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The Love Of Christ Is Matured In Time

(John 21:18)  “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.” This statement was made to Peter by Jesus after he asked him 3 times if he loved hm. As we know Peter denied the Lord three times the night of his betrayal, and so here in (John 21) Jesus confronted Peter on his commitment of love. You see, in the Greek language there are three different words used for the word “love.” 1) “Agapeo” love. This is the type of love that caused Jesus to die on a cross for mankind. 2) “Phileo” love. Is the type of love one might have toward a good friend or someone you like. 3) “Eros” love. An erotic sexual love. The 3rd is never used in the Bible, but in the first two questions that Jesus asked Peter he asked him if he “agapeo” him, to which Peter replied “I phileo  you” twice. Meaning, I can’t say if I would be willing to die for you now. So, Jesus in his last  question to Peter said, “do you phileo me more than these?” To which he replied, “you know I phileo uou.” Christians have debated this exchange of words for years, and have come up with different conclusions, but I believe the most accurate one is that Peter after failing Christ 3 times, just simply could not promise him that he would have the courage to die for him. To which Jesus gave him the above verse, encouraging him by saying that you may not be able to promise “agapeo” love right now, but one day your love will grow to be “agapeo.” For Peter did die on a cross as Christ predicted later, with “agapeo love.”

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