John 21:15-17 - KJV
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
There was a sermon in my church today about unconditional love. What the pastor had to say really made me think about what kind of love I give to others. The question was:
What conditions of love do you place on people?
It's a really big question, and one to be brutally honest with oneself. I've learned it is important to acknowledge these faults we have when "loving" one another, and to know what kind of "love" we are giving and showing so that we can correct it.
Loving God's way is best, isn't it?
What can we do to change our ways of love with a hardened heart? The only way I know to do that is through prayer and let God change our hearts to love unconditionally.
If you have read earlier on in John you would have noticed that Simon Peter had denied Christ 3 times. Notice in 15-17 that Jesus asks Simon, son of Jonas (John), if he loves him and asks Simon Peter this 3 times as well. Also notice that Jesus uses Simon's given full name as if a parent would. It kind of sounds like he's in trouble
But Jesus wanted to Simon Peter to say it 3 times because he had denied Jesus that many times.
the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
Here, Simon Peter says that Jesus knows all things, and grieved about him asking a third time probably because he knew Jesus knew about his denial.
When Jesus says "feed my sheep", I think He means to feed the unconditional love to people; when His body expires, His teaching will continue to spread through His disciples.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
There was a sermon in my church today about unconditional love. What the pastor had to say really made me think about what kind of love I give to others. The question was:
What conditions of love do you place on people?
It's a really big question, and one to be brutally honest with oneself. I've learned it is important to acknowledge these faults we have when "loving" one another, and to know what kind of "love" we are giving and showing so that we can correct it.
Loving God's way is best, isn't it?
What can we do to change our ways of love with a hardened heart? The only way I know to do that is through prayer and let God change our hearts to love unconditionally.
If you have read earlier on in John you would have noticed that Simon Peter had denied Christ 3 times. Notice in 15-17 that Jesus asks Simon, son of Jonas (John), if he loves him and asks Simon Peter this 3 times as well. Also notice that Jesus uses Simon's given full name as if a parent would. It kind of sounds like he's in trouble
But Jesus wanted to Simon Peter to say it 3 times because he had denied Jesus that many times.
the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
Here, Simon Peter says that Jesus knows all things, and grieved about him asking a third time probably because he knew Jesus knew about his denial.
When Jesus says "feed my sheep", I think He means to feed the unconditional love to people; when His body expires, His teaching will continue to spread through His disciples.