Knock Three Times

Going Fishing

John 21:2–3 (NKJV)

Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

These men were fishermen.

Remember when Jesus called Peter and Andrew.

Matthew 4:19 NKJV

Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Now, without Jesus in front of them, they revert to the familiar.

They go fishing.

And after a little miracle, and some breakfast, Jesus has a talk with Peter.

John 21:15 (NKJV)

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

We know the story,

I’ve heard many different sermons based on this story.

With many different explanation as to why Jesus would do what He did.

But I like to go back to the original language, to see what God will tell me.

Many Forms of Love

First of all, we all know that Jesus was not speaking English,

He was speaking Aramaic,

We also know that Scripture wasn’t originally written in Aramaic, but in Greek.

So if we want to understand this passage, we need to do a bit of a linguistic investigation to get to the truth.

Aramaic, like Hebrew and English, has one word for “love”, which means different things depending on context.

When I say, “I love my wife”, “I love my dog”, and “I love pizza”, you understand that I mean different things.

The same with Aramaic.

So the English translation is a pretty good word for word translation.

But does it give the sense of what is being said?

Greek has several words for love, three of which are used in Scripture.

Eros means physical love.

Phileo means brotherly love.

and Agape means true love, or Godly love.

Why does this matter?

While the English translation may be a good word for word translation, it does appear to give the sense.

When God had the New Testament written, He had it done in Greek, which is a much more detailed language.

It relies less on context than English, Hebrew, or Aramaic.

Which means that when John wrote this gospel, he used the Greek language to give us a better sense of what was said.

With that in mind, let’s look at the scripture using the Greek words for love.

John 21:15 (NKJV)

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you agapas Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

Does that sound different to you?

Jesus asks Peter if he “loves him dearly”.

Yet Peter responds that he is Jesus friend.

There is nothing wrong with being a friend.

I have people that I am friends with.

I care for them, and would help them if needed.

But I have very few people whom I love dearly.

Whom I would willingly serve, and give my life for.

Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him dearly, and Peter says he’s His friend.

So Jesus says...

Feed My lambs.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd,

So He is telling Peter to make sure His lambs are fed.

1 Timothy 4:6 NKJV

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

Jesus is giving Peter a responsibility.

He expects him to instruct the brethren.

John 21:16 (NKJV)

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you agapas Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

Again, Jesus asks Peter if he truly loves Him,

And Peter responds with, you’re my friend.

This time Jesus tells him to “Tend My sheep.”

Matthew 26:31 NKJV

Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

The sheep had scattered.

Now is was Peter’s responsibility to tend to them.

This is where things get tricky.

We all know that Jesus will ask Peter for the third time if he loves Him.

And we know that this grieved Peter.

And I’ve heard plenty of sermons about why Jesus asked three times and Peter was grieved.

Some say Jesus asked three times because Peter had denied Him three times.

Some say the Peter was frustrated with Jesus’ continually asking the question.

But look what happens when we read this using the Greek words for love...

John 21:17 (NKJV)

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you phileis Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you phileis Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I phileo You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Jesus changed what He was asking Peter.

The first two times, He asked if Peter truly loved Him.

And Peter replied with a sense of friendship.

Now Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him like a brother.

Which is exactly the sense of what Peter has been saying all along.

But read that sentence again...

Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you phileis Me?”

Was Peter grieved because he was annoyed that Jesus kept asking the question?

Or because the third time, Jesus changed the sense of the question.

Was it the repetition, or the fact that Jesus lowered the sense of His question to meet Peter where he was willing to go?

And how did Jesus respond?

“Feed My sheep.”

But then He goes on...

John 21:18–19 NKJV

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Jesus tells Peter that he will give his life for Him.

Peter would loose control over his life.

He would no longer dress himself or go where he wanted.

He would be dressed by another and taken to his death.

Tradition tells us that Peter was hung on a cross.

But he insisted on being hung upside-down, rather than appearing to die as the Messiah.

That would be the cost of following Jesus.

And while he followed, Peter fed and tended to Jesus’ sheep.

Conclusion

Put yourselves in Peter’s shoes.

At some point you’ve probably felt Jesus ask you that very same question.

“Do you agape me?”

Do you truly love me?

Will you follow me?

Will you be my disciple?

Will you give your life for me?

How did you answer?

Did you call Jesus your friend?

Will you follow Him, as long as the journey isn’t too rough?

Will you obey His teachings, as long as they agree with what you believe?

Are you willing to ask God, but not willing to give up very much for Him?

Are you holding onto your position, expecting God to come to you?

Does it grieve you that Jesus had to come to you, where you were willing to go, rather than you going to where He was calling you to?

People sometimes ask my, why I am so particular with words.

Why I take the time and effort to read and study Scripture.

Why I search the original language looking for understanding.

I do it because, every so often, I find a gem like this.

I find that Jesus has been asking me one question, but I’ve been answering another.

And when I realize that I have been the one limited what God can teach me, I am grieved.

But after the grieving comes the understanding.

And best of all, then I get to share what God has shown me with you.

So I ask you, do you agape Jesus more than anyone else?

Do you truly love Him?

What is your answer?