Relational Devotion #33 [Do you love Me?]

Hi, Everyone.
This is the last devotion in the Relational Devotional series. I've enjoyed going through various verses from the Book of John with you. It blessed me to write each devotion, and I pray you were blessed reading them.
Tomorrow, I will begin a new devotional series that God and I have titled Life Plan Devotional. It will showcase various verses from the Old and New Testaments, as God leads me to them. My plan is to focus on one verse at a time, have the commentary comments be rather concise (which is a challenge for me), and end with a prayer that you can pray, incorporating the concepts of that verse and devotion. I appreciate your prayers, as I write these devotions, which I feel will last for about 3 months.
Today, I will be traveling to Oklahoma. We've had about 3 inches of snow, here in Kansas, and I believe that Oklahoma has had snow, too. It does not appear to be icy, but I ask for your prayers, for a safe trip. I'll be leaving in about 3 1/2-4 hours.

Relational Devotion #33 [Do you love Me?]

John 21:15-17 [Amplified Bible]
"When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend].' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.'
Again [Jesus] said to [Peter] the second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend].' He said to him, 'Shepherd (tend) My sheep.'
[Jesus] said to [Peter] the third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]?' Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that [Jesus] should ask him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend].' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'"

     I like the Amplified Bible, because it gives extended definitions for words based on the original Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament). If one is not inclined to do word studies on one's own, the Amplified Bible is a good option. It was when I read John 21:15-17 in the Amplified that I finally understood more of why Jesus asked Simon Peter three times, "Do you love Me?"
     In previous readings, I saw that Jesus was giving Peter a precious opportunity to declare his love for Him, not only once, but three times. It seemed that Jesus wanted to help Peter erase the three times he had denied Christ prior to the Crucifixion. I imagine that Peter's guilt played the tape of "No, I do not know Him" over and over in his mind, and Jesus, who knows what we are thinking, in love and compassion gives Peter the opportunity to change that tape to "Yes, I do know Him, and I love Him."
     I felt there was something more to this passage, though, and reading it in the Amplified verion helped me to see that Jesus used the agapé [divine] (Greek) form of the word "love" when He asked Peter the first time, "Do you love Me?" whereas Peter responded with the phileo form of the word "love" when he answered Jesus' question.
     That agapé love question by Jesus and phileo love answer by Peter is repeated. However, when Jesus asks the question, "Do you love Me?" a third and final time, He uses the phileo meaning, showing understanding that Peter is at a place in his spiritual walk that his love for Jesus is what it is--brotherly. Jesus does not chastise him for that. He merely commissions Peter to "feed [His] lambs/sheep" and "shepherd (tend) [His] sheep."
     Perhaps you're surprised that Jesus would put such confidence in a man who had denied Him three times. That's Jesus! He sees and accepts us for who we are, yet He sees beyond that to the person we can be, if we will let Him agapé love us, so we can agapé love Him. For Peter, that happened when he was filled with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and became a key leader in the early church.

What this has to do with weight loss:  In your weight-loss journey you will, no doubt, experience some relapses or failures, but when you open your heart to God, He can and will restore you--even to the point where your life (and body) becomes a testimony for others to follow.

Today, Jesus asks you the question, "Do you love Me?"  Take some time to answer Him. Listen to Signature Sound singing "Lovest Thou Me?" 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Ba5vXfR-s

Blessings,
Mary