31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”s 33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:31-35)
Here the Lord Jesus predicted that the disciples would all fall away on account of him that night. Peter said that even if all fell away on account of Him, he would never fall away, then the Lord Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times.
“Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!” declares the Lord Almighty. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.(Zechariah 13:7)
The Old Testament predicted that the Shepherd Lord Jesus would be struck and the sheep would be scattered; when the Lord Jesus was arrested, the disciples all fled.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)
Here the apostle Paul says that he who thinks he stands should take heed lest he fall. Here standing firm means standing firm spiritually. Peter thought he could stand firm, but he fell.
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)
The original language of the New Testament is Greek. Two different Greek words are used to describe love here: agape and phileo. Agape is God’s love for man, an unconditional, sacrificial love, and it is also man’s love for God in response to God’s love. Phileo is the love between brothers. When the Lord Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” the word used here was agape, and Peter’s answer was phileo. It seems that because he had denied the Lord three times, he felt that his love had not reached agape, so he used phileo. The word used by the Lord Jesus for Peter the second and third time was phileo. Because Peter denied the Lord three times, the Lord Jesus asked him three times whether he loved the Lord. When Peter said yes, the Lord asked him to shepherd the Lord’s sheep. He also predicted what would happen to him when he was old. Peter was finally martyred for the Lord and was also crucified on the cross. He was nailed upside down on the cross. He felt that he was not worthy of being nailed right-side up like the Lord Jesus.
I hope more people will accept the Lord’s love, believe in Him, accept the Lord Jesus as the Lord and Savior, and receive new life and eternal life.
May God bless you and your family!
