Jesus is Asking: Lovest Thou Me?
Pastor J. R. Wilhite In this study we will look at the last 15 hours of the life of Jesus before His crucifixion, what all He had to put up with from His own followers as well as the world. 46. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. 33. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. 47. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
After reading this you may not be so quick to think that if you lived then you would have done any better than Peter, John, or any of the other 9 (of course excluding Judas). Remember, at times, we can fall into the Judas trap where we betray the Lord. We do not have to kiss the Lord and betray Him as Judas did to still betray Him. Think about how many times you have compromised your life, your knowledge or grace and then justified it to feel better. Is not that what Judas did? He thought that by turning Jesus in it would force Jesus to finally be the King Judas and all the Jews expected the Lord to be. In other words become a king, defeat the Romans and the world at large, a physical not spiritual king.
The Jews always, all the way back to Moses, rejected the spiritual for the physical. That is why it was so hard for them to see Jesus for Who He was.
Matthew 26
31. Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
34. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
35. Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
36. Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
37. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
38. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
39. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
43. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
44. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
45. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
47. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
51. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.
52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?
55. In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.
56. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.
At this point Jesus had only asked one thing, that three of His followers would stay awake while He prayed, and they did not. He then is betrayed with a kiss by one of His own.
Then Peter draws a sword and cuts an ear (which Jesus then heals) off of a soldier of those who came to take Him.
57. And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
58. But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.
59. Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
60. But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
61. And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
62. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
63. But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
64. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
66. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.
67. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
68. Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?
69. Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
But he denied (reject (disavow)) before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
Matthew 10
(John 12
48. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.)
John 21
15. So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (agape (agapao) much love in a social sense ) thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
Matthew 26
71. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
And again he denied with an oath (redundant), I do not know the man.
John 21
16. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (agape (agapao) much love in a social sense ) thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Matthew 26
73. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
74. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And imediately the cock crew.
75. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Luke 22
61. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
After all of this Jesus even was in range to hear Peter deny knowing Him and still did so much to make it right for Peter. And Peter as we today are ignorant to His ways.
John 21
17. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (phileo (like) affection for a friend) thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Reference John 21:15-16 (Love)
Strong's Ref. # 25
Romanized agapao
Pronounced ag-ap-ah'-o
perhaps from agan (much) [or compare HSN5689]; to love (in a social or moral sense):
KJV--(be-)love(-ed). Compare GSN5368.
Reference John 21:17 (Love (Like))
Strong's Ref. # 5368
Romanized phileo
Pronounced fil-eh'-o
from GSN5384; to be a friend to (fond of [an individual or an object]), i.e. have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling; while GSN0025 is wider, embracing especially the judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety: the two thus stand related very much as GSN2309 and GSN1014, or as GSN2372 and GSN3563 respectively; the former being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head); specifically, to kiss (as a Mark of tenderness):
KJV--kiss, love.
Reference Matthew 26:70 & 72 (Denied)
Strong's Ref. # 720
Romanized arneomai
Pronounced ar-neh'-om-ahee
perhaps from GSN0001 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of GSN4483; to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate:
KJV--deny, refuse.
Reference Matthew 26:72 (Oath)
Strong's Ref. # 3754
Romanized hoti
Pronounced hot'-ee
neuter of GSN3748 as conjunction; demonst. that (sometimes redundant); caus. because:
KJV--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.
Reference Matthew 26:74 (Curse)
Strong's Ref. # 2653
Romanized katanathematizo
Pronounced kat-an-ath-em-at-id'-zo
from GSN2596 (intensive) and GSN0332; to imprecate:
KJV--curse.
Reference Matthew 26:74 (Swear)
Strong's Ref. # 3660
Romanized omnuo
Pronounced om-noo'-o
a prolonged form of a primary but obsolete omo, for which another prolonged form (omoo {om-o'-o}) is used in certain tenses; to swear, i.e. take (or declare on) oath:
KJV--swear.