The Laodicean Message - E.H. “Jack” Sequeira

Peter had to learn the hard way, and in John 21
after the resurrection, Jesus met the disciples by the
Sea of Galilee, and in verse 15, after they had
breakfast, you remember Jesus asked him twice,
“Do you agape Me?” and Peter replied, “I phileo
You.” And it’s important that you understand the
play of words, which is not in the English
language. Jesus was asking the question, “Do you
love Me unconditionally?” That’s the question,
because the word, “agape” means “unconditional
love.” And Peter replied, “I love You,” but used
phileo, a human love which is fluctuating and
unreliable. And Peter said, “Lord, You know that I
phileo You.”
In other words, “You knew Lord, you knew all
along, but now I admit that you are right.” Peter
had repented, folks. He had admitted, “You are
right, I was wrong.” He repeats it the second time,
and, of course, the third time Jesus kind of switches
and says, “Is this the only kind of love you have for
Me?”
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