Episode 140 "Do you love me more than these?" - John 21:15-17

John 21:15   When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

The time had come for Jesus and Peter to have a heart-to-heart talk. In verse twenty, it appears that Jesus and Peter had gone for a walk alone. Yet, the disciple whom Jesus loved was following some distance behind. 

If you recall, it was Jesus who gave Simon the name Peter. (John 1:42) So, it’s interesting that he now addresses him, three times, as “Simon, son of John.” It seems to me that this makes sense in keeping with Jesus’ purpose for this conversation with Simon Peter. Jesus understood his shame and the emotional turmoil Peter seems to be experiencing. I believe Jesus is meeting Peter where he’s at emotionally and spiritually. In that turmoil, Peter had made a choice to go fishing; back to his roots. It was something that defined him up to the point where Jesus called him. So, by addressing him as Simon, Jesus is speaking to him as the fisherman he had called to follow him. 

Each time Jesus addressed him as Simon, he questions Peter’s love for him. It’s not that Jesus doesn’t know the answer to the question. Jesus is using this opportunity to restore Peter into this relationship and teach him what Jesus wants him to do. The first time he asked, “Do you love me more than these?” This evokes the question, “Who or what are these?” For as long as I can remember, I’ve assumed that he meant “Do you love me more than these other disciples love me?” Throughout the past few years of following Jesus, Peter seemed to assert that he did love Jesus more than the other disciples loved him. He expressed that he was more faithful to Jesus and would die for him. (See Matthew 26:33) Yet, when standing outside at Jesus’ trial, he denied three times that he even knew Jesus. Given his actions in contrast to his words, it’s entirely possible this is the intended meaning. However, it could also mean, “Simon, do you love me more than you love your friends and fishing? Do you love me more than the life in which you are so comfortable?” Perhaps John wants to leave us wondering. Maybe the ambiguity is there for a purpose. 

However it is to be understood, Jesus explained to Simon that if he loves Jesus, Jesus is giving him responsibility and a purpose higher than that of fishing. Furthermore, as we’ll see in the next episode, there will be a cost to him in being completely devoted to that mission.

There is an interesting tidbit of information in the Greek text of this story that the first two times Jesus asks Simon this question, he used the word “agapao” for love. Some have suggested that word is the deeper, committed kind of love. Yet, when Peter responded to Jesus he says, “Yes. I love you” the word translated love is “phileo”. It is often described as meaning “brotherly love.” In other words, it might appear that Simon cannot bring himself to use the so-called stronger word “agapao” in responding to Jesus. Then, the third time Jesus asks Simon “Do you love me?” the word “phileo” is used by Jesus as though he is telling Simon, “OK. I’ll use the same word” you are using. A number of scholars have argued this is primarily a stylistic variation and that the words are not all that different. However, since John so often has a purpose in the little details he provides throughout this book, I think there could be something to this little game of words. It seems clear from the context here that Jesus understands where Simon is at. In fact, in Simon’s last answer to Jesus’ three questions, he doesn’t just say, “Yes Lord. I love you.” He says, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” (v. 17) Did you see that? Peter says, “Lord, you know everything.” Peter is confessing that Jesus understands Peter’s love better than Peter himself does.” The repetition of the question “Do you love me” and Jesus accommodating Peter’s own shame or insecurity breaks Peter and that is what needed to happen. Peter’s pride was evident and Jesus needed to address it. 

Each time Peter affirmed that he loved Jesus, Jesus responded with “Feed (or tend) my sheep.” I don’t think Jesus was concerned about whether Peter was the bravest among the disciples. Jesus' point is that his priority for Peter is to serve and nurture those who would also follow Jesus leading them in a life of obedience to the Lord. 

Humility and obedience to serve others are critical to the mission to which God has called us. Trust that Jesus knows everything and pray that he will guide and sustain us as we feed his sheep.

Episode 135 - "Peace be with you" - John 20:19-23

John 20:19   On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

What a day! Their teacher and Lord had been crucified a few days earlier and his followers might wonder if the people responsible for that would be coming after them next. Then, Mary Magdalene showed up immediately after the end of the Sabbath and reported that Jesus’ tomb was empty. Peter and John ran off to investigate this and came back talking about what they saw at the tomb; the grave clothes lying there and the orderly scene. Would the Jewish leaders be coming after them accusing them that they had stolen the body? That would be a very real concern.  They locked the doors to inhibit anyone from walking in.

While they were there together, Jesus appeared in the room with them. I can only imagine the thoughts that were running through their minds. Jesus’ first words to them were “Peace be with you.” (v. 19) How they needed that message. Jesus knew exactly what was going on in their minds and was aware of their fears. He also knew they were questioning their own senses. So, he showed them his hands and side to provide evidence this body they were looking at was real and was the one on the cross and put into the tomb a few days earlier. They were not seeing a ghost or a figment of their imagination. Jesus had physically risen from the dead and yet was not prevented by locked doors and walls from being with them. Furthermore, the first thing he wanted to give them was peace. He said it again, “Peace be with you.” 

According to John’s account, Jesus did not field questions about his resurrection or anything else. Instead, he focused on the purpose he had for the disciples. They needed his peace because he had a mission for them they were to follow. He said, “As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” (v. 21) Throughout this entire book, John has reported that Jesus was neither doing nor teaching anything on his own behalf. He was only teaching and doing what was given to him by his heavenly Father. The mission of his disciples is to continue taking God’s message and doing the work that God is sending them to do. 

