HE IS RISEN! THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED!

Friday, April 9, 2010

John 21:16

He saith unto him again the second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?" He saith unto Him, " Yea, LORD; Thou knowest that I love thee." He saith unto him, "FEED MY SHEEP."

The first time that JESUS asked Simon Peter, "lovest thou me?" He added, "more than these." Now JESUS asks him, "lovest thou ME?" I believe that JESUS is asking Simon if he loved Him only.

When Jesus uses the word "Love", He uses the word, in Greek - agapao. Simon answers with the Greek work - phileo. Simon is still not able to love JESUS totally. Why is this so? What is holding Simon back from the full, unconditional love? I believe that it was guilt that held Simon back from yielding fully to the agapeo love. Simon had denied JESUS three times, during the most critical time in His earthly life. Simon had said: "I do not know Him." and that guilt remained with Simon as a block.

Are there blocks in our life which keep us from a full trust and commitment to JESUS? Can we only say to JESUS, "I love you in a brotherly way, not totally and unconditionally"? These blocks must be removed by the acceptance of the forgiveness which JESUS grants to all of us who repent. He loves us without reservation, He trusts us and loves us. The only block is in us, just like it was in Simon.

JESUS loved Simon with unconditional love, therefore He said to Simon, "Feed My Sheep". He gave to Simon the gift to nurture the flock of the LORD; to feed them with the Word of the LORD and build them up into a vital force for GOD.

The block in Simon did not prevent the work of the LORD from going forth. Ultimately, Simon Peter - the rock, was able to repent of His denial of JESUS and receive forgiveness, so that He could forgive himself, but this moment of weakness humbled him and made him strong in the faith.

The block became a strong point; because his faith was made perfect in weakness.

JESUS says to us all: "Lovest thou ME?"