Scripture
“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.
~John 21:17, NLT
Quote
No one loves you as much as Jesus loves you.
~Charles F. Stanley
An interesting thing happens in Jesus intimate conversation with Peter, and you do not see it in English translations. The Greeks had four words for ‘love’ and two of them are used in this text in John 21. There is only one is verse 17 and it is phileō which is a human love, the kind of love one has for a friend. In the first two questions, “Peter do you love me?” Jesus uses the Greek word agapao which refers to divine love. I call it love from above: it is not human in origin. It is a heavenly love, a perfect love, a holy and totally unselfish love that humans are not capable of apart from grace and the filling of the Holy Spirit. To put this in laymen’s terms: if and when we love in the agapao sense; it is actually Christ loving through us and thus He would get the glory. At one time, Peter was confident that his {phileō} love for Jesus was superior to those around him. This is why Jesus first question to Peter was, “Do you love me more than these {the other disciples}?” The third time Jesus questions Peter’s love and loyalty, Jesus uses the word phileō which is a love that we are more comfortable with. The thing we need to understand is that no one loves us more than Jesus. No one is capable of loving us more than Jesus.
I bought a year’s subscription to PureFlix Monday night. They have been advertising a movie that I wanted to see. In Luke’s gospel we are told about the Centurion in charge of the crucifixion…It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.” In the movie, the Centurion upon believing losing control of the crowd. His cruel harshness is gone, and the crowd takes advantage and so Pilate sends a Tribune [higher ranking officer]. The Tribune takes care of business and quails the riot and sends the entire crowd packing. The Tribune is a hardnosed Roman solider who does what he has to do and shows little emotion. Pilate puts him in charge of the security of the tomb. The Tribune assigned two soldiers to the job and he goes home. In three days, the body of Jesus comes up missing and the Tribune is task by Pilate to come up with the body. The Tribune launches a full-scale investigation and long story short; he becomes a believer after encountering the resurrected Christ. What moves him most is the extraordinary love that Jesus has for his followers. It is not like anything he has ever seen. It is so compelling that he cannot resist.
Whereas the story of the Tribune is fiction, the extraordinary love that Jesus has for His followers is not. It is an incredible love that is beyond all imagination. This world has never seen anything like it before or since. I was talking with someone a few days ago who was struggling to fine their identity. At one time or another, we have all struggled with this until we understood clearly: Jesus loves us in a perfect way. If He loves us, we have value. I get my self-esteem from my relationship with Jesus. If you like me, that is good, if you don’t that is OK too because I am secure in the fact that Jesus loves me. I would like for you to love me, but the basic need of my life has been fulfilled by His love for me.
Extra
We did something different last night: we had an old-fashioned prayer meeting, and it was refreshing. I have a growing burden for those caught in the invasion of the Ukraine. I understand that women and children are being killed by the brutal tactics of the Russians. Actually, we prayed for the Russians also; I doubt seriously that the Russian families of the soilders want this war.
Mrs. Willowdean may go to rehab today. They were working on a plan yesterday but were undecided as to where she would go when I left the hospital. She has excessive fluid and is having a difficult time walking.
A Graveside Funeral service and Interment for Jerrold Couey, 70, is today, March 10, 2022 at 3:00 PM at Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery with Bro. Jack Bailey and Kenneth Roberts officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be today from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Peck Funeral Home.
Mr. Couey died on Sunday, March 6, 2022 at his residence. He was born May 29, 1951, in Morgan County, to Voine “A.V.” Couey and Lazelle Murphy Couey.
He was employed by BP/ Amoco for 32 years, where he made lasting friendships with co-workers. He was a beloved husband, father and Papa. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, was a graduate of Cotaco High School, Class of 1969, and attended Calhoun Community College, where he played basketball for 2 years. Mr. Couey enjoyed playing basketball, fishing, time spent with his dogs and watching hummingbirds. Jerrold married his high school sweetheart, Vicky, and they have been married 51 years.
Survivors include
Wife –
Vicky Roberts Couey, Somerville, AL
Daughter –
Christy Clark (Mark), Somerville, AL
Son –
Blake Couey, Somerville, AL
Christy is our church treasurer and a very good one. Pleas pray for Christy and family.