Testimonies of People Who Have Seen Jesus

Today I would like to share with you some testimonies of people who claim to have seen Jesus in person, whether by dream or by vision or an out of body experience. I may also include one of two that have heard His voice. Here they are:

@isabelpulley9660

1 year ago

We were on a youth trip, and five of us saw Jesus standing next to the Christus statue in the welcome center. He was around six feet tall, wore white robes, and looked incredibly similar to Akiane’s Prince Of Peace painting (pictured left).

 

It was an experience I’ll never forget

Note:  The Christus statue, officially titled Christus Consolator, is a white marble sculpture of Christ by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. The statue depicts Christ with outstretched arms, as if inviting people to come to him.

@shintobinsuk8107

1 year ago

When I was in church during worship (Feb- March 2023), I had seen a king sitting on a throne surrounded by clouds...I felt goosebumps, and I started crying and smiling at the same time remembering his care. My heart got overwhelmed with gratitude.  

@BonnieMunz

3 weeks ago

In 1969, when I was 17 years old, I had just come to believe in Jesus. He came to me. I was alone in church, praying as I stood in front of a wooden cross. I lifted my eyes to see Jesus' feet right there in front of me, on the cross. I looked up to see His wonderful face. He lifted His head to look at me, with the most perfect love flowing from His eyes into mine. His message to me was, "I did this for you."

@LadyoftheLord

1 year ago

In 2019 Jesus saved me by appearing to me in a vision during the day when I was visiting my mom. All he said to me was "I'm coming!" Sternly. That's the first time I felt fear of the Lord, and it changed me forever. 

@michaelcastillo2599

10 months ago

I saw Jesus right before I got diagnosed with childhood cancer when I was 3 years old. He told me everything was going to be okay. 

I relapsed when I was 5 years old. 

[Later,] I was in the hospital when I saw Jesus again sitting on a chair in my room when I was 7 years old. The next day I was cancer free. I’m 35 now.

@StuStevens-rn7rb

1 year ago

On one trip to Heaven God took me on....I was on a path walking in one direction and Jesus approached me from the other direction. All I could do was to focus on His eyes. They were like liquid pools of LOVE, which quickly had me on the ground prostrate before Him in sheer adoration and awe.

@Galilea-2000

9 days ago

When I was 3 years old, I had a dream of Jesus with his cuts and bruises and even the crown of thorns. He told me that he was going to take my mother with him very soon. I cried in his arms and told him I needed her. Then I remember him saying something about me having something in the future. Then we played for a while, and I woke up crying and my mother next to me. I told her my dream and said "I saw a man and he had black marker in both of his hands, Mommy". Now I have type 1 diabetes, but I am so thankful my mom is still with me now, and I am so thankful for her being by my side.

@quintinaabbott8432

4 months ago

I've seen Jesus three times, but the most powerful [time] was in that dream [in which] I was at my church standing on the other side of the door that leads from the sanctuary to the hall and bathroom. While I was standing there, I heard in my spirit "Jesus is Coming!" 

I immediately leaned forward and looked left down the hall towards my pastor's office, and immediately a bright bright light shot out from her office; and all of a sudden Jesus started walking out of her office. He was in his glorified body glowing. 

As He walked out He was looking back talking to someone in the office and as He turned to start walking out the door the front of His body was facing me as I was looking down the hall towards Him. The robe He had on was made out of millions and millions of diamonds. The diamonds were glistening because of the glory that was illuminating from his body. From his chest on up to his face it was glowing like the sun. I then woke up, it was magnificent. I pray I have another encounter with Him.

@waitinginthepipeline

11 months ago

I was driving in London England where I live. I stopped to let a gentleman cross the road. He sort of put his hand up to say thanks without looking at me.

[Then] halfway across [the street], he stops, turns, waves, and looks right at me with a beautiful smile that I felt in my Soul. He looked exactly like the images of Jesus. As I drove away, I thought, "Was that Jesus?" I am now convinced that it was, as even [while] writing this I feel a stirring in my soul. Amen and peace to all.

