After decades of rejecting the too-prevalent concept of an anthropomorphic god and thankfully, finally being introduced to Christian Science and the REAL GOD; the exchange between Christ Jesus and Peter mentioned from John 21 made no sense to me when I first read it. Thankfully during class instruction we were taught how to use Strong’s Concordance to understand better through the use of the original Hebrew and Greek words the Scriptures were written in (see below). This showed me that Christ Jesus and Peter were speaking on different levels of consciousness. In my arrogance I’d think; “How could Peter being with Jesus so much not understand what he was saying?” Well………. now I humbly discover a different aspect: that after all these years of CS study and participating here at the Plainfield Church, even though I have thought I was having Spiritual understanding, I’ve been very stuck in the world’s material language. So now I get it; I’m like Peter, some of us just have a more difficult time learning the true language of Spirit, regardless of good intentions and no lack of desire!
Now my focus has become with the patient help of my practitioner and the Plainfield classes, to ‘convert’ to Spiritual receptivity and thus thinking first; because even a little bit of this now gives the Bible and Mrs. Eddy’s writings so much more sense to me:)
S&H Glossary:
LAMB OF GOD. The spiritual idea of Love; self-imÂmolation; innocence and purity; sacrifice.
SHEEP. Innocence; inoffensiveness; those who follow their leader.
Strong’s Concordance:
Love, lovest,(original Greek word’s used and their ‘degree’ of love)
Phileo: to be a friend, to be fond of, having affection(personal attachment)
Agapao: to love in a moral sense (internet def.; as God Loves)
John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (agapao) thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (Phileo) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (agapao)thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love (phileo) thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest (phileo) thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest (phileo) thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love (phileo) thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(For all the variations of the word love; love, loved, loveth, etc. there are about 13 different levels/nuances thereof.)