Intimacy (Love) (John 21:3-14,17; 18:18-27; Romans 1:31; 2 Timothy 3:3; Romans 12:10; 1 John 2:15; Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-31)

LOVE

Everyone wants love, to be loved and have someone to love. That seems to be universal to the human condition, and as the humorous expression states,  anyone that says they don't want love and someone to love, would probably lie about other things too.

MEALS

John 21:3-14 records the 3rd encounter of Jesus with the disciples, after His resurrection, and when the disciples came ashore, after recognizing that it was Jesus that just gave them a "multitude of fish" (21:6), "they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread" (21:9). Jesus always seemed to be developing intimacy around meals; in fact, when you've been in someone's home for a meal, and they've been to your home for a meal, it seems to open the door for a deeper level of relationship

FIRE OF COALS

Interestingly enough, the expression, "fire of coals" (21:9) is only found twice in all of scripture; once when Peter denied Jesus 3 times (John 18:18-27) and in this instance where Jesus gives Peter an opportunity to reaffirm his love and commitment, 3 times, to the Savior (John 21:15-17).

There are 4 words for love in the Greek, which are (Eros), (Storge), (Phileo), and (Agape). 

EROS (PHYSICAL)

Eros is physical love, touching or caressing someone, which definition eventually became perverted to strictly mean sexual love. This word is not found in the scriptures. 

STORGE (PARENTAL)

The second is Storge, which is parental love, and emphasizes the human parental love and affection for their children. It is found in Romans 1:31 and 2 Timothy 3:3 in the negative, describing those "without natural affection". It is totally normal, and natural, for a parent to have strong affection for their children, but some have perverted their minds, and therefore themselves, to the point that their own children are abhorrent to them. The word is also used in combination with Phileo in Romans 12:10, exhorting us to be "kindly affectionate" towards one another, referring to not only natural affection, but affection that finds it pleasurable to be around other people and work with them.

PHILEO (PLEASURE)

The third word for love is Phileo, which is used numerously throughout the NT, and generally refers to finding pleasure in another's company, so that you like to be around them. Basically it describes the overwhelming majority of friendships where there is mutual pleasure in each other's company, association, and interaction.

AGAPE (PRECIOUS)

Finally, there is Agape, often referred to as the love of God, however, that would be somewhat misleading, since 1 John 2:15 admonishes us to not love (agape) the world, and that, "if any man love (agape) the world, the love (agape) of the Father is not in him". Agape is what is precious, above all else, to you. It is what you value more than anything else in your life, and is easily demonstrated by what you spend your time and energy pursuing and engaging in.

To easily remember the 4 words for love and their definition they can be classified as:

Eros - Physical

Storge - Parental

Phileo - Pleasure

Agape - Precious

The first two times that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, Jesus used the word agape. In other words, He asked Peter if He was the most precious and valuable thing in his life. Each time, Peter responded with (phileo), saying that he liked Jesus, and He was pleasurable to be around. The third time Jesus asked Peter, do you even like me as a friend, and Peter was grieved and said, "Lord,  You know all things; You know I like you as a friend and find pleasure in Your company" (John 21:17).

The Father has a desire for intimacy with us, and that He be the most valuable and important aspect for everything in our life, so that the greatest commandment is to love (agape) God, our Father with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matt.22:37; MK.12:30) and to love (agape) our neighbor as our self (Matt.22:39; Mk.12:31). When God is the most precious and valuable in our lives, we will treat others as being precious and valuable, since they are made in His image and likeness. 

You Are God's Best and God's Best is Yours

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