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We should not read John 21 apart from John 3. The One who was asking Peter if he loved Him
was the very Bridegroom who came to have the bride. Based upon the revelation of the Lord
Jesus as the Bridegroom in John 3, we see that His conversation with Peter in chapter twenty-one
was conducted in the way of courtship.
The same is true of the Lord's word in John 14:21 and 23. In verse 21 the Lord says, He who
has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be
loved by My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. This is a word
spoken by the Bridegroom to His bride. It is a word of dating and of courtship. In verse 23 the
Lord continues, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and
We will come to him and make an abode with him. The Father and Son making an abode with
the one who loves the Lord Jesus is a reference to living together in married life. To share the
same abode with the Lord Jesus is to live with Him as His spouse.
Although the Lord often spoke as a Bridegroom conversing with His bride, not many Christians
have realized this aspect of His word. The tendency has been to take the Lord's word in an
altogether different sense. Therefore, I hope that this word concerning God's dating and
courting of His people will revolutionize our concept. The Lord's coming to us is His dating
and courting of us.