Feed My Sheep

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’  He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’  A second time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’  He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’  He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’  Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’  And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything: you know that I love you.’   Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.’   (John 21:15-17 NRSVUE)

Rocky Mountain Sheep in Glacier National Park

   This is the first real conversation Jesus had with Peter after the resurrection.   Peter had to be anxious because they had not discussed Peter’s denial of Jesus three times before the crucifixion.    I find it interesting that Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  Peter’s answer each time was the same, “Yes, I love you.”  Each time Jesus told Peter to “feed my sheep.”  Three times Peter had denied knowing Jesus, and now Jesus gave him three opportunities to say, “I love you.”  This opportunity was given so that Peter could retract each of his denials of Christ.  By telling Peter three times to “Feed my sheep,” Jesus was assuring Peter that there was important work for him to do, and Jesus trusted him to do it. What a fantastic example of forgiveness and reconciliation this is.  

   We receive this same forgiveness and reconciliation for every sin we commit, but it may not always be this dramatic.  Jesus is the best forgiver and reconciler ever.  So, the Father chose this role for Jesus, and Jesus fulfills it every day, first by His sacrifice at Calvary, and then by assuring us daily that He still needs us to continue the work chosen for us.  What a confidence builder it is to know that our Lord and Savior believes in us.  He expects us to continue our work for His kingdom no matter what it may be and what we may have done.  “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful that anyone else.  No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”  (John 10:28-30 NLT)  This verse assures our safety, guaranteed by the Father.  Those who truly commit their hearts to Christ will remain His forever.   In Philippians 1:6, Paul gives us further encouragement:  “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” (NLT)

   Praise God for His faithfulness in forgiving and reconciling!

  P.S.   We often think of the small wooly animals led around by shepherds when we think of sheep.  Perhaps Jesus meant for Peter, the bold one, to feed sheep with a more robust appearance and a more compelling nature.

   Return next rime to see how those three words, “Feed my sheep,” have affected my life.