Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.
I guess love is something we have trouble describing or explaining. The idea of love in our present culture is confusing, especially when we compare it to the biblical model of God’s love. Most often when we hear the word love in today’s vernacular, it means sex, passion or some other emotion. We also use the word love in many ways. We love our mate, our dog, our job, our car (ever notice that men refer to their cars as she and her), our friends, our food, etc. In all of these, we mean something different.
The Bible used different words for love, sometimes within just one verse or passage. Below is an example.
John 21:15-17 (NKJV)
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
16 He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Two different Greek words are used in the exchange. The first two words Jesus used for love were “agapao”, which is the highest form of love in the Greek language of that day. It means to recognize the worth of someone and esteem him highly and is used of God’s love. The word Peter used for love in each of his three responses to Jesus was “phileo” or brotherly love (remember the city of Philadelphia, which is the city of brotherly love?) Peter’s response wasn’t what Jesus was looking for, but it seemed it was all Peter could muster up after denying the Lord three times. I am sure asking Peter three times was a tremendous reminder of his failure.
The third time Jesus asked Peter if he loved him, Jesus used the same word Peter did – “phileo”. He was sort of saying it this way, “Peter do you even love me with brotherly love?”. Peter’s third response with the word “phileo”, brotherly love, was as honest a response as he could give at the time. He had bragged before (Matthew 26:33). Perhaps, he was reluctant to go too far this time.
I guess we can learn one thing from this biblical account; God alone is fully able to always love the way He does. However, we also know that because of our relationship with Him through Jesus, we have the potential to love as God loves (John 13:34). Don’t give up on loving God. Let it grow. 02-10-09
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