statement of faith (pernyataan iman)
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"For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son, That Whoever Believes In Him Shall Not Perish But Have Eternal Life" John 3:16 |
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Since the first time I heard the word AGAPE, I was
captivated. Not only by the word itself but especially by the meaning of
it. I have heard it from friends, discussion groups, prayer meetings,
sermons, and have read articles about it. It was buzzing around my head
for years. I attended a fellowship meeting a few years ago. The
speaker delivered the sermon attractively. The reference Scripture was
taken from the Gospel of John chapter 20:15-17. It was a conversation
between the Lord and Peter. The sermon was short but really attractive.
The speaker wasn't emphasizing about "Agape" or even "love", but it
triggered me to know more about the Scripture. I knew someone who
was studying Greek to enter a Catholic Seminary at that time. The New
Testament was originally written in Greek, while the Old Testament was in
Hebrew. I asked him the Greek word for LOVE written in the passage of John
21:15-17. He said the word Love that was using by the Lord is AGAPE in
Greek and the one mentioned by Peter is PHILEO. Bang Bang Bang! It was
really interesting. I have never seen that friend again since then. He
entered a seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I stop thinking about AGAPE
until later (much much later). My friend, Spiderkat *, helped me to refresh about AGAPE again. We used to share our experiences with the Lord in our everyday's living. One of the discussion topic was about John 21. I asked him to help me to ask his Pastor (who happened to know Greek and Hebrew) the original word of Agape in Greek. I just want to make sure because i don't have any resources about this but the Bible. Does it sound like an obsession? You bet... So even before the idea of making my own homepage* popped up, the title was already booked. *lol*
To talk about Agape on this page is like pouring
down all the water in an ocean into a wineglass. Simply wont put justice
to the richness of its meaning. 15MB space wont cover even the surface of
it moreover fitting it in a piece of page. Beside, who can fathom the
depth of His love? me? with brain no bigger than a fist? really, I cant
bear it! A mere human try to understand it all? the full concept of
it? the complete idea? don't kid yourself. Well, I'll tell it anyway...
Talking about Agape is talking about the whole existence of God
and us. Its talking about the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Its
talking about Christianity. This can happen because Love is the nature of
God. 'God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.' (1
John 4:16). The whole Old Testament tells us how God demonstrated
His love toward Israel. 10 miracles wouldn't do to make His people
believe. He hardened Pharaoh's heart just to show His people He is God.
One and Only. Yahweh. He divided the Red Sea and they trembled in
amazement. Still, it wasn't enough. A little suffering, changed their
hearts against God. To God, it was a constant love but to them its an
On-Off relationship. Through the wise kings and prophets and His Godly men
He assured His people that He always fulfilled His promises. His love
wouldn't change no matter what happened. He was the same God like
yesterday. His love didn't change. Through Jeremiah He said: 'I have loved
you with an everlasting love.' (Jer 31:3) It truly wasn't enough. He was
hurt, He still loves us. His ultimate love was giving His only Son
away for His people, the ones who rejected His love. What kind of love is
that? I have memorized John 3:16 since I was a Sunday school kid. When I
memorized it correctly my teacher would give me goodies. I remembered the
words by heart. The problem was I didn't understand the meaning of it,
'till few years ago when I became a newborn Christian. Imagine, my father
giving me away [make me an only child, I am not ;)] to the thieves, liars,
manslaughters, drugs- addicted, witch- crafters, even to those who wanted
to sell me for money, to be crucified! The reason was not simple. I was
the only payment that would do to bail them out. Other than I none would
do, nothing could. What kind of love is that? 'It was when we're still
sinners, Christ died for us'. (Rom 5:8.) When life's trudging in
the turvy way, where everything seems all going uphill. Wherever I go,
mess was created. Everything I touched, got broken. Whoever came near me,
got hurt. What kind of creature was I? Still, He died for me. He defended
me and made me innocent again. He gave me a new heart. The old one was
crucified with Him on the cross, not the same as the pretty ones I created
with ulead 3D but the ugly one as described in the old rugged cross's song
:) go figure. The past was forgiven and forgotten. Since then, I noticed
the sun shines every morning. The sky was so blue that made me want to
dance forever. At night the stars twinkled delivering the message of Hope,
and the grass...oh the grass...so lushly green, a cure to tired eyes,
tired heart. I was loved, now I know. Everything around me shouting out
that I was special to Him. Since then I enjoyed being with Him, I knew the
secret of why He loves people, the mystery of Agape. When I looked out of
the window I found that there were so many others with the lifetime
stories much like mine. Different pages but the same book. One family, the
family of God. 'He loves each one of us like there is only one of us to
love' (When God Whisper Your Name - Max Lucado). If we love those who love us, those who are kind to us, those who befriend us, is that love? maybe! but surely not the one we are talking about. The one which was demonstrated by God through Christ. 'the Love that helps those who may never return the favor.' (Our Daily Bread) Its Agape. The word i am so obsessed about. The special force, the fuel, that make me and all my fellow Christians eagerly move on in our pilgrimage. Trailing in the step of the Bearer of that love, reaching Home.
