Can You Love Jesus and Fail Him?

[mfblume]

Amen. Great stuff.

It is interesting that in the Greek, Peter was asked if he AGAPE'd Jesus. That is sacrificial love, enough to die for Him. Peter responded saying he merely PHILEO'd Jesus. That is love but not sacrificial. (Recall Peter said he'd sacrifice his life for Jesus earlier.).

This repeated itself again.

It's like Peter was saying he could not sacrifice himself for love for Jesus, but he did indeed love Jesus, albeit to a lesser degree.

The third time Jesus asked him, Jesus used the word PHILEO instead of AGAPE like the first two times. Peter said, "You know that I phileo you."

Then Jesus continued to say that Peter actually would sacrifice his life and grow into that AGAPE love after time. He would be taken by others, implying the death he would die.

This means Peter was told his love would grow to the point of sacrificial love. And it did. He gave his life for Christ hanging upsidedown on a cross since he felt not worthy to die just like Jesus upright on the cross.

WOW.

Our love may need growth, but God knows our hearts and we continue on with our failures, knowing we'll grow to the point of ultimate love! And if we love him we WILL keep his commandments. That means love is the key to obedience.