Feed My Sheep

Now when they had eaten 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.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs!” ¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep!” ¹⁷ He said to him a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed because he said to him a 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).

Good afternoon and welcome back to the Panhandle, come on in, pull up a chair and sit a spell. Let me ask you, have you ever done something that causes you to say, “God can't forgive me for this.” or “I've messed up bad, how can God ever forgive me?” I think if we are honest with ourselves we all said those words or something similar. But as we see in our Scriptures today we don't have to feel like that.

Also we a personal commissioning of Peter. Christ Jesus is telling Peter to not only be a fisher of men, but also to be a discipler of men. At this point some of you may be saying, “Wait a minute I'm not called to be a pastor or teacher or in some ministry position.” Guess what, that isn't exactly true. What do I mean? Well let's open God's Word and do a little bit of Biblesurfing.

As you see John 21:15-17 is our main passage today. These three verses are Christ Jesus' restoration of Peter. To set this up a little, Christ Jesus had appeared to the disciples in the upper room, after His resurrection, not once but twice. Then Peter feeling a little lost and maybe a bit guilty decided to go fishing. In a scene reminiscent of the day called Peter, Andrew, James, and John; they caught no fish and then a stranger on the shore told them to try again and they pulled up a net brimming with fish. They all have an aha moment and realize the stranger is the risen Christ Jesus. After breakfast Christ Jesus asked Peter basically the same question three times, “Do you love Me?” Each of the questions are followed by a command.

This is a searching time of healing and restoration for Peter. Okay let's go back a bit, back to that last Passover Meal together. Christ Jesus had told them about His betrayal and here is what happens, But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." (Matthew 26:33). And how does Christ Jesus answer Peter? Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." (Matthew 26:34). We see Christ Jesus' prophecy come true in Matthew 26:69-74, and in verse 75; And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.

Now back to our verses today. The question that Christ Jesus addresses to Simon Peter and the seriousness of the encounter is underlined by Christ Jesus’ use of Peter’s full name. He has Peter's full attention, “Do you love Me more than these?” Christ Jesus isn't concerned with impulsive actions, however courageous they may be, but with Peter’s heart. Christ Jesus is asking Peter, “Do you love me unselfishly and unconditionally more than you care about fishing with all of its trappings, about your friends, more than you care about anything else?”

Peter’s immediate response is, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You” (v. 15). He doesn't hesitate to declare his love. But words are not enough, there is a mission, converts are to be cared for. The lambs are to be fed. As if to say, “Are you sure of your answer?” Christ Jesus asks Peter the question again and then again, “Do you love Me?” Each time Peter's answer was yes. The last time a frustrated Peter responds, “Lord, You know all things” (v. 17).

Christ Jesus did know Peter’s heart, whether his act of repentance was more than impulsive words. He knew if His questions truly brought Peter back into His undying love. Three questions for the three denials. Peter had denied Christ Jesus three time, and now his affirmation of love for his Lord and Master Christ Jesus ended in full restoration. There is nothing we can do that Christ Jesus won't forgive, except the sin of unbelief. You can never be so dirty that Christ Jesus' blood can't make you white as snow. I once read that Christ Jesus' redemption is so complete that if Satan asked for forgiveness Christ Jesus would forgive him of all his sins.

Now quickly to the second observation about these verses. Peter was called to care for all the sheep—feed the young ones, discipline the stubborn ones, and tenderly watch over the old ones. It wasn't about how many green leaves Peter’s life produced, but how much fruit he would bear because he was abiding in Christ Jesus’ love. Peter loves Christ Jesus so deeply and personally that he would faithfully obey Him in the mission which he is being given.¹ 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). When we accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour we become new creations and we become ambassadors for Him. So while you may not be called to vocational ministry you are called to feed, to take care, to tend Christ Jesus' sheep, His church, His bride right where you are. You may not know it or believe it but God the Holy Spirit has gifted you in a very special way to serve in kingdom work so why not use that gift?

A lot to chew on today, but remember this there isn't anything or anyone Christ Jesus wont forgive if asked. And we are all important parts of God's kingdom.

Thanks for dropping by and I pray our Lord and Saviour, Christ Jesus' blessings on you and yours. See ya next week.

Biblesurfer

1 Roger L. Fredrikson and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, John, vol. 27, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1985), 285–286.