@cissymckinley3154

1 year ago

I am 61. When I was a child of 10 [years old] or younger, I just kept saying I wanted to see Jesus. I was in my bedroom, my older sister asleep next to me. I looked straight forward and there stood Jesus. But he looked somewhat taller, due to the light coming in through the window, I didn't get a good look at his face. But you could tell he had dark hair, and a mustache with a beard. He wore an eggshell-colored gown with some type of rope around his waist. He was also wearing a long robe (same color as the gown). I just stared at him. I got scared not knowing what to say. I pulled the covers over my head. When I lifted my head up he was gone. This took years before I told anyone. People act like they believe me, but I don't think so. I've told my story A couple of times online, but it didn't go well. I really don't care but , I know this to be my truth.  GOD BLESS ALL.

@joanne_beutler

1 year ago

I saw Jesus 2015 in the sky. Words will never explain what I felt, but I felt things like love, forgiveness, hope and a warmth all around my heart area.

@JacobAllen_Music

1 year ago (edited)

Once my grandma had to go to the hospital, and she wasn't doing well there. A few minutes [later], she had passed. Everybody there got around the hospital bed and started crying. They thought she wouldn't come back. But the next minute, she awoke from the hospital bed and said she met God and she could see everyone crying around the hospital bed, and that Jesus was willing to bring her back to her family.

@cali7150

1 year ago

My physical experience with Jesus was when I was about 7 or 8. He came into my room, placed my head on His lap, and [as He was] caressing my head, I could see [in the spirit] His robe in me, His sandals and His light. I never saw His face, but the love coming out of Him as never ending waves of light. I had the lights off, and was in complete sleep when this happened, [but] awoke in the spirit in an instant. I have never and will never forget. It becomes an imprint in the soul.

@elizeviktoria

1 year ago

The only reason my dad became saved during the Soviet Union [era], was because Jesus appeared to him in the mirror. My dad KNEW who He was, even though no one had ever told him about Jesus before. He was a hardcore alcoholic, almost drinking himself to death. Jesus said my father's name and asked him "What are you doing with your life?". He repented and became radically saved.

@marthamoloi.hissoldier

1 year ago

The first time I saw Christ was in a dream where satan was trying to harm/intimidate me and my granny, and Christ appeared next to us, stretched out his hand and and blew his breath into the devils face and the devil disappeared. Christ looked at us and smiled. When I woke up in the morning I was led to the scripture 2 Thessalonians 2:8: "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming." I will never forget that dream. Christ is real.

In the following video, a woman shares how she died and saw Jesus. Her testimony is in the first 5 minutes of the video:

@Eyeswideopen251

1 year ago (edited)

Amen. He spoke to me once. I had a bad fall from a cliff and broke my neck and lots other bones. I was alone because the only person there had gone several miles away for help. When I lay there, I asked God, "Is this where I  die?" and a voice so clearly said to me, "Don't worry,  everything will be OK." In that instant all pain, fear and worry left me, and soon after I was ok. True story!

@bradross5480

3 weeks ago

Jesus appeared to me in the clouds after my twin brother was murdered. We couldn't find him and I knew he was gone but my father could not bring himself to believe that. Then Jesus appeared and let

me know so graciously that Al was with Him. While He was there, a rush of energy came through me and took all the anger I had for the man that I thought killed him away! Thank you Yeshua and Almighty God!!!

@lalalisa9307

3 weeks ago (edited)

I also had a profound experience. I...bought some anointing oil for a close friend who is dying of cancer. After anointing him later that night, Jesus pulled back the veil, and I saw God‘s light. It was only for a few seconds. All I can describe [it] as is like being inside of a diamond, and as I started to look upwards I realized that I would disintegrate or die because I wasn’t good enough to look, so I turned my head. I remember feeling nothing but peace through my entire being, and I also felt like a younger version of myself. I didn’t feel any wrinkles on my face, and I have been madly in love with God ever since. It’s such an intense love that it overwhelms me, and it sometimes it’s hard for me to take it.

2 weeks ago

I’ve seen Jesus as well. I was in a state of twilight sleep on my couch. Not really asleep but not fully awake. He came to me while I was still grieving my Mom being gone and right before the insanity of 2020. He walked straight up to me and wrapped me up in his arms and without actually speaking told me [said], "It’s going to be ok. Be strong in me." When he let go, I immediately jumped off the couch and my entire being was literally vibrating with joy as I danced around knowing how much He truly loves me, and solidifying my Faith even more! Jesus is for real!

