fish. In other words, “Simon, do you love Me, more than you love your old life? Do you love Me more than your friends, more than recreation, more than pleasure?” And it’s Agape Love – unconditionally – without reservation. Sacrificially. Do you love Me in that way Simon?

And Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, You know that I phileo You.” And Jesus says, “Feed My lambs.”

Now phileo is not agape. You understand that right? Phileo is brotherly love. It’s to have a strong affection towards someone, to cherish them and hold them in high regard, and have a strong bond with them, but it’s not unconditional like Agape.

So Peter states that he has phileo for Jesus. Now this is a humbled Peter. Peter isn’t going to boast anymore. He’s not the same guy who said, “Even if they all desert you, I’ll die with you.” He’s not the same guy who said, “I’ll never deny you Jesus!” This is a humbled and broken Peter. And so he says, “Jesus I love you like a brother.” And Jesus says, “Feed my lambs.”

But then, verse 16, Jesus asks him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

So, first it was do you love Me more than you love these things? And Peter said, “Yes, I love you like a brother.” And Now Jesus says, “Do you love Me? – do you Agape Me?”

And Peter responds, “Yes Lord (So He adds Lord – In other words, King, Master, Ruler)… Yes Lord, You know that I phileo You.” And Jesus says, “Tend My sheep.” Now that’s a little more than feeding them. This word means to tend to them, to look after them, to watch over them, to protect them, and direct them. To lead them to pasture, to be a shepherd.

And then Jesus asks him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you Phileo Me?” And Peter was grieved. It hits Peter hard. He denied Jesus three times, and Jesus has asked him 3 times, “Do you love Me?” And I want you to get the whole picture here. This is the third time Jesus has revealed Himself to the disciples after the resurrection. Jesus hasn’t brought it up until now. But He commanded the disciples to go to a mountain, Peter got impatient and went fishing, so Jesus is sitting with His disciple, and He’s correcting him, through this process.