Feeding Sheep

Jesus said to [Peter], “Feed My sheep.”

John 21:17

The final chapter of John’s Gospel records one of the last conversations between the resurrected Lord Jesus and Peter. Just days earlier, Peter had denied his Lord beside a fire. Now, beside another fire, he will be restored. Just as Peter had denied Christ three times, he would be given three opportunities to confess his love for Jesus.

That’s the portion of the story most people remember. Jesus uses one word for love—a strong, intense word for committed love—and Peter, his confidence shattered, comes back with a weaker word in reply. That happens two times, until finally Jesus looks Peter in the eyes and uses Peter’s own, weaker word, as if to say, “Peter, do you even care for Me as a friend?”

The question breaks the big fisherman’s heart, but Jesus neither rejects nor casts the sorrowing man aside. On the contrary, He sends Peter into the kingdom. In no uncertain terms, He gives him a job to do.

That is the portion of the story so often overlooked. Every time Peter answered the Lord, the Lord gave him a strong, specific command: “Feed My lambs, Peter”; “Tend My sheep, Peter”; “Feed My sheep, Peter.”

Peter got the message. Do you?