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February 14, 2005
Do you love me?
Have you heard this question on this special day? It seems so cold so distant. “Do you love me” just seems like it should be said in spite and scorn or in desperation and anxiety. How do you take a question like that? If you do really truly love then what follows should be the declaration the pronouncement of your affection and commitment. But what if you just learned what love was? Would the question then give you pause?
Lounging around the fire after a big breakfast everyone was getting sleepy. It had been a long dark wet night and with warm food in their stomach’s sleep seemed to be the logical next step but, they just laid around enjoying warmth of the fire and the early morning sun. The conversation lulled and the laughing subsided into a comfortable silence when Jesus turned and looked at Peter and asked that question. Peter was half asleep and the answer seemed obvious to him. "Yes, Lord," Peter replied, "you know I love you." But Jesus was talking about a different kind of love. He had given the world a fresh look at what love truly was and now the question carried so much more weight then it would have earlier. He needed to prove a point, he needed to convince Peter, he needed to explain. So, he commissioned him as a Shepard and asked again “Do you love me?” Peter was a little confused so he turned over and looked at Jesus this time answering more deliberately: "Yes, Lord," Peter said, "you know I love you." Jesus smiled and again called him to service. But he had to hammer his point home. Peter was so instrumental in his plan, he need to push the envelope. He needed for Peter to feel the sting and realize the reason for his questioning. He had to take these commands with deadly sincerity. So finally he called to him again: "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter spun slowly in the soft sand and sat up looking painfully at Jesus. At last he understood. The waves lapped the shore peacefully and sunlight played through the trees dappling the scene with soft patches of light. Peter’s eyes filled with tears. He extended a rough calloused hand and took hold of Jesus shoulder as a single tear followed the crags at the corner of his eye, seeped down his weather beaten face and onto his ragged grizzled beard. His voice cracked in a hoarse whisper: "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you." He said slowly. Jesus slipped his hand alongside Peter’s face and called him once more. He was right... Peter finally knew what love was.
Posted by paul at February 14, 2005 11:57 AM
Comments
I love this passage!
Thanks, Paul, for the narrative - its like being there, seeing all the subtleties.
God has given me my "Peter" moments where he drives home a point - sometimes painful but always loving.
Posted by: wendy sue at February 14, 2005 02:19 PM
I love this passage too.
The first two times Jesus asks whether Peter "agape's" (unconditional, sacrificial love)him. Peter answers that he "phileo's" (has a fondness for) Jesus.
The third time, Jesus ratchets down the stakes and asks if Peter phileo's him and that's when Peter is hurt.
I think Peter remembers the last time he was asked three questions. And how his actions then didn't live up to his words before, that he would die with Jesus. So now he's choosing his words more carefully. He's learning to be honest with the Lord. And the Lord is willing to use weak, fallable honest human beings, like Peter, in the lives of other weak, fallable human beings.
As a weak, fallable human being, I find that encouraging.
Posted by: Different Dan at February 14, 2005 04:44 PM
Wow. Great entry.
Posted by: Megan at February 14, 2005 06:51 PM
Dan, I have heard that explination of the love words before; but yesterday I read a different take on it:
Agape is a choosing love, yes sacrificial, but heady and intellectual while Peter kept call his love for Christ phileo love, brotherly love with a closeness, an intimacy.
I am still working out what that means.
Granted I did get my info from Easton's Bible Dictionary of 1897 (http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/dictionaries/dict_meaning.php?source=1&wid=T0002322) but hey its interesting to look at it the other way. I am not sure that I can except this new way of looking at things when I have heard it the other way so many times. :)
Thanks for all of your thoughts. This is one sort of life passage for me.
Posted by: paul at February 15, 2005 10:43 AM
brilliant.
it just occured to me that this is the point of my message for this friday.
Posted by: matt at February 17, 2005 10:58 PM
yeah, I know. ;)
Posted by: paul at February 19, 2005 11:31 AM