Perfect Love

JOHN 21:15~18

Perfect Love

 

○ Magandang umaga po!

Let’s say hello together. Peace be with you!

Today I would like to share a message about Christian love which the Bible says.

 

[A] The Lord wants us to have agape.

○ #9

One of the most commonly used words in our life is probably love. Love is Sarang in Korean and Pagibig in Tagalog.

But in Greek, there are four meaning of love:

Agape(αγαπη), Philia(φιλια), Storge(στοργη) and Eros(ερως).

 

○ These four words mean love, but each word has a different nuance. Agape is devoted love and sacrificial love. Specifically it is God’s love. Philia is brotherhood, sisterhood or friendship. Storge means love between parents and children and love for family. And Eros, we can say it is human love or ego-centered love.

 

○ We need all of these. It is not that some are good and some are bad. All four are good. All kinds are good love. But the important thing is agape. In today’s text, the Gospel according to John, chapter 21, our Lord says that all faithful disciples should have agape above all things.

 

○ OK. Let’s read the verse 15 together:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,

“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 

○ Our Lord asked to Simon Peter, “do you love me more than these others do?” Like this, in all English Bibles, we can not find the difference. (Only Amplified Bible explains its difference as an exception.) But if we look at the Greek Bible, it says like this:

 

○ #10

Let’s read the first dialog together:

“Do you agapao(αγαπαω) me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo(φιλεω) you.”

 

○ So if we look at the Greek Bible, we can see that Peter’s answer is a little strange. Anyway, the important thing is that the Lord asks us for agape - devoted love, sacrificial love.

 

○ I don’t mean that we don’t need Philia, Storge, and Eros. I mean that the most important thing in the way of faith is that we should have agape. This is not just a request to Peter. It is our Lord’s command to all of us to run our race of faith today.

 

○ The love Jesus showed was agape. Jesus said, “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends”(John 15:13). Like this saying, Jesus did his own sacrificial love, agape for all.

 

○ Jesus also said, “For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”(Mark 10:45). Jesus lived as he said.

 

○ For those who have decided to trust and follow Jesus, the most important thing is having agape! Then what are some examples of God’s agape that we can learn from the Bible? The representative one is the cross. The cross of Christ is the greatest agape that God has shown us. Therefore, we believers have to learn God’s agape through the life, obedience and the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[B] Do not lower the level of faith.

○ OK. Let’s read the verse 16 together:

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

 

○ #11

The second question and answer are the same as the first.

Let’s read the second dialog together:

“Do you agapao(αγαπαω) me?”

“Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo(φιλεω) you.”

 

○ In the second conversation between Jesus and Peter, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you agapao me?” That means Jesus asked Peter that he need agape! Nevertheless, Peter answered, “I phileo you.” Because he was not confident in having this agape Jesus had requested.

 

○ This is what we look like. Isn’t it? Even though Jesus said we need agape, some say that only faith is needed. Or some believe that they will be saved because they go to church. Or some think that they did their duty only by giving an offering or a tithe.

 

○ It is a problem to set the goal of Christian life as I want. It is a problem to think that “I have done enough in my Church.”

 

[C] We have to be filled with agape.

○ So did Jesus ask Peter the same question by the third time, “Do you agapao me?” and Peter replied “Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo you.” Do you think like this?

 

○ OK. First of all, let’s read the verse 17 together:

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.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

 

○ #12

We should read the third question and answer like this.

Let’s read the third dialog together:

“Do you really phileo(φιλεω) me?”

“Lord, you know everything, don’t you? I phileo(φιλεω) you.”

 

○ In the third dialog, Jesus did not ask “Do you agapao me?” Instead, “do you really phileo me?” And Peter’s third answer was the same. Then, Peter probably remembered something that he denied Jesus three times in the past.

 

○ Peter answered that he had done as much as Philia, but soon he felt that he had not done so much. And he realized that he had not behaved as a disciple. Nevertheless, our Lord is so meek and he never rebuked him. Only Jesus made Peter realize his lack by himself.

 

○ Our Lord wants us to grow up into the whole measure of God’s agape. Even though Peter knew that he was lacking, but later after he gained spiritual awakening, then he became fullness of agape. Peter preached the gospel until martyrdom.

 

○ #13~15

With this experience, Peter delivered how precious agape was, in 2 Peter chapter 1 and verse 5 to 7.

Let’s read together:

For this very reason,

make every effort to add to your faith(πιστις) goodness;

and to goodness(αρετη), knowledge;

and to knowledge(γνωσις), self-control;

and to self-control(εγκρατεια), perseverance;

and to perseverance(υπομονη), godliness;

and to godliness(ευσεβεια), mutual affection;

and to mutual affection(φιλαδελφια), love(αγαπη).

 

○ This does not mean that goodness is superior to faith and knowledge is superior to goodness. It means that in order to grow up to the goal of agape, we need all - faith, virtue(goodness), knowledge, self-control, perseverance(patience), godliness(devotion), and brotherly kindness. All are necessary.

 

○ #16~18

Paul also said in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, verse 2 and 13.

Let’s read together:

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries

and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing...

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

 

The goal of all believers is to have agape!

 

[D] Agape makes us fulfill our mission.

○ Dear, members of Peace Methodist Church, let’s grow up to the goal of agape! This is what the Lord is pleased with. I want all of us will be full of agape. I want our church will be full of agape.

 

○ #19

If we lose this agape, our Lord rebukes.

Let’s read the book of revelation chapter 2 and verse 4 together:

Yet I hold this against you:

You have forsaken the love(αγαπην) you had at first(πρωτην).

 

○ In this verse, the word “first”(πρωτος) means “important.” The Lord scolded that the church in Ephesus of Asia Minor had lost their agape. Our faith should grow into agape. Agape is our goal.

 

○ When we are filled with agape, the Spirit of love will guide us. The Holy Spirit will lead us. Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my lambs” and “Look after my sheep.” This is the Lord’s request for us to take care of the weak, the powerless, and the poor and to carry their burdens and to comfort them with the heart of agape.

 

○ #20

Dear sisters and brothers, Please remember this:

Agape is the driving force of the whole Christian life.

Let’s read this topic together one more time:

Agape is the driving force of the whole Christian life!

 

○ So let’s ask God to give us this agape. Agape is the driving force for running the race that is set before us. We need this agape to work with our Father in heaven. With this agape, we can fulfill our mission. With this agape, we can overcome hardship. And with this agape, we can avoid temptation.

 

○ Do not be discouraged because our faith are weak. God could watch our mind which do our best and then God gives us greater faith. God could also watch our longing for agape and then God fills us with agape more. The nearer we go to God, the nearer God will come to us(James 4:8).

 

○ Ask the Lord that we want to have the mind of Christ. And then God will give us perfect love(Tamang Pagmamahal), agape as a gift.