@vaniza0425

8 years ago

Thank You for sharing your testimony! He is Pure! I saw him too, in 2004. When I hit my head on the pavement without a helmet when I was riding a scooter-motorcycle. I never remember falling and hitting my head. 

Instantly I was with Him. He was looking at me. Every time I looked at Him, I fell to my knees. He knew exactly what I was thinking. I saw myself wearing white, but He was lights of gold. He was coming out of the Sun with rays. Each ray beaming said words like this: love, care, kindness, children, innocent, live, laugh, help, all mighty, Alpha and Omega, I am the Son of Man. The rays came out rolling as spirals right to my eyes. I would get up and fall once again. I didn't want to leave. He was light Pure light. Pure Love. 

He told me to look to the left . He said look who is praying for you. I saw my husband praying and crying. He returned me back to earth. I woke up in the hospital with burn marks, and my arms and legs were all burned due to the gasoline of my scooter spilling in my arms and legs [and] burning [them]. I had street marks that pulled my skin off my arms. 

I wasn't hurting about the pain. My pain was in my heart, because I wanted to be with Jesus and his throne was infinite. May the Lord Bless you! He is calling his sheep! 

One more thing the day before the accident I remember praying to the Lord saying I want to be changed. I want to see you. I [sure] did [see Him] alright! It was the most life changing experience in my life. I haven't been the same since. 

@Hiswillbedone2

1 year ago (edited)

I’ve seen the Lord a short time after I became a Christian. I was about junior- high-school age. He stayed with me for a long time. He has a great sense of humor and He made me laugh.

In the following video, a woman tells about her experience seeing Jesus while watching the movie called The Passion of the Christ. 

@ucong79

9 years ago

I had a dream. I was in my bed and woke up where it was really bright. Then I heard a voice saying, "I will help you". I was confused at first, but then a hand reached out at me. Then I woke up in my real bed. Then I realized the hand in front of me was God. This is true. God bless everyone.

@denisegrandma-m7g

3 weeks ago

I was at a very desperate point in my life. I was feeling trapped, unhappy, angry, and just wanted to  leave. I went outside on a day where the sky was blue with clouds. I cried and yelled at the sky. Are

you there? Why is all of this happening to me? I can't take it anymore. Please let me know what to do.

Slowly a large area of clouds opened in the sky forming a circle. Inside the circle was the face of Jesus. I saw it. I was in shock. I turned away, then back again. It was there. I didn't want to blink. I felt relieved, yet was ashamed at the same time. I stood looking up and cried. Then slowly the circle closed.  God is real. Jesus is real.

When you lose someone, or when someone is in serious trouble, who do you turn to?  

@catmat3686

1 year ago

I had a vision when I was 9 or 10 of seeing Jesus and Mary. I saw them as I walked down the dark hallway to my mom’s room. Their faces glowed in the darkness. I can’t remember what they said. 

@MysticMeadowsSanctuary

2 weeks ago

I saw him too in 2003 at a church in Central Phoenix. He handed me the host [communion bread], and the blood in the chalice looked like real blood. When I saw the blood in the chalice, I looked back at him, and he smiled at me. His message to me that day was "Remember me, not that I left, but that I am right here with you". He was no longer the Lamb that had been slain, but [had] the eyes of a Mighty Warrior, but with the most incredible eyes. I'll never forget.

@narcoholic22

2 weeks ago

I had a dream during one of my lowest points. I was in a narcissistic abusive relationship for years. He gaslighted me for years at that point and I was confused, insecure, depressed, panicked ALL THE TIME

from the psychological trauma. I lost my identity to this person. I was an empty shell of who I used to be. One night I had this dream that I was standing in a room at night. Jesus in a white robe was there. I was not afraid but sad. He stood in front of me. He embraced me with the most loving hug. I felt so loved and warm & safe like never before. I woke up and still felt HIM with me. I have not shaken off the feeling HE gave me. 

I honestly feel as though he really came to me in my desperation that night. I feel undeserving of His love but He made me feel I was loved & special. I never felt insecure about my worth after that dream. Years later I found a painting of Jesus in a white robe hugging a girl with olive skin & brown hair. It

was my dream [depicted] in a painting! It was me! It’s a well known painting, I [later] found out. I bought  it and it hangs in my home to remind me of the night Jesus came to show me I was loved.

