The Instruction Of Agape – 1

Apostle Grace Lubega

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.

The Greek language has four different ways in which the word love is used: agapé, éros, phileo and storgé.

Agape is the unconditional love of God for man; Eros is used for sexual passion, Phileo is friendship or brotherly love and Storge is love and affection especially between parents and children.

In our theme scripture, Jesus and Peter have an interesting conversation that is very significant in the understanding of love.

Read from the original Greek text, the Lord asked Peter, “Simon Peter, son of Jonas, AGAPÉ thou me more than these? Peter answered, “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I PHILEO you.”
He said to him again the second time, “Simon Son of Jonas, AGAPÉ thou me?” He answered, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I PHILEO thee.” He asked again the third time, “Simon son of Jonas, PHILEO thou me?” Peter answered, “Thou knowest that I PHILEO thee.”

The first two times, Christ was deliberate in His use of agapé yet Simon Peter was persistent in his use of Phileo.

When the Lord saw that Simon had not understood His intention, He came down to Peter’s level of “Phileo.”
Peter thus missed an instruction based on agape and instead got one based on Phileo.

If he had told the Lord that he ‘agapés’ him, the instruction would have been different.

Phileo can cause a man to fight for you, as Peter did for the Christ. It can cause a man to wait on you and serve you as Peter did.

However, it is limited in revelation and deters a man from the full instruction of the father.

God has called the Church, not to Phileo Him but to agapé Him. Agapé begins with Him because He is agapé; it is not an act, it is His person.

If you have not understood agapé, you cannot fully know Him.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:8,

GOLDEN NUGGET:

God has called the Church, not to Phileo Him but to agapé Him. Agapé begins with Him because He is agapé; it is not an act, it is His person. If you have not understood agapé, you cannot fully know Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for the revelation of your love. This love has been shed abroad in my heart by the Spirit. I yield and respond to it every day and as I do, it flows to the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.