John 21:15-25 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
The original text of the New Testament of the Bible is in Greek. The word love mentioned here uses two different Greek words, one is agape and the other is phileo. Agape is God’s love for man, it is unconditional, sacrificial love, and it is also man’s love for God in response to God’s love. Phileo is love between brothers. When the Lord Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” The word love used here was agape, and the word love Peter used when he answered was phileo, as he had denied the Lord three times, he felt that his love had not reached agape, so he used phileo, the word love used when the Lord Jesus asked Peter for the second and third time was phileo. Because Peter denied the Lord three times, the Lord Jesus asked him three times if he loved the Lord. When Peter said yes, the Lord Jesus asked him to shepherd the Lord’s sheep. The Lord also predicted what would happen to him when he was old. Peter was finally martyred for the Lord and was also crucified on the cross. He was crucified on the cross with his head down, he found it unworthy to be crucified head up same as the Lord. When Peter asked the Lord Jesus what would happen to John in the future, the Lord said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” The Lord said that if he wants John still alive when he comes the second time, what is that to him. John also said that the Lord Jesus did many other things that were not recorded in the Bible. If they were all recorded and written in books, the world would not have room for that. I hope that more people will believe in the Lord because of John’s testimony.
May God bless you and your family. 🙏😀
