Feed My Sheep
Soon after Jesus’ resurrection, He was talking with the apostle Peter. Here’s how the little exchange went:
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17
That passage gives a lot to reflect on, but here I want to consider the aspect of Jesus’ charge to Peter. To me it is interesting that three times He told Peter to take charge of His sheep. He said, “Feed My lambs.”, “Take care of My sheep.” and “Feed My sheep.” It is interesting to me because later we see Peter passing on that charge. He wrote:
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. I Peter 5:1-4
The flock belongs to God, not to the ‘pastor’ or the ‘elder’. As a leader in God’s Church we are to care for His sheep – not to take them as OUR’s, but to recognize that they are merely placed in our care. We are working for God, not ourselves, and one day we will have to give an account of how we cared for His sheep that were entrusted to our care.
To care for the flock means that we must feed and protect them. We are called to care for them as an old time shepherd would care for the sheep under his care. As someone wrote, “A shepherd must smell like a sheep.” One gets that smell because he interacts and lives with the sheep. One picks them up and carries them when they are weak. One seeks ways to ensure they have the right food and assists at the birthing of new lambs.
A flock that is properly fed will produce lambs (numerical growth) as well as providing wool, milk and cheese (income for the Master – not the shepherd. The shepherd receives his salary, the riches of the flock belong to the Owner) Too many focus on attempting to lure sheep from other folds rather than on feeding those entrusted to their care. True growth comes from natural reproduction, not from bringing in sheep from other pastures. As one feeds one’s flock, one sees them become healthy and bring forth new life naturally.
Not everyone is called to be a shepherd. But those of us who ARE so called must give an account to God for the sheep under our care.
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