@melanied4944

3 weeks ago (edited)

I saw Jesus during emergency surgery after childbirth. Nurses were all around me, as they battled to stop me from bleeding to death. At my head/eye-level he was there. I have never seen eyes like them. They were a clear blue [like] I had never seen before, so beautiful, and he was whispering [that] I was going to be ok. It was him. I felt his warm presence

@braxtonbearden613

7 years ago

When I was nine years old I was in church and I felt this pull in the pit of my heart. At the time I had no clue at all what it was. My mom explained to me it was the Holy Spirit. [but] that day I didn't accept Christ. The next Sunday pulled around, and again I felt that same pull in my heart. It felt almost like a flame, but it didn't hurt. It was a calming flame. 

So that day I walked up to the altar and my pastor at that time laid hands on me. I asked Christ to be a part of my life. I asked him to forgive me of my sins. I told God that I believed in Jesus's resurrection. When I was done praying this flood of joy and this flame filled my whole body.  

@debbiehurley293

2 weeks ago

When I was about 6 years old, I remember going with my mother to a tent revival. We didn't have ac back then, so we slept with our windows up. That night, the moon was full and bright. As I laid in bed looking up at the moon, I saw Jesus. He was beautiful. To this day, I never forgot that night. Another time when I was 20 years old, I was studying the bible prophecies. I was woken up during the night and the room was filled with a bright light. A voice said to me, "No matter where you go or what you do, always keep your eyes on Jesus."

@SKMac5176

3 weeks ago (edited)

When I was 24 years of age, I was struggling mightily with some very deep moral & spiritual issues in my life. After much anguish & prayer, I laid down on my brother's bed, where I continued to pray and ask for guidance from the Lord. Suddenly, as I was looking at the ceiling Jesus' face appeared before me. He had the most Beautiful, Gentle, & kind features I'd ever seen. He said nothing, but reached out and touched my left cheek with overwhelming LOVE in His eyes. I came away much healed, feeling great Peace regarding my upcoming decision.

@carolmartin2503

1 year ago

As I was planning to destroy my life I looked out at the stars and said. "If there's a God, He better let me know because I'm all done."   I rolled over and there was Jesus in my room  on that cross. I knew He did it for me to pay for the many sins I'd done, and I screamed. "NO" [meaning] "Don't do that for me! I'm not worth it!!!" And He said, "I LOVE YOU" and died.  

I now live for Him and know I'll spend eternity with Him in His Home!!! Thank you, Jesus!

@chessc.3407

1 year ago

I saw him in my bedroom. I was wide awake and He didn’t speak to me, but I saw him. Almost like I was watching a movie of his crucifixion as a projection on my room. I have no TV in my room. That night I went on my knees and repented and finally believed and accepted Jesus into my life.

@TheMrshefner

7 years ago

I know you seen him just by the way you described his Love. I had a dream of him one time and I remember his eyes almost glowed a teal like color and the love I felt from him reached into the pit of my stomach and was like a euphoric love that can't be described. Like no drug in this world could put you so high as his love. Literally I can't to this day describe it but it is the most magnificent feeling and I have never felt that feeling sense. It's so pure and amazing.

@carolroblyer3629

7 days ago

I recently met Jesus in a dream. I was in a mild depression, and I went to sleep listening to worship songs. He appeared in my dream and just spent time with me. I got to see His face and experience His personality -- loving, peaceful but also fun. 

Another time I fell asleep crying after being horribly, emotionally bullied. I sensed arms holding me while I slept, and I knew it was Him. 

But the first time I experienced the love of God was years earlier. Feeling like giving up after years of heavy depression, I asked the Lord to take me home, because I was done. Instead He healed me in an instant with a powerful surge of love that overwhelmed me. That's when I knew God was real and that He loved me. There is nothing that can describe that power. It was shocking, like nothing in this world. And felt amazing.

@levelwithme609

1 year ago

Jesus showed up when I was drowning in a reservoir, and when I asked, "IS THIS HOW I'M GONNA DIE?", He wrapped His arms around me and answered, "NO, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU'RE GONNA DIE." He taught me that I can TRUST HIM NO MATTER WHAT instead.

