DO YOU LOVE ME?
Between the time of His resurrection and his ascension, Jesus challenged Peter concerning Peter’s love for Jesus. Twice Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves Jesus. The word recorded in the New Testament is “agapas” (AH-GAH-POSS) which is a form of agape (AH-GAH-PAY) or agapao (AH-GAH-PAH-OH). In both cases Peter responds to Jesus that Jesus knows that Peter likes him. The New Testament records Peter’s response with the word “philo” (FEEL-OH). Jesus then responds by asking Peter, “Do you even like me?” For the third time, Peter answers, “You know that I like (philo) you. And the third time that Peter answers, he is grieved, perhaps because he had also denied Jesus three times or because Jesus had to lower his expectation of Peter’s love for his Savior with his third question. William A. Pratney comments on this passage in his book, The Nature and Character of God, on page 164 by saying: When Jesus asks Peter twice, “Do you love…
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