The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Questioning God’s Greatest Commandment

After penning my previous reply I realized that I had not included something which I do believe is most illustrative and which indubitably seals the point, at least from where I am standing. However, due to the length of my previous reply I have chosen to simply addend it by this separate reply.

This pericope was one of the last things that John, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote in his gospel. There can be no doubt that what was written there was directly related to the event written elsewhere, e.g., Matt 26:31-25; Mk 14:27-31; Lk 22:31-34, where Peter foolishly, and hastily; he being impetuous at times, boldly stated that while all the other disciples might be scattered and hide when Jesus was taken and wrongly crucified, he Peter would follow Him to prison and even death. But Jesus rebuked him and prophesied that before the rooster would crow that next morning, Peter would deny him three times.

As you will hopefully notice, I have added the Greek words for 'love' used in the passage in their original forms. The reason for my doing so is because: a) they true meaning of the text cannot be grasped in the English translation, b) it is of crucial importance to understanding what this passage teaches.

1. The first time Jesus asks Peter if he 'loves' him, the word agape is used, i.e., 'Peter do you love me with your all more than these [other disciples]...?' And Peter responds by saying, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee as a friend.

2. The second time the question was asked by Jesus, He said, ' Simon, son of John, lovest thou me with your all? And Peter again replied, 'Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee as a friend'.

3. The third time Jesus asks Peter, 'Simon, son of John, lovest thou me as a friend'? And Peter, grieved in his heart because of what Jesus asked of him, replied, 'Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee as a friend'.

The first two times that Jesus asked Peter if He loved Him, He used the word "agapaw" [agape], that self-sacrificial love that has no boundaries nor any qualifications or restrictions. The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He used a different word, "philw" [philo], which most always has the meaning of a friend. This is a love which does have limits and is often controlled by self.

Now, the details of Peter's three responses to Jesus' three questions is quite interesting albeit very simple. He answered in an identical way each and every time... "I love You as a friend" using the Greek word "philw" [philo].

Here is the lesson that is most meaningful in regard to this subject of being able to "love God with your all".

1. The command to "love God" with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, uses the word agapaw [agape].
2. Peter initially thought he was capable of loving Jesus with that selfless, sacrificial, boundless love and elevated himself above all his brethren as the one who would demonstrate that love in the coming hours.
3. Peter learned in the most painful way that 'pride always precedes the fall'...that loving Jesus/GOD in the way which he thought he could and which God requires of him and all men was not in his possession. He was brought to the place that he had to be openly honest with himself and realize that he was but a poor needy sinner and his ability to live before God and love Him with his all was greatly limited.
4. The only reason that Peter was able to know himself as Jesus/GOD knows him and that he did not totally forsake Christ as did so many others is because JESUS LOVED HIM and prayed for him that his faith would not fail and he would return/revert epistrepho(Lk 22:31,32).
5. Every true believer's heart is torn apart when they read these two accounts of Peter's falling away before the crucifixion and his private conversation with Jesus after the resurrection. Why? Because they KNOW that they are a Peter in their very soul. They KNOW that pride lurks within them and rears its ugly head all too often. They think far too highly of themselves, their intellect, their self-esteemed accomplishments, their so-called good works and especially the quality and quantity of love they have for God. And further, every true believer KNOWS the pain that Peter must have felt as Jesus asked him if he truly loved Him with his all. For the truth about how a true believer really loves God is woeful.
6. But not is all pain and sorrow because of a true believer's limited love and weak faith, for the true believer's hope does not lie in himself/herself but in the LORD Christ Who loves them with an everlasting love and Who intercedes in their behalf and Whose Spirit dwells within them to guide, protect and assure them that they are not their own but belong to their faithful Saviour Who loved them and died in their stead.
7. Since Peter, one of the chief apostles admitted in all humility that he did not and could not love God "with his all", how is it that anyone could think that they could do what was impossible for Peter? Should not Peter's humility bred from adversity, embarrassment and shame, be an example to all who name the name of Jesus to not think too highly of oneself but to cast all one's hope upon the Christ Who is the source of all that is good, pure and lovely?
8. True biblical Christianity is NOT about "Oh, how I love Jesus..." but about "Oh, how God loves His own and sent His only begotten Son into the world to redeem them with His own shed blood and to sanctify them in the Spirit as adopted sons and finally bring them home to glory."
9. God demands that all men love Him with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. But that does not necessitate that All men, nor even one man has the ability to fulfill that command. In fact, it is God's will that no man has nor ever will love God in that way. But ONE has so loved God with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength and His name is Jesus. And with a love that Peter confessed, a love that hardly qualifies as that of a friend, we serve God in faithful obedience clinging to the LORD Christ whose love is then ours and thus acceptable to God.

No sir, you CANNOT love God "with your all" as long as you inhabit this mortal body and walk upon this earth. For you are at best a sinner. And what a joyous thing it is to know within oneself that they are a wretch, a helpless sinner, for it is of such that Christ came to save and to make His own.