The Day of New Beginnings
Growing Up
John 21:
15 ¶ So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs."
16 He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
17 He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, 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, "Tend My sheep.
18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go."
19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, "Follow Me!"
These words of Jesus to Peter reveal the way of maturity. In verse 18 Jesus tells Peter, “When you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." Preceding that statement Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Jesus asks the question, and each time that Peter answered, Jesus said, “Tend my sheep.” From this discourse we see that growing up spiritually means progressively dying to self for the sake of others.
When we are young we seem to have a great deal of freedom. It seems the whole world is before us and we can choose paths according to our heart’s desire. The days of our immaturity are always focused on the self life. Consequently, there is a certain reluctance in each of us to relinquish that freedom. While people in the world may grow up into the responsibilities and demands of life, it doesn’t mean the basic, innate self-life changes. It just means people grow to accept “this is the way life is”. For those growing into spiritual maturity however, it means a change of nature. Love is the one catalyst that brings change in our lives. While human love is capable of great sacrifice, only divine love can drive us into laying down self completely. When Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, he used the word agapao. Agapao is divine love, the love that is generated from God toward us. It’s the word used in the familiar passage from John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son…” Twice Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, using that word agapao. Finally, the third time, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, using the word phileo. Phileo is a human love, denoting fondness and affection. Peter was grieved when Jesus asked him this a third time, using this word instead of agapao. Peter responded, saying, “Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.” Peter used the word phileo when he said, “You know that I love you.”
Peter was incapable of the love Jesus was asking of him. We all are. That’s why God puts us through many things that the self life might die and we learn to live for others. Remember, each time Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, He said, “Tend My sheep.” It’s how we give ourselves to others that solidifies God’s love in us. This is how our nature changes. Apart from the practical giving of ourselves in situations we would normally run from, saying we love God is just an abstract statement. Our love for the Lord is proved out by the way we give ourselves to others.
Gal. 5:
13 ¶ For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
God has given us much freedom. He has revealed to us a higher realm of His kingdom in which we are not subject to the religious demands of do’s and don’ts. We have been set free from the bondage of religion, not to do as we please, but to rise up into the higher realm of sacrificial love. The realm of Agapao. Paul said in 2nd Cor. 5:
12 ¶ We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
Let’s read this again from a different translation. From the Message:
12 ¶ We’re not saying this to make ourselves look good to you. We just thought it would make you feel good, proud even, that we’re on your side and not just nice to your face as so many people are
13 If I acted crazy, I did it for God; if I acted overly serious, I did it for you.
14 Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes. His love has the first and last word in everything we do. Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat.
15 He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
There is so much that God has for us. Many realms in His kingdom we are to explore. It will be the motivating force of His love in us that takes us into these wonderful realms of His kingdom. Each of us will break the barriers of limitation to experience God in a wonderful way because we dare to lay aside self with all its fears and restrictions. When we come up to that barrier which makes us want to turn and run, we will push through it with faith, knowing God has something so much greater for us on the other side. We will grow into maturity because we sacrifice self for the sake of others.