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We shared this with our children's church about a month ago. Some of the significance of the bible can get a little lost in translation, especially since the bible was written using 11 280 Hebrew, Greek and Aramic words, but most english translations average around 6000 words.

In the greek language, there are three different words for love; agape, phileo and eros, but in english there is only one: love.
Agape means unconditional love, the way Jesus loves us.
Phileo means brotherly love, or love between good friends.
Eros means romantic love.

In John 21:15-17, In which Jesus is meeting with the disciples after his death and ressurection, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him.

"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter 'Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?'
'Yes Lord' he said 'you know that i love you.'
Jesus said 'feed my lambs'.
Again Jesus said, 'Simon,son of John, do you truly love me?'
He answered 'Yes Lord, you know that I love you.'
Jesus said 'take care of my sheep.'
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.'

2 parts to this. 1. Peter denied Jesus three times, so Jesus gets him to affirm his love for Jesus 3 times. The title of this passage in my bible says "Jesus reinstates Peter."
2. The first two times Christ asks Peter, he asks 'agape'....Peter, do you love me unconditionally?
But Peter responds 'phileo'....I love you like a brother/friend.
The third time Christ asks, he asks Phileo...Peter do you love me like a brother/friend?
Peter again responds Phileo...Yes Lord, i love you like a brother/friend.

What are your thoughts on this?

Well, when you love someone unconditionally, you find no fault in them. They are perfect in your eyes, they are the most beloved in your heart. A brother or a friend, although they are loved by you a lot, are not without fault in your eyes. If you were ashamed of your brother or friend, you might even reject him, or pretend they are not loved by you. The one you love unconditionally, you would never reject, and you would follow them to death if you had to. Brothers, in a sense, are somewhat forced to love eachother, since they belong to the same family. The one you love unconditionally, you do not love because of something else.

Hello Pineapple (((hugs)))

God bless you this day.

That story in The Bible is so touching, and so very intimate. I can only imagine the thoughts that were going through Peter's mind. Awwwwwwwww, he loved The Lord so very much, yet, he had denied Him 3 times, and there had been witnesses, too, witnesses besides God, Himself. I would imagine that Peter felt pretty much worthless at this point, he had denied Christ, the very Man/God that he had loved and knew to be God. He knew his word was in question.

Most Christians aspire to agape love...unconditional love, yet, we still have this carnal vessel that does taint everything, even the flow of perfect "agape" love that The Lord pours into us and is flowing through us. It gets tainted.

Jesus was not tainted. His love was pure agape love. Peter knew he, himself, was not pure, and that he was a poor reflection of Jesus, but he knew deep within that he truly loved Jesus...he knew love "phileo" was in his heart...he felt it, intensely. However, he had been humbled by his own actions -- his betrayal of Jesus, when he denied Him. I don't think Peter felt he could say that his love was agape or perfect love, because he knew his own shortcomings.

The Lord desires that we be totally honest with Him. He knows our heart, and He knows what we are capable of, too. There is no doubt that Jesus loved Peter, completely. Awwwwwwwwww, I love it!!! I love Him! I love Jesus!!! And Jesus knows whether I speak the truth, when I say or type that.

I can relate to Peter on so many levels.

And cooler still, The Lord God Almighty desires that I relate with and to Him...that I have a true relationship with Him.

The Lord desires that open and honest relationship with all His children.

Agape Love has me reach Higher -- to reach for Him. God is Love.

Yeah!!! I hear music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=524Tf0dNRNw

Pineapple, thank you for sharing. I'm so glad to see and hear that you are continuing to seek The Lord. Jesus loves you so very much.

God bless and keep you.
Love,
Mack