@AiditaRoman-ef2lz

11 months ago

I saw Jesus in a dream, I didn’t believe in him before but he just hugged me and I felt myself filled with unmeasurable love, then he held me at arms length and just looked at me without a word and all I could think was how beautiful he was, more than words can describe so I know exactly what she means! Every time I feel sad I just remember his love and I feel good again! Amen.

@ylvany1

11 months ago

When I was about 10 years old, I had a dream where I was in a major car accident. Immediately I was in the throne room of God and although I couldn't see His face, I KNEW I was standing in the presence of the Most High God! I could sense hundreds of people around me and everyone was in high worship and it was the most beautiful music I'd ever heard; and instantly I fell on my knees in worship! It was the most amazing feeling I've ever experienced, and to this day have yet to experience that level of worship. It was like every cell in my body was vibrating at the highest frequency available and I just KNEW that THIS is what we were created for: to worship the one true God! Everything we search for and get involved with, all trying to fill this void that can ONLY be filled by the living God! That experience has NEVER left me, I mean it feels like it just happened yesterday and that was 35 years ago!

Closing Words

I hope these testimonies have built your faith and given you a hunger for God.

Attribution notice: The image of Akiane's Prince of Peace painting of Jesus is subject to copyright, used  here per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like The Revelation of Love, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. I also have an entire blog about people's experiences visiting heaven and hell, which is call Eternal Destinations, as well as another blog called Testimonies from Eastern Europe with many amazing testimonies of people who have encountered Jesus, seen angels, and experienced miracles. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

______________________________________

Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.

The Revelation of Love

Dear saints,

I'd like to share with you the revelation of love. There are so many Scriptures about love that I cannot possibly cover them all in this post, but I'm going to share some key ones to make the point that I am led to share with you. I'm going to discuss The Father's love for us, the Father's love for Jesus, the love of Jesus for us, our love for God, and our love for one another.

The Father's Love for Us

First and foremost is the love of God for us. This is spoken of all throughout Scripture, but the most famous one is:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (Jn 3:16).

God loves us all so much that He gave His one and only Son to come into this world as God's Lamb to be sacrificed for our sins. He didn't just tell us with words that He loved us, but He demonstrated it to us. Scripture says:

"But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:8).

He did that for us while we were still sinners, so clearly God took the initiative. As the apostle John says:

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 Jn 4:9-10).

Now that we've touched on the fact that the Father was first to love us and demonstrate His love for us by sending His Son, let's look at the Father's love for Jesus.

The Father's Love for Jesus

The father's love for Jesus is, of course, greater than His love for anyone else. In order to understand just how much the Father loves us, we need to understand His love for Jesus, since He sent Him into the world to save us. Here are just a few of the Scriptures that declare the Father's love for Jesus:

"The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands." (Jn 3:35).

When Jesus was baptized in water and with the Holy Spirit, "a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.'” (Mt 3:17).

When Jesus was transfigured on the sacred mountain, and His clothes became dazzling white before Peter, James, and John, the Father declared His love for Jesus again. 

"While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Mt 17:5).

There can be no doubt, based on the Word of God, that the Father's love for Jesus is supreme. It's the highest form of love, known as agape ("a-GA'-pey") love in the original Greek.

The Love of Jesus for Us

Jesus, in turn, loved us with the same love the Father has for Him.

He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." (Jn 15:9).

This clearly show that Jesus loved us just as the Father loved Him (key words: "just as"), and His love for us hasn't changed. But we can change, and that is why we are responsible to remain in His love by the way we live. More on that in the next section.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 Jn 3:16).

We know what love is by the fact that Jesus Christ laid down His life for us on the cross. He doesn't have to prove His love for us, since He already proved it on the cross. Such redeeming love, unfailing love, everlasting love, steadfast love, and faithful love did He demonstrate for us on Calvary! It is a love that is nothing like what we humans call love here on earth. His response to the Father's love for Him was to please the Father, obeying the Father's command to lay down His life on the cross for us. And Jesus taught that there is no greater love than this.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (Jn 15:13).

