If You Love Me

Jesus speaking: “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." ~ John 14:15-17a

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" ~ John 14:23​

Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, was very passionate, but he was also extremely impulsive, and, though he was sincere in what he felt, he didn't always follow through with what he said he would do. Yet, Jesus transformed his life and he became the first disciple to share the gospel message on the Day of Pentecost when thousands of people believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and received His Holy Spirit within them.

Subsequently the church was formed and began meeting together daily for teaching, fellowship, prayer and the breaking of bread. Yet, prior to Peter's transformation, he denied Jesus Christ three times when Jesus was arrested, put on trial, and ultimately was crucified on the cross. Once Peter heard the rooster crow, he knew that what Jesus had said would happen had come true, and he wept in repentance for what he had done.

Later, after Jesus had been resurrected, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." Jesus was asking Peter if he loved (Agape - God-like love) him and Peter responded that he friendship (phileo) loved him. Jesus asked again a second time to Peter if he (agape) loved him, to which Peter responded that he (phileo) friendship loved him. The third time Jesus asked Peter if he (phileo) loved him, to which Peter responded, "Lord, you know that I (phileo / friendship) love you." Jesus then responded to Peter, "Then, feed my sheep."

This song, thus, is based off this idea that if we love Jesus, we should obey and serve him by feeding (spiritually) his sheep.

If You Love Me / An Original Work / May 6, 2011
Based off of John 21:15-25

If you love Me, why not serve Me?
If you love Me, why not serve Me?
If you love Me, why not serve Me?
Won’t you feed My sheep?
Tell the world that Jesus loves them.
He died for their sins.

If you love Me, why not trust Me?
If you love Me, why not trust Me?
If you love Me, why not trust Me
To do what I say?
Give your lives to Jesus only.
Serve Him as your King.

If you love Me, I will bless you.
If you love Me, I will bless you.
If you love Me, I will bless you.
I’ll give you a crown.
When I come I will receive you
As My very own.

 
Jesus speaking: “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth." ~ John 14:15-17a

"Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" ~ John 14:23​

Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, was very passionate, but he was also extremely impulsive, and, though he was sincere in what he felt, he didn't always follow through with what he said he would do. Yet, Jesus transformed his life and he became the first disciple to share the gospel message on the Day of Pentecost when thousands of people believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and received His Holy Spirit within them.

Subsequently the church was formed and began meeting together daily for teaching, fellowship, prayer and the breaking of bread. Yet, prior to Peter's transformation, he denied Jesus Christ three times when Jesus was arrested, put on trial, and ultimately was crucified on the cross. Once Peter heard the rooster crow, he knew that what Jesus had said would happen had come true, and he wept in repentance for what he had done.

Later, after Jesus had been resurrected, Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you." Jesus was asking Peter if he loved (Agape - God-like love) him and Peter responded that he friendship (phileo) loved him. Jesus asked again a second time to Peter if he (agape) loved him, to which Peter responded that he (phileo) friendship loved him. The third time Jesus asked Peter if he (phileo) loved him, to which Peter responded, "Lord, you know that I (phileo / friendship) love you." Jesus then responded to Peter, "Then, feed my sheep."

This song, thus, is based off this idea that if we love Jesus, we should obey and serve him by feeding (spiritually) his sheep.

If You Love Me / An Original Work / May 6, 2011
Based off of John 21:15-25

If you love Me, why not serve Me?
If you love Me, why not serve Me?
If you love Me, why not serve Me?
Won’t you feed My sheep?
Tell the world that Jesus loves them.
He died for their sins.

If you love Me, why not trust Me?
If you love Me, why not trust Me?
If you love Me, why not trust Me
To do what I say?
Give your lives to Jesus only.
Serve Him as your King.

If you love Me, I will bless you.
If you love Me, I will bless you.
If you love Me, I will bless you.
I’ll give you a crown.
When I come I will receive you
As My very own.

It is interesting that Jesus asks twice if Peter loves(agape) Him, then changes it to love (Phileo) the third time. Makes me wonder why he changed it in the end. Maybe it is because He realized that Peter wasn't getting it and that he was currently limited in his ability to love.
 
It is interesting that Jesus asks twice if Peter loves(agape) Him, then changes it to love (Phileo) the third time. Makes me wonder why he changed it in the end. Maybe it is because He realized that Peter wasn't getting it and that he was currently limited in his ability to love.

Something that God gave me as we watched the gospel of John....Jesus said it three times to reestablish Peter before God, because Peter had denied that he knew Jesus 3 times. And the Bible says that any one who denies Jesus before men, would be denied before the Father....and Jesus could not let that happen.
Another pastor that i listen to said the same thing.
 
It is interesting that Jesus asks twice if Peter loves(agape) Him, then changes it to love (Phileo) the third time. Makes me wonder why he changed it in the end. Maybe it is because He realized that Peter wasn't getting it and that he was currently limited in his ability to love.
Certainly Jesus knew this about Peter, even before he asked him. His desire was that Peter (agape) love him, but Peter either didn't quite comprehend that yet or else he just wasn't ready to make that kind of a commitment. If you have ever failed God greatly in your life, which I have, and then you realize how deeply you sinned against God, you definitely feel unworthy of his love, which in reality we are all there, but you might be afraid of failing again and so you hesitate to make a commitment you are afraid you may not be able to keep.

Peter was a person who had made very strong declarations, such as that he would never leave or deny his Lord and that even if everyone else deserted him, that he would NEVER do that. We have to be careful about saying NEVER. He didn't listen to the Lord then because he thought he knew better. I have done that before, thought I would NEVER, even though the Lord warned me, and it came back to bite me. Perhaps Peter was not so ready to jump in with such a bold declaration now that he would love Jesus with an agape love, knowing how badly he had done previously, and perhaps all he could promise at this point was to phileo love Jesus, but Jesus was ok with that, and he was willing to accept that from Peter, because he knew Peter's heart, and he knew that, in time, Peter's love would grow and that he would trust the Lord more, and that he, when filled with the Spirit of God, would begin to love with agape love.
 
Something that God gave me as we watched the gospel of John....Jesus said it three times to reestablish Peter before God, because Peter had denied that he knew Jesus 3 times. And the Bible says that any one who denies Jesus before men, would be denied before the Father....and Jesus could not let that happen.
Another pastor that i listen to said the same thing.
God often spoke in 3's. I believe that has significance. For one, it represents our triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When I get something in 3's, I sit up and take particular notice. Yes, Peter had denied Jesus 3 X so it was important that he reaffirm his love for Jesus 3 x, it would appear. I find it interesting that, in Peter's vision of the sheet with the unclean animals that this happened 3 X.
 
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