WINDSOR FULL GOSPEL MISSION CHURCH
GROUP BIBLE DISCUSSION ANSWERS
John 21:9, 15-17 (B)
1.1) What thought was in Peter’s mind when he saw Jesus having prepared food for the disciples? (v. 9) 1.2) What thought was in Peter’s mind when he saw a fire beside Jesus? (Luke 24:55-57) The fire beside Jesus helped him recall his three-time denial beside the fireside at the high priest Caiaphas’ house. 1.3) What was the atmosphere surrounding the breakfast between Jesus and His disciples? The disciples enjoyed food with their Master under a warm family atmosphere. 2.1) Why did Jesus only talk to Peter among the disciples present at the breakfast? 2.2) If I were Jesus, what would I have said to Peter? I would ask Peter, “how could you have denied Me three times?” 2.3) Why did Jesus call Peter as Simon which was his original name before Jesus gave Him the new name, Peter? 2.4) How did Peter feel when Jesus called him Simon? (Matthew16:18-19) An open question 3. Can you explain the meaning of the following Greek words of love? 4.1) What was Jesus’ first question to Peter? (v. 15) “Do you truly love me more than these (disciples love me)?” 4.2) What did Peter think of Jesus’ first question? (Matthew 26:33) Once Peter promised Jesus that even if all fall (run) away on account of Jesus, he never will (run away). 4.3) Why did Jesus use the word “Agape love” in His first question? Once Peter boasted, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” 4.4) Why did Peter answer using the word “Phila love” instead of “Agape love”? Peter could not trust himself any more and did not have the confidence to say that he agape love Jesus. 4.5) Why did Peter answer, “You know that I love (Phila) you” instead of answering directly “Yes, I love You”? Peter didn’t have confidence to confess to Jesus that he phila love Jesus. So he let Jesus measure the degree of his phila love for Jesus. 6) What is the meaning when Jesus said “Feed my lambs”? 5.1) Why did Jesus use “Agape love” again in His second question? (v. 16) Jesus was asking Peter whether he truly loves Jesus more than his own life, because Peter had once denied Jesus in order to save his own life. 5.2) Why did Peter answer using Phila love again? Because of the incidence of his denial of Jesus, he didn’t have the confidence to say that He agape loves Jesus. 5.3) How different was the second assignment from the first one? Peter not only needed to feed other Christians spiritually, but also watch over (supervise) or care for the spiritual welfare of his fellow Christians. 6.1) Why did Jesus use the word “Phila love” in His third question? (v. 17) Because Peter insisted on using the word, Phila love in his previous answers, Jesus responded by saying that “You then truly Love me through friendship?” 6.2) How did Peter respond to Jesus’ third question? Peter was frustrated because Jesus was pressing him to confess his love for Him, in spite of the fact that Jesus had always known how much he truly loved Jesus”. 7.1) Why did Jesus ask Peter about his love three times? One theory is that Peter had denied Jesus three times. 7.2) What was the root cause for Peter’s three-time denial as Jesus suggested in His questions? Peter tried to follow Jesus confidently with his own will power. The will power of a man cannot overcome fear. Love can overcome all evil. If peter wants to fulfill the assignment Jesus had given to him until the end, he first need to have agape love for Jesus. 7.3) For whom was this meeting held? What was the purpose of this meeting? Life Application: 1. Jesus loves me more than His life. Do I love Jesus more than my life? I want to love Jesus more than my life. As God gradually reveals the infinite depth of Jesus’ love to me everyday, my love for Jesus will also be better and deeper. 2. Jesus loves His sheep. Why do I need love His sheep? I love Jesus, so I love whatever Jesus loves. I love Jesus’ sheep because Jesus loves them. 3. What essential thing I should keep in order to fulfill Jesus’ assignment until the end? I need to first keep agape love for Jesus in order to fulfill Jesus’ assignment until the end.
Prayer:
(1) Peter felt uneasy and uncomfortable because of his three-time denial of Jesus.
(2) At the same time, Peter was very happy to see the resurrected Jesus
(1) Jesus recognized Peter as the senior disciple.
(2) Jesus had a talking matter to settle with Peter personally.
(1) Jesus might want to comfort Peter in a more intimate manner while Peter was discouraged by his failure.
(2) By calling his original name, Jesus wanted to restart Peter’s life with a new mission.
1) Agape: Sacrificial love like God’s love
2) Storge: Love linked by blood relations just like a mother loving her child
3) Phila: Love due to friendship
4) Eros: Self centered love. Love to satisfy his or her sexual desire
(1) Satisfy the spiritual needs of Christians, which includes teaching the Word of God.
(2) This is also an assignment from Jesus to Peter as the senior disciple (later the senior Apostle).
(1) This meeting was for Peter.
(2) Jesus reinstated Peter as the senior disciple (later as the senior Apostle)
(3) Jesus gave a new assignment to Peter to feed Jesus’ sheep and take care of them.
Jesus! Thank you for your Agape love for me and the sacrifice of Your life in order to save my soul. Help me to know Your love better everyday so that Your love can become the motivation to live my life to serve You and others. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!