Feed My Sheep by Debbi

In John 21, Jesus asks Simon 3 times, “Do you love me?” To which Peter replies “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Each time Jesus responds, “Feed My lambs, “ “Feed My sheep” or “Shepherd My sheep.”

Jesus was not commanding Peter to set up food banks for the people. He was assigning Peter to represent Him by caring for the flock. Jesus was entrusting Peter, the same disciple who denied Him following His arrest, with the responsibility of shepherding His people.

Members in the church of Jesus are to care for one another by providing teaching, prayer, comfort, care, and sometimes actual food. As disciples, we are called to keep believers strong and to share the glad news about God’s love with everyone.

After decades of reading and hearing scripture, I never cease to be amazed that new meanings will be revealed to me. Until recently, it had not occurred to me that Jesus asking 3 times about Peter’s love for Him had any correlation to Peter denying Jesus 3 times on the night he was betrayed. Can you imagine having a good friend get in trouble and telling the police that you never knew them? Then imagine coming face to face with that person! How would they feel about your failure to support them? Would they even speak to you again? We can certainly be grateful for this example of how very forgiving our God is to Peter -- and to all of us.