Tag: agape

Self-Awareness

My friend and colleague, Chuck Jamison, has often related the story of the beginnings of his journey as a Christ-follower. As a high school kid from Kansas City, he found himself spending a week at Young Life’s Castaway Club in northern Minnesota. As he relates the experience…

It was at Castaway in the summer of 1969 and they gave us 20 minutes to go outside after the cross-talk. I remember standing in the middle of what used to be the moonball field looking up at the sky and saying “God, I don’t know if you’re up there. But if you are, I give as much of myself as I understand (which isn’t very much) to as much of you as I understand (which is even less). Then I waited for a shooting star or lightning or some sign. But nothing happened. When I told my Young Life leader what happened, he said, “Oh, if you gave him an opening, he’s in your life! You’ll see evidence of it over time.“ And I did.

I’m reminded a bit of the Apostle Simon, renamed Peter by Jesus. Jesus first met him when he was fishing with his brother, Andrew. Peter was likely 15-16 years old at the time. He was fishing, not in Hebrew school. If you recall, there were various rites of passage in the first-century Hebrew education system in which students were either invited to continue their education or “invited” to discontinue formal education to learn the trade of their father (see Follow the Leader). Peter and Andrew apparently fit the latter category.

Following the life of Peter, we find a young man filled with passion and competitiveness. (The Chosen has done a great job of capturing his personality as depicted in the gospels.) He seemed to always strive to “get it right,” whatever right du jour happened to be. He often spoke or acted before thinking. Self-awareness and self-differentiation were not his strengths. He’s the one who always seemed to get caught up in the moment, blurting out comments without thinking. Think of the Transfiguration account in which he got caught up in the excitement after witnessing Elijah and Moses in person talking with Jesus…

Peter (to Jesus): “Teacher, it’s a great thing that we’re here. We should build three shelters here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He was babbling and did not know what he was saying because they were terrified by what they were witnessing. (Mark 9, The Voice)

To be fair, he did get it right at times. It was Peter who correctly declared Jesus to be the Messiah (Mark 8:29). However, once his Messiahship was out in the open, Jesus began preparing the disciples for his impending suffering and death under the direction of the religious leaders. Peter’s response? He began to rebuke the Messiah. Jesus responded with the well-known “Get behind me, Satan!” (Mark 8:33) Poor, passionate Peter. So close!

Then there was Peter’s coup de grâce – his infamous denial of Jesus recounted by all four evangelists. Again we see Jesus explaining to his followers the rejection and suffering that lay ahead and the fearful response of his followers. Peter, of course, retorted never: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will!” This was followed by Jesus’ prediction of Peter’s denial (which he also vehemently disagreed with: “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”). True to his passion and determination, Peter protected Jesus by taking a swing at the head of one of the arresting temple servants, missing and only slicing off an ear (which Jesus put back on the guy).  Poor, passionate, undifferentiated Peter. So close!

We can’t read the denial experience without feeling his pain. But the Gospel is very good news. The Apostle John made sure to incorporate the so-called “Reinstatement of Peter” as a wrap-up to his gospel…

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:15-17)

There is more to the “reinstatement” narrative than meets the eye. In the New Testament, we find two different Greek words translated as “love.” Agape is used to describe the compassionate, self-sacrificing type of love commensurate with the character of God. Phileo describes a fondness that one person has for another. Think of Philadelphia, the city of “brotherly love” (phileo). John used both terms when he wrote this discourse. The narrative takes on a markedly different feel when the Greek words for love are woven into the text…

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you agape me more than these?”  “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I phileo you”… Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you agape me?”  He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I phileo you”… The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you phileo me?”  Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you phileo me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I phileo you.”

Peter was finally at a place of self-awareness. Jesus asked Peter if he could love him the way he loved Peter (agape). After the humbling events of the past week or so, I suspect Peter realized that phileo was his best shot. So that was his response to all three of Jesus’ questions. The third time, Jesus met Peter where was at: “Simon son of John, do you phileo me?” Though frustrated that Jesus seemed to have lowered his expectations of him, Peter didn’t respond with agape, with what he thought Jesus wanted to hear. 

