Feeding the sheep
This week's verses are John 21:15-17:
These verses follow on to those we studied last week. Jesus has been crucified and risen from the grave, and they've all had a great reunion breakfast when Jesus gets down to business. He's talking with Peter, the emotional guy who failed him during his trial and execution. But God knows the heart and he knows Peter is ready to have this conversation.
Jesus tells him three times to take care of his sheep. It's doubtful he's talking literally about sheep. There's no mention of Jesus having a thriving wool business on the side. Jesus is telling him to take care of the Christians. He's telling Peter what church is and making sure he's on board.
There's a lot of things we might imagine that Jesus could have said but didn't. "Do you love me? Make sure everyone tithes. Do you love me? Then start building some impressive buildings and make sure you get a book deal and maybe a recording contract too. Gotta represent. Do you love me? Then go buy a new suit, because the unbelievers aren't going to believe your witness if you're looking and smelling like a dirty, out of work fisherman. We have to project success if people are going to put their money into our brand!"
Jesus is simple and direct. He asks "Do you love me?" The implication is that if Peter loves Jesus he'll take care of those entrusted to Jesus' care, meaning what would become the church. The church here means the Christians themselves, not their non-profit organization or its real estate holdings. Caring for the church is an act of love towards Jesus Christ himself.
Each time, before Jesus gives the command to Peter, he asks if Peter loves him. If we don't love Jesus, our care for his church is misplaced. Do we love loving? Do we love access to tax-deductible donations and exposure in the community? Do we love the platform? Do we love the brand? Do we love being loved by the recipients of our care? Jesus doesn't ask any of those things. He asks if Peter loves him.
Jesus asks over and over. This isn't a quick decision to be made after a well-rehearsed music program and inspiring thirty minute speech. This is plain, direct, repeated-questioning. Peter is not gliding on a well-crafted fluffy emotional cloud towards the book table and sign-up sheet. Peter is distressed. It is a real conversation.
A number of years ago, I was part of a team whose job it was to create some materials for new Christians. I remember the usual verses about evangelism, and maybe on who and what not to have sex with, but I don't remember these verses. And yet they literally describe Jesus welcoming a fallen believer back into his church and telling him how to move forward! Frequently asked question: "I love Jesus! Now what? Do I have to buy a shirt or something?" Now we know the answer. But maybe we need to hear it ourselves.
When we encounter Jesus, and he accepts us into his community despite our failures, do we love him enough to care for his people? Do we try to impress him with stupid things he never asked us to do? We're lucky to have a record of this real blunt conversation between Jesus and Peter. If you read further, you'll see that once Peter's love is established, Jesus describes his martyrdom. Jesus gave everything for his sheep; Peter is expected to do the same. (Luckily, for the moment, most of us don't live in places where people are being killed for speaking the truth about Christ.)
Taking care of sheep is not a prestigious profession. Nobody's high school guidance counselor is telling them to skip college and raise sheep. It was even looked down upon in Jesus' time. It's not a glorious thing he is asking Peter to do. It's dirty, thankless, grunt work. You're not going to do it to impress a girl.
If you're a new Christian, or not, think about feeding the sheep. Think about what it means for us. If Jesus were to ask you the same question as he asked Peter, would you be like "What?? I don't love you that much!" Or would you be happy to feed his sheep?
Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.” Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.
These verses follow on to those we studied last week. Jesus has been crucified and risen from the grave, and they've all had a great reunion breakfast when Jesus gets down to business. He's talking with Peter, the emotional guy who failed him during his trial and execution. But God knows the heart and he knows Peter is ready to have this conversation.
Jesus tells him three times to take care of his sheep. It's doubtful he's talking literally about sheep. There's no mention of Jesus having a thriving wool business on the side. Jesus is telling him to take care of the Christians. He's telling Peter what church is and making sure he's on board.
There's a lot of things we might imagine that Jesus could have said but didn't. "Do you love me? Make sure everyone tithes. Do you love me? Then start building some impressive buildings and make sure you get a book deal and maybe a recording contract too. Gotta represent. Do you love me? Then go buy a new suit, because the unbelievers aren't going to believe your witness if you're looking and smelling like a dirty, out of work fisherman. We have to project success if people are going to put their money into our brand!"
Jesus is simple and direct. He asks "Do you love me?" The implication is that if Peter loves Jesus he'll take care of those entrusted to Jesus' care, meaning what would become the church. The church here means the Christians themselves, not their non-profit organization or its real estate holdings. Caring for the church is an act of love towards Jesus Christ himself.
Each time, before Jesus gives the command to Peter, he asks if Peter loves him. If we don't love Jesus, our care for his church is misplaced. Do we love loving? Do we love access to tax-deductible donations and exposure in the community? Do we love the platform? Do we love the brand? Do we love being loved by the recipients of our care? Jesus doesn't ask any of those things. He asks if Peter loves him.
Jesus asks over and over. This isn't a quick decision to be made after a well-rehearsed music program and inspiring thirty minute speech. This is plain, direct, repeated-questioning. Peter is not gliding on a well-crafted fluffy emotional cloud towards the book table and sign-up sheet. Peter is distressed. It is a real conversation.
A number of years ago, I was part of a team whose job it was to create some materials for new Christians. I remember the usual verses about evangelism, and maybe on who and what not to have sex with, but I don't remember these verses. And yet they literally describe Jesus welcoming a fallen believer back into his church and telling him how to move forward! Frequently asked question: "I love Jesus! Now what? Do I have to buy a shirt or something?" Now we know the answer. But maybe we need to hear it ourselves.
When we encounter Jesus, and he accepts us into his community despite our failures, do we love him enough to care for his people? Do we try to impress him with stupid things he never asked us to do? We're lucky to have a record of this real blunt conversation between Jesus and Peter. If you read further, you'll see that once Peter's love is established, Jesus describes his martyrdom. Jesus gave everything for his sheep; Peter is expected to do the same. (Luckily, for the moment, most of us don't live in places where people are being killed for speaking the truth about Christ.)
Taking care of sheep is not a prestigious profession. Nobody's high school guidance counselor is telling them to skip college and raise sheep. It was even looked down upon in Jesus' time. It's not a glorious thing he is asking Peter to do. It's dirty, thankless, grunt work. You're not going to do it to impress a girl.
If you're a new Christian, or not, think about feeding the sheep. Think about what it means for us. If Jesus were to ask you the same question as he asked Peter, would you be like "What?? I don't love you that much!" Or would you be happy to feed his sheep?
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