Agape was an old Greek word that was not used much in the
time when John wrote the Gospel of John. In all of his writings there were
2 kind of terms he used to describe love. One was Agape and another was
Phileo*. John used the term Agape to describe the most noble of love. The
majestic love God showed to the world. The love that enabled His people to
perform the same measure of love towards others and Him. Its
really interesting to know more about John's writings. Well we were all
know that the Bible was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Still, its
interesting to know that John was special, through his writings. They
emphasized in the Godliness of Christ. 'In the beginning was the Word, the
Word was with God and the Word was God...'(Jn 1) , remember? Do you know
that the Gospel of John was the latest Gospel that was agreed to be put in
the New Testament? (to be checked later for more resources!), hundreds of
years later...John was the Lord's disciple who lived the longest. He wrote
Revelation too. To think that I almost missed John 3:16 if the Gospel of
John wasn't accepted was unthinkable. It was in John's writings that the
meaning of agape was given form. The word "agape." Again, I give praise to
the Holy Spirit. Its Him who made all these things possible. Is not God
great?! In John we know that the meaning of Agape was set apart. It was a word that was specifically describe the Love of God. The love of God to mankind. The love that was showed not only in the Gospel of John but in the whole Bible. It may differ in words but the same in meaning. The constant love God shows to His chosen people. Undying, unending, unchangeable. 'It wasn't nail that hanged Christ to the cross, it was LOVE' (Our Daily Bread). Its Agape. reference:
(John 21
: 15 - 17) Verse
15: Verse 16: Verse 17: In Greek its really clear why the Lord asked Peter three times. I
don't know why Peter was not dare to reply the Lord's question with the
word agape, the one mentioned by the Lord. What have made him not to? what
have made him hesitated?! I bet Peter was in doubt because he might have
thought that he wasn't capable to love in that standard, unconditionally.
All Peter had at that time was to love the Lord in a brotherly way.
"Phileo" a lesser love. He couldn't give his all to Him, yet. He didn't
know if the Lord was requiring his all. Its beyond Peter's comprehension.
He just didn't get it. Its bigger than him. Peter was sad, the Lord didn't
trust me, he must have thought. Peter couldn't offer more than phileo. Its
the only thing he had. We now get to the good part. The part I
like the most. Its the Lord's third question. There are 2 important points
that I noted here. Remember the Christian's term about the Word of God is
like a 'double edged-sword?' It strikes outward and inward. This impact
was revealed in the Lord's response. After heard Peter's answers
for the second time and he still didn't get what the Lord meant, He asked
the third question with the same degree Peter used. The only term Peter
understood. The Lord used the term phileo. The Lord lowered Himself to be
in Peter's position. He was willing to put Himself in human level to be
able to express His love toward Peter, then toward us. He used 'phileo' to
describe 'agape' for us, humankind. He humbled Himself for us. He'd took
us however small we are, however weak, however foolish, however proud.
Second, instead of giving explanation to Peter or wait till he
understood what agape was, like you need more love. Even worse, He could
have said: "sorry Peter you need to learn more. This thing is serious. I
give honor to those who understand and you don't!" The Lord didn't do
those things. He said to Peter "feed My sheep."...Feed His sheep He said
He took what Peter could offer. The lesser love will do to Him. I trust
you to feed My sheep. In Peter's inability to give his all, God loved him
undyingly. Its Agape, its the love of Christ. Love that was not based on
the object. Phileo would do even though I thought you would understand and
said agape. Its like saying, I accept you just the way you are. No matter
how much you hurt me, my love for you will never change. Its the same
yesterday, today and forever. Can you grasp that? A love bigger
than life? unconditionally. Its written all over the Bible, from Genesis
to Revelation. No wonder John wrote this passage in his Gospel. Its
meaning is timeless. Its Christ's Godliness. The ability to love in Agape
way. He knew we can do that. The Lord knew, we mere human, can do that
too. That's why He asked Peter. He knew Peter could love that way. Its
just need discovering. Needs some ups and downs, need a little shove here
and there, needs some tears. Above everything, it needs the Holy Spirit,
the Essence of Christianity,... the Source of that kind of love, the One
that was left behind for us to be able to love, to be able live in
Christ's way. By the
way, The Lord was right. Peter Got 'it' in the end. Its written all over
Peter 1 through 3 [ take a look at this: 1 Peter 2:9,10 " But you are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim
the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous
light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had
not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy" (NKJV) ] . Written for the pilgrims who
chose to walk this path, for me and for you. Lets enjoy the blessings of
Agape.
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