If you could experience in person the love of Jesus for you, as many people have in after-death experiences, you would feel as though He loved only you, or that He loved you more than anyone else on earth; however, that's the same way He loves everyone. It's a euphoric love that can't be described. There is no greater love than the love of Jesus, for nobody loves you like Jesus.

This brings us to our love for God.

Our Love for God

Our love for God is our response to the love He has first shown to us through His sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for us. Perhaps the verse that best teaches this effect is the following one:

He said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." (Jn 15:9).

This shows the love initiating with the Father for Jesus, flowing through Jesus as He responded to that love by loving us with the same love the Father had for Him, and then the need for us to remain in His love. This begs the question, "How do I remain in the love of Jesus?" The answer is found in the very next verse, in which Jesus said:

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love." (Jn 15:10).

Do you see how to respond to the love of Jesus for you, which was His response to the Father's love for Him? We respond to the love of Jesus by remaining in His love, and we remain in His love by obeying His commands. This is the same way that Jesus responded to the Father's love for Him: He obeyed the Father's commands and remained in His love. Therefore, Jesus commands us to do the same.

"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” (Jn 14:21).

Our Love for One Another

Since we respond to the love of Jesus by remaining in His love, and we remain in His love by obeying His commands, then it's necessary to know what He commands. Jesus said:

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (Jn 15:12).

We remain in the love of Jesus by obeying His command to love each other with the same love Jesus has for us, which is the same supreme kind of love the Father has for Jesus. It's the perfect love that Jesus showed us when He laid down His life for us, as was previously stated:

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (1 Jn 3:16).

We respond to the love of Jesus by loving each other, and we love each other by laying down our lives for our brothers. We love others by being kind, compassionate, and forgiving toward them. We even love our enemies, as the Lord commanded us to do (Mt 5:44).

That kind of love that we show to each other in response to the love of Jesus for us will then bring about a loving response in the hearts and lives of those we love, as they in turn love others with that same kind of love. It's like a chain reaction or a ripple effect. As the Scripture says: "We love because he first loved us." (1 Jn 4:19). It just keeps on flowing from one person to the next, and this pleases the Father. 

Peter's Reinstatement

Most of us have heard of the Lord's reinstatement of Peter as an apostle, following his denial of Christ. Let me break that down for you and show how it illustrates the point I've been making.

First let me say that while there is one word for love in English, there are multiple words for love in the original Greek language that the Bible was written in. These Greek words reflect the various Aramaic words that Jesus and Peter used in their conversation together. 

There is first of all agape love, which is the perfect, supreme, highest kind of love that God has and that Jesus has. Then there is philos ("FEE'-los"), which is brotherly love that brothers have for each other, whereby they love or like each other. Then there is storge (STOR'-gey), which is "natural affection" or "affection between family members," often used to describe the love between parents and children. And finally there is eros, from which we get the word "erotic", which is the kind of love that involves the unique intimacy meant to be shared only between a husband and wife. Eros translates to "love" and "desire," specifically referring to sensual, romantic, or passionate love.

In the reinstatement of Peter, just as Peter had denied the Lord three times, now after the resurrection, the Lord asked him three times if he loved Him. First Jesus appeared on the shore after the disciples had been fishing all night and caught nothing, and He enabled them to make a huge catch. Then He fed them some breakfast of fish and bread that he had cooking over the hot coals, along with some of the fish they caught. Afterward he questioned Peter:

1. First ask: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love (Gr., agape) me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love (Gr., phileo) you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (Jn 21:15)

Notice that Jesus asked him if he loved Him with agape love, and Peter responded that he loved Jesus with philos, or brotherly love. He had been humbled by his denial. Whereas he previously declared so proudly that he would never deny the Lord and would go to prison or death with Him, now he was only able to say with a more honest evaluation of himself that he possessed a definite philos love for Jesus.

Notice that the Lord's response to Peter was to command him to feed His lambs, which are the people of God, and that was to be His way of showing His love for Jesus. He was reinstated as an apostle of God sent by the Lord to serve His people.

2. Second ask: Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love (Gr., agape) me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love (Gr., philo) you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (Jn 21:16)

Once again, Jesus asked Peter if he had agape love for Him, and Peter responded that he had philos love for Him. And once again, Jesus commanded him to take care of His sheep, which is the role of a shepherd or pastor, and that involves caring for people. This is how Jesus wanted Peter to demonstrate his love for Jesus.