How would they be able to do this? They were just blue-collar workers, average people. The answer lies in what Jesus did next. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus had been telling them this was going to happen. Back in John 16 he spoke of sending them the Advocate who is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) Now is the time when Jesus is initiating this sending of the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

This passage has created no end of controversy among believers who get confused about Jesus giving the Holy Spirit here and the account of the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Personally, I don’t take this as two different acts of God giving the Holy Spirit. As I see this, God has sovereignly orchestrated this chain of events to best teach and prepare Jesus’ disciples for the ministry He has in mind for them. Jesus taught them about things to come. Yet, people don’t always fully understand what others are teaching us. This happens often between parents and their children. Parents teach the children things that the child cannot fully understand. But, if the child understands the parent loves them and looks out for their best interest, they “accept” it to a measure of belief. Later the child may experience something when that teaching is more understood and appreciated. That happens because of the context of the experience and now the child’s trust in the parent’s advice increases because they realize the wisdom that was offered to them and that the parent was looking out for them. 

In the same way, this recent trauma of experiencing Jesus’ death and now his resurrection is beginning to sink in with everything Jesus had been teaching them. Now is the perfect time to reiterate his mission for them and to give them the Holy Spirit to help them accomplish this mission according to what Jesus had already taught them. They are now more prepared to understand and accept this mission. Jesus had the authority to give them the Holy Spirit. Yet, it would be a little longer before they experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit. God’s plan was to accomplish that in its own perfect timing at Pentecost when they would boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus and thousands would respond. 

Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, what should they do or say? What was this mission? I think that’s what verse 23 is about. Jesus added, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Jesus’ death on the cross is about the forgiveness of sins. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) Jesus’ death has made it possible for the sins of mankind to be forgiven. That is truly good news! Some have argued that this statement is only for the apostles, that this is an apostolic privilege. I disagree. In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus said to pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Luke 11:4) As followers of Jesus, we should forgive the sins of others understanding that we are simply spokespersons for the Lord. It is the Lord who forgives them. 

In summary, let us receive the peace given by Jesus, walk by means of the Holy Spirit, and communicate to others the forgiveness of sin against God available to us through the perfect sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross.

Episode 115 - Sanctify them in your truth - John 17:12-19

12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Does anything sound familiar in the first few words here? “I have kept them . . .I have guarded them.” Earlier in this chapter, Jesus says, “They have kept your word.” The word “kept” is from the Greek word “tereo” which means to keep or guard. A secondary meaning is “to cause a state, condition, or activity to continue, keep, hold, reserve, preserve someone or someth” (BDAG). I suggested that it showed the importance of keeping or guarding Jesus. If this secondary meaning is more the intended nuance, then it’s speaking of the importance of continuing to follow Jesus. In verse 12, the same word is used to speak of Jesus continuing to keep them in “your name” (speaking of the Father). 

But, then Jesus adds in verse 12, “I have guarded them.” Isn’t this the same thing? What is Jesus saying? The word in Greek translated “guarded” is “phulasso” meaning, “to protect by taking careful measures, guard, protect.” (BDAG) This is different, isn’t it? The disciples have continued to follow Jesus and keep him and the message he has given them. Jesus has also continued with the disciples. He did not give up on them when they had a lapse in their faith. Neither will he give them up when, in a short amount of time, they will abandon him during his darkest hour. But, the word “phulasso” seems to indicate that Jesus’ guarding was providing protection over his disciples. My suspicion is they have no clue as to the measure that Jesus is guarding them; not just physically, but spiritually. 

Jesus then adds that he has not lost any of these disciples the Father has given him except “the son of destruction.” Who is this? Does this indicate that Jesus’ failed to guard this one? First, it would seem that the most obvious candidate is Judas Iscariot. Back in John 6:70, Jesus told the disciples that he had chosen them and yet one of them was a devil. Time revealed that Judas was looking out for himself. He was not keeping Jesus’ words. It’s also that same verse that helps us understand that Jesus knew one of them would betray him. He even knew who it was because he revealed the identity of that one to John prior to Judas going out to betray Jesus. Jesus did not fail with Judas. Jesus said of this one who was lost, “that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (v. 12) In other words, Jesus is saying there was prophecy, probably Psalm 109, in which David speaks of a treachery against him and cries out to the Lord. As a Messianic figure, David’s words are considered prophetic. After Jesus’ ascension, the apostles decided to replace the position Judas had held as an apostle and interpreted Psalm 109:8 as prophecy that they should fill this position held by the treacherous Judas Iscariot. In summarizing, God knew Judas would betray Jesus and it was foretold and then fulfilled. 

Jesus makes a few requests on behalf of his disciples. First, he wants their joy to be fulfilled. Second, he wants the Father to keep them from the evil one while they remain in the world. Finally, he requests that they are “sanctified” (set apart for a purpose) in God’s truth. 

One of the great questions of life is “Why am I here?” Another way of expressing this is “Is there a purpose for my life?” If Jesus’ prayer for his disciples applies to us as it did them, which I believe it does, we need to understand that our identity is in Christ and not of this world. Yet, Christ has sent us into the world, set apart in God’s truth for the mission of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to the world. We can trust that while the world will hate us for this, we are ultimately under the Father’s sovereign will and care. Nothing can happen to us apart from God’s will. In following this mission will our joy be fulfilled. 

A GREEK - ENGLISH LEXICON of the NEW TESTAMENT and other EARLY CHRISTIAN LITERATURE

— THIRD EDITION —

(BDAG)

revised and edited by

Frederick William Danker

based on

WALTER BAUER’S

Griechisch-deutsches Wörterbuch zu den Schriften des Neuen Testaments und der frühchristlichen Literatur, sixth edition, ed. Kurt Aland and Barbara Aland, with Viktor Reichmann and on previous English editions by W. F. Arndt, F. W. Gingrich, and F. W. Danker

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS | CHICAGO AND LONDON