Why did Jesus ask Peter 'Do you love me?' three times?
John 21:15 - 17
ESV - 15 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, "Feed my lambs. 16 He said to him 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, "Tend my sheep.
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Larry Truelove
With apologies to C. S. Lewis, it is not true that agape and phileo are such distinctly different kinds of love in NT Greek. Some parallel passages in the different gospel are worded with different synonyms (phileo versus agape) even though the different passages describe the same event.
RICK PORTER
There is a definitive and supernatural event that occurred in Peter's life, as well as all the other 119 disciples, that enabled them to do more abundant acts of God's work than mere human effort could ever accomplish. That event happened as recorded in Acts 2:1-4.
As Jesus promised in Luke 11:13, and John 7:37-39 the Holy Spirit would come into them and bring God's power upon them. This was promised by the Father in Ezekiel 36:26-27 and Joel 2:27-29.
All people who are born again receive the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation now to give a supernatural power inside that is a part of God's grace given to help His children to live a victorious life for Him. We too still falter at times but have a source inside to help us do God's work.