3rd Sunday of Easter
John 21:1-19
This Gospel story is very much about Peter. The disciples are still reeling and very much confused after all the events of the times. For Peter, his threefold denial of Jesus is still haunting him. He is trying to get back to normality – he goes fishing with his friends. When Jesus appears, Peter doesn’t recognise him. John, the one closest to Jesus points him out “It is the Lord”. There follows, what some call, Peter’s Confession or Reconciliation. His three “Yes, Lord”s are sincere and they do correspond to his three denials of the Lord.
In English language, when Jesus asks “Do you love me” and Peter answers “Yes Lord, I love you” it makes good sense. But in the original of the New Testament what Peter replies does not exactly respond to the question which Jesus asks. In his book “The Four Loves”, C S Lewis describes four words for love in the Greek language;
Storge – affection, the quiet love we have for someone whom we meet from time to time.
Eros – sensual or erotic love of a couple which often leads to marriage.
Philia – friendship with those who share our lives and interests.
Agape – generous, self-giving love, even when there is nothing to be gained.
Back to Peter; Jesus asks, do you have Agape for me? – Do you love me enough to give up everything for me? Peter knows that he does not have that kind of love and he answers “Philo se”, Yes, I love you as a friend. I admire you but I was unable to risk my life for you. Jesus asks again “Do you have Agape for me?” and again, Peter answers at the level of friendship. Finally, unwilling to embarrass him further, Jesus asks,”Are you really my friend?” Peter answers, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I am your friend”. Jesus accepts that is enough for now. The fullness of Agape would come later, when Peter would die for his Faith in Jesus.
At this meeting at the side of the lake, Peter was not the boastful man that he had been. Now he was wiser and humbler and so he realised how limited he was, even in loving the Lord. His confession of love and faith was like that of the man in the Gospels seeking healing for his son; “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief”. Peter - ”Lord, I love you, help my lack of love”.
Our love is hardly ever unconditional, we back away when faced with challenge. Like Peter, we need to bring our failures before the Lord and pray; “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief, Lord, I love you, help my lack of love”.