If You Love ME, Feed My Sheep

You are probably familiar with the re-commissioning of Peter by Jesus as they walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee in John 21. Peter would NEVER forget his three adamant, even cursing denials of Christ before the crucifixion. He was crushed. Who knows the thoughts that tortured his mind as he was brought to true repentance for disowning His Lord.

But Jesus was not finished with Peter. Jesus knew the denials were coming. He had prayed for Peter that his faith would not fail, and though it was bruised and bleeding, it held. Peter was back with the disciples.

After Jesus gave bread and fish to the disciples (sounds like some other familiar incidents, doesn't it?!) he began to address Peter. THREE times He asked Peter a sort of re-commissioning question, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" Remember in Mark 14:29 that Peter had said, "Even though they all fall away, I will not," in essence saying that he loved Jesus more than all the other disciples. He also passionately declared he would die for Christ before He would deny Him.

Now Peter is seemingly emptied of his self-confidence. Does he love Christ more than the others? Well, he does love him...but he will not exalt his love above the others, and he will not declare that there is no chance of his defection. He simply says, "...You know that I love You" (John 21:15)

Jesus asks the question TWO more times, now without the "more than these." The third time Jesus asks Peter is grieved with His question. Why? It seems it would be because this third question parallels his third denial. That is, the third question hits at the heart of Peter's sin of self confidence and reminds him of his cursing denials that came on the heels of his statement that he would NEVER do so. It is as though Jesus is asking, "Peter, do you REALLY love Me?" Peter does.

There are several wonderful lessons here for us:

• The AWESOME MERCY and GRACE and FORGIVENESS of the Lord Jesus. I suppose if I were Peter I would think that I was in company with JUDAS! I would be tempted to go out and hang myself, too. But Peter's sorrow was a godly sorrow that led to true and lasting repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). This repentance is a gift of God just as surely as faith is (Acts 11:18). Even cursing denials are forgiven by our Lord (see Mark 3:28). Is there any sin of yours that He will not forgive? Go to Him. He will forgive and restore you like He did Peter. If you find yourself without the true desire to turn back to Him, ASK for the gift of a repentant heart.
• Jesus IS concerned that we LOVE Him. It is not serve, obey, take up your cross, deny yourself, be a living sacrifice ALONE...in fact NONE of these please the Lord Jesus if we do not love Him. And the love that He demands from us is a whole-hearted, above-all-else love. Do YOU love Him above all others? Above all things? Where does this love come from? First, from knowing His prior love for us (1 John 4:10). Second, from His Spirit (Romans 5:5).
• How are we to love Jesus? He gives us great insight into the answer when He tells Peter 3 times: "Feed my lambs," "Tend my sheep," "Feed my sheep" (vv.15-17). How do I love Jesus? Love those that are His! Share His heart for the flock. Give yourself to those that HE gives Himself for. His little lambs...His sheep. When Jesus confronted Saul on the road to Damascus, He asked him, "Why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4). Saul had never met Jesus! But he HAD persecuted Jesus' people. Jesus is organically knit to His people...He is the head and they are His body. You touch them, you touch Jesus. You hurt them, your hurt Him. You bless them, you bless Him. You shepherd and feed their souls, you do so TO JESUS! Love for Jesus does not happen primarily in the secret place, though it does happen there. Love for Jesus is a demonstrated love, like His for us in His life, death, resurrection, and current High Priestly ministry in heaven. Jesus says to us today, "If you love ME, show it to my sheep." We can show this love for Jesus to His sheep by praying for them, encouraging them, helping them to grow in a hundred different ways, providing for their physical needs, pointing them to Jesus when they are discouraged, listening to them when they need to talk, reminding them of the faithfulness of their Lord, etc.

No matter how great your failure, the Lord Jesus Christ seeks you out to restore you to loving fellowship with Himself. He is ready to forgive the repentant one and to restore him to His service, loving His sheep.