2 Types of Love

Why did Jesus ask if Simon Peter loved him three times?

Peter just encountered the risen Christ. Peter already denied Jesus three times as Jesus said he would. John 13:38 “Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.” I don’t know how I would feel after seeing my Lord endure such torture for my sake and the sake of everyone who will choose to follow Him. I don’t know how I would feel for the following conversation with Jesus either.

John 21:15 “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.”

The first thing to note is the words here used for love. There are two different words that have very different meanings.

The word for love that Jesus is using is

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἀγαπάω

(agapaō). vb. to love. Involves a deep level of affection and intimacy.

The word for love that Peter is using is

Lexham Theological Wordbook φιλέω

(phileō). vb. to love, like, or kiss. Describes an affection ranging from general emotion to deep love.

The different words appear to be causing Peter some stress. Our Lord is asking if Peter loves Him in a sacrificial way.

This is while Peter is able to look at the risen Jesus who endured an excruciating ordeal.

The event of Jesus dying on the cross was so horrific that a word had to be created and that word is excruciating which means out of the cross.

John 21:16–18 “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. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.”

When the correct words are used it makes this passage more clear to me.

I think it is also significant that our Lord spoke to Peter this way and explained to Peter that He may not have agapao love now, but he will.

Tradition holds that Peter was crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die in the same way that Jesus did.

What type of love do you have for Jesus? We see with total clarity the reason that Jesus came to this world and died for us. God has agapao love for us and shows it by giving His son and all we have to do is believe in him. The more that we grasp the amount of sin that we commit every day the more we realize how desperately we need a saviour.