And Jesus seemed to be OK with phileo. He didn’t change Peter’s calling to shepherd the flock. It seems that Peter was giving as much of himself as he understood (which wasn’t as much as he once thought) to as much of Jesus as he understood (which he was just beginning to understand). The rest is, as we say, history. Peter went on to become a bedrock leader in the new movement referred to as The Way. The Catholic Church posthumously revered him as the first Pope. We, like Peter, discover that…

God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called. 

Hesed and Emet

Circa summer 1984. I participated in the most influential course of my life to date – Old Testament Survey. It was my first graduate-level course as I began the long journey toward a masters degree. The course was offered by Fuller Seminary, in partnership with Young Life’s Institute in Youth Ministry. IYM attendees, professors, and their respective families all lived in community at Hope College in Holland, MI, with classes held at Western Theological Seminary. We attended classes in the morning, all had lunch together, then hit the library to study for about 8 hours.

The course was taught by Dr. Terry McGonigal. He started our journey together by reminding us that everything we would discuss in the Old Testament pointed to Jesus. Theoretically I knew the truth of this statement, but never had anyone who could explain it to me.

Dr. McGonigal, another professor, and I went for long runs every evening around 9:00 pm. Terry could run the 6+ miles at a sub-7:00 minute/mile pace, a little faster than my norm. The solution? I would ask Terry questions that surfaced from class or my readings to which he was more than willing to expound, slowing him down and providing me with amazing tutorials. I learned more from that course than a typical three credit class. During the coursework, I was introduced to a couple Hebrew words that have impacted my reading and life the past 35 years – hesed and emet. Let’s look at hesed…

The Hebrew word hesed (sometimes transliterated as chesed) is translated into English as either steadfast love, lovingkindness, mercy, love, or unfailing love, depending on the translation of the Bible. Looking at Psalm 85:10, we see the treatment of hesed by various translations:

  • Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (NIV)
  • Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (ESV)
  • Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (NASB)
  • Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. (NKJV)

Hesed is such a rich and robust term that no single English word (or two words, in the case of “steadfast love”) captures its essence. Hesed is not just mercy, but covenant loyalty and relational fidelity. It is freely given, often unexpectedly, without requiring anything in return. Even though hesed stems from covenant (contract) loyalty, there is a sense that the loyalty surpasses the letter of the law. In Hosea, God said that he desires mercy (hesed), not sacrifice (law), which Jesus reiterated (Matthew 9:13). Jesus further reinforced this thought when addressing the Roman law forcing locals to carry soldiers’ packs for a mile; Jesus suggested going an extra mile (Matthew 5:41).

Hesed, you can see, describes the rich and robust depth of God’s character.

Though hesed is usually directional in its Old Testament usage – from God to his people – there is a sense that it was to be practiced ethically in the way people treated each other, be it relatives, friends, or foreigners. Boaz recognized hesed (kindness) in Ruth’s character (Ruth 3:10). One also thinks of God’s desire that his people not seek vengeance, but show love toward their neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) which Jesus reinforced, as part of “Great Commandments” (Mark 12:30-31). The author of Mark used the term agape (love), the Greek equivalent of hesed. Again, think “go the extra mile.”

Hesed is used 248 times in the Old Testament, 50% of its usage is in the Psalms, so it isn’t difficult to spot. As you read, be looking for it. Pay attention to the context in which it is used. I find myself translating the English back to Hebrew, knowing the richness and robustness of the word. I recently read Psalm 85 (above) and wrote in my journal, “Hesed and emet meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” As in Psalm 85, hesed and emet are often found together, increasing the richness and robustness of the description of God’s character. May you experience the hesed of God as you spend time with Him in Scripture.

Next time, we’ll look at emet.

Addendum July 2025. The correct term for the linking of hesed and emet is hendiadys: the expression of a single idea by two words connected with “and,” e.g., nice and warm, when one could be used to modify the other, as in nicely warm.