by Steve Hale
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My Sheep" ( John 21:17, NKJV).
Peter had denied our Lord three times, and was thus "sifted like wheat" ( Luke 22:31-32) by Satan. He even followed his denials by going fishing ( John 21:3)!
Why was Peter so grieved? His own guilt? Because Jesus asked Him this three times? Because he thought that this destroyed any future opportunity to be close to Jesus? I believe the answer is to all of these. Overtly, the text says:
"Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, Do you love me?" There is, however a little more to it than this. The first two times, Jesus asks Peter about his love using the root form for agape. Agape is the highest form of love. Itis the love Jesus had for us when He died on the cross. Both times, Peter declared his love, but used the root of philia, the highest secular use of the word love, but lower than agape.
The last time, Jesus asked Peter of his love using, not agape, but philia. In over words, Peter, do you evenphilia (love) me. Hence, Peter's grief was not only that He asked him three times, but how He asked him the third time!
Would you die for Jesus? Peter said he would, but rather denied him three times. Later, after seeing '" the resurrected Jesus, he did die for the faith ( John 21:18-19). How about us? Do we love Him? Is it agape (even to death) love, or philia (personal affection) love?
Don't play games, or evade the issue! Our obedience failures reflect failures of love ( 1 John 5:3).