3. Third ask: Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love (Gr., phileo) me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love (Gr., phileo) you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (Jn 21:17).

Notice how Jesus now switched to asking Peter if he possessed the brotherly kind of love for Jesus, since He saw that Peter no longer had the confidence to say that he loved Jesus with the highest kind of love shown by Christ. Jesus seemed to condescend to Peter by now using the same word for love that Peter was using. 

Finally, Jesus told Peter:

I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go. ”Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (Jn 21:18-19)

Jesus was foretelling to Peter that in the future in Peter's old age, he would stretch out his hands (perhaps to allow others to bind him with ropes), and someone would dress him (perhaps with ropes to bind him), and that they would lead Peter to a martyr's death. Legend has it that Peter was crucified, but that he insisted on being crucified upside down, since he considered himself unworthy to die right side up as his Lord was. The Lord commanded Peter to follow Him just as He had originally called Peter to follow Him, and this would include following Him not only in his life but in his death. The Lord wanted Peter to know that this was how Peter would show his love for Jesus.

What this teaches us is that our love for God is not something we initiate, as Peter originally did when he pridefully told Jesus that he would go to prison and death with Him. It is something we do from a humble and contrite heart when we realize what the Lord has done for us on the cross despite our own sinfulness and unworthiness, and we respond to His love with that same kind of love. Therefore, our love is a response to God's love for us, His love for Jesus, and Jesus' love for us, as well as His forgiveness toward us. It flows through us when we have been humbled as Peter was through his past experience of failing the Lord and being forgiven. As Jesus once said, he who has been forgiven much, loves much, "but he who is forgiven little, loves little." (Lk 7:47).

After-death Testimonies of Love

Many people, who have had experiences of life after death, near death experiences, and out of body experiences, have returned to testify that God is love, and that love is the whole point of our life on earth. John the apostle also said that God is love (1 Jn 4:8). And Paul the apostle said that without love we are nothing, even if we have great faith, great knowledge, and rich generosity (see 1 Cor 13).

Here are short excerpts from what a few different people said upon returning from their experience with God in heaven or with Jesus:

The first one said of life, "It's all about love. Love is the goal of all that exists regardless of where and how it exists. Love is the origin of all that exists. Love is the origin and the goal. All decisions in life need to be tested by the only valid question: Am I doing this out of love? If you follow that rule, you follow what your life is ultimately about. Then you do what you were born to do."

 

Another person who encountered the Lord in a near death experience said: “Growing in faith and learning to love God is the point of life.”

A man named Thomas B. wrote after his near death experience that the meaning of life is to “Learn how to love others properly. This is a test to see if you are worthy. And it is never too late to stop bad behavior and turn back to love, which is what we are designed for.”  

Howard Storm, who died of a perforated stomach in a hospital while he was still an atheist, said that after he died, he met Jesus who called over a group of angels: "[The angels] gave me a life review and we went over my life in very great detail. And the life review, at the conclusion of it, I realized that I was here to love people, to be compassionate, to love God and love one another and I had utterly failed." Afterward he had a chance to ask Jesus any questions he wanted to ask Him. Then he said to the Lord, "Now I want to go to heaven." And Jesus said, "No, you've got to go back to the earth and do this the way you were created to do it in the first place: to live a life the way God created you to live a life," which Storm says he knew "very [clearly] was to love, to be a loving, kind person, loving God, loving my fellow man." 

Closing Words

In closing, I tried to be as concise as possible on such a broad topic. I hope that this article has helped unveil this revelation of love that God has for us, for Jesus, and that Jesus has for us, and how we are to repent, humble ourselves, and respond to it with the same kind of love by obeying God's commands and loving one another. Life is all about love. In fact, learning to love God and others is the whole point of life and its goal.

Attribution notice: Scripture take from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. Image may be subject to copyright, used per the Fair Use Act for educational and commentary purposes only.

Author's note:  If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Testimonies of People Who Have Seen Jesus, The Love of Jesus, Having the Love of God in Your Heart, Compelled by Love, Law of Love in the New Testament, One Thing, Seven Things That Accumulate Building Materials in Heaven, and the other posts available through the links on the Home page. You may also access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Him.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.