FEED MY SHEEP: A PERSON THE LORD TRUSTS WITH HIS FLOCK

Feed My Sheep: A Person the Lord Trusts with His Flock

Main Reading: John 21:15-19

Jesus called twelve disciples, and at His resurrection, one stood tall – Peter to whom He said, “Feed my sheep”. This injunction primarily meant Peter was to lead the rest in prosecuting the agenda of the growing church. Peter was entrusted with feeding and tending the lambs and sheep of the Lord. The lambs could refer to children and new believers, while the sheep referred to older and more mature believers as well as people who are seeking Jesus (see John 10:14-16, 26-27; Mt 10:14, 1 Pe 2:2) What made Peter stand out among the rest of the apostles is not particularly difficult to discern, and they provide ample clues about what Jesus meant by “Feed my sheep”, the very ministry that Peter undertook. Here are some of the key qualities that stood Peter out a trustworthy Christian Shepherd:

1. Confession of Sinfulness: Peter is the only apostle on record to have confessed to the Lord that he is a sinner, unworthy of the Lord’s presence. By that confession, he affirmed that he would amount to nothing, except the Lord had mercy and graciously made something out of him. He followed through his confession by immediately leaving all to follow the Lord (see Lk 5:8-11).  This profound realization of his status in relation to the Lord equipped him to lead any sinner to Christ. No wonder in Acts 2:38, when the multitude that had heard him preach, asked of what to do, he said without hesitation, “Repent…”

2. Confession of the Lord’s Identity: When the Lord asked about who people were saying he was, and the disciples were indulging in all the wrong speculations, Peter declared promptly with conviction and adoration that the Lord is “the Christ, the son of the Living God” (Mt 16:16). Why were the other disciples a little hesitant about making the affirmation that Peter did, seeing they had not been that hesitant in the speculations? Would the Lord not rather trust his flock to persons who will readily acknowledge Him in all circumstances?

3. Confidence in the Lord’s Power: Peter was always mindful of the Lord’s limitless power. On the sea of Galilee when the Lord came walking on the sea in the haze, Peter knew that the Lord’s ability to let ordinary people do extraordinary things was his most distinguishing feature, so he called out, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” The Lord immediately obliged and Peter became the only other person ever to walk on water. So proactive was Peter concerning the Lord’s nature and business that he was sure to get the action going, when others were otherwise preoccupied.

4. Confidence of the Lord: The Lord trusted Peter, and always kept him in the His inner circle, showing him things that not many other disciples were privy to, such as the transfiguration experience (see Mt 17:1-9). The other two disciples in the Lord’s inner circle were the sons of Zebedee, James and John, and even they followed Peter in the Lord’s absence (see John 21:3). The Lord had so much confidence in the commitment of Peter that he predicted that beyond his denial of Him, we will be restored (see Lk 22:31-34). He proved this further by questioning Peter thrice about his love for Him, knowing that even in the deepest pain of apparently being doubted by one he loved so well, Peter would still come up with the answer, “I love you” (see John 21:15-17).

5. Broken and Mended Vessel: One thing that gave Peter confidence before the Lord was that he sincerely loved the Lord. For example, often when the disciples engaged in any speculation about the Lord, Peter would quickly as the Lord himself. This self-assurance was completely shattered when he denied the Lord thrice as predicted right to his hearing. Probably, he was this time more broken than he might have been when Jesus called him Satan in Matthew 16:23. Yet, like in that instance, Peter always received the Lord’s restoration. He was never hardened against rebuke when he failed. The Lord could therefore, like a potter, always break and reshape him for His use anytime He wished.

Conclusion: Peter was well acquainted with being a sinner and a backslider, yet he was acquainted with the endless mercy and abundant grace and redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was therefore not going to be the one to consider others too sinful or unqualified for the mercy and grace that came through Jesus. He also knew His Lord very well, and was unwilling to hide Him or His power. He was therefore perfectly suited to go proclaiming Him to all creation and in all circumstances. His love for His Lord was beyond question and was a willing vessel in His hands at all times, ready to correct his ways and rise up when he fell. Peter demonstrated such usefulness in the Lord’s hands that made him a great example in Christian stewardship.