John 21:9-19
Key verses John 21:16 “Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (NIV)
After Jesus’ resurrection he met with his disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and had a meal with them, then he took Peter aside and three times asked him if he loved him. Three times Peter answered Yes before finally showing that he understood that Jesus was all knowing saying “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” v17. In all three times of questioning Jesus responded with a variation of the command to care for his sheep.
What is it that Jesus was telling Peter here and indeed us? Throughout His ministry, Jesus was fond of using comparisons that would be familiar to those he spoke to and the people at that time certainly would be very familiar with shepherds and sheep. Here we see Jesus using them as an example of His relationship to His followers, the pictures formed by Jesus words are very illustrative, more so than it is now where our knowledge of shepherding is for most of us limited.
We see Jesus’ most extensive use of the comparison of a shepherd and sheep is found John 10:1-18. Where we see Jesus identifying himself as “the good shepherd.” And because a good shepherd is known and trusted by his sheep, provides them with pasture and all they need for their wellbeing, and the shepherd will protect them from harm to the point of laying down his life for them. In this illustration Jesus’ sheep, are those who know and trust him, who listen to his voice, and who follow him where he leads. One time while on holiday in Malta I witnesses this, watching a shepherd walking in front of his sheep, talking to them and seeing them follow him. It was obvious the sheep knew him.
Now shepherding sheep is definitely an unfamiliar practice for many of us living as we do in a city. Probably the closest we may ever get to sheep is at a petting zoo or even wearing wool clothing. Yet the picture of shepherds and sheep is tightly woven into the scriptures. Probably the most familiar is Psalm 23, a psalm picturing a shepherd leading his sheep and providing for them. A shepherd’s role is to provide the needed care for a flock of sheep. The shepherd will protect his flock from predators and thieves. He will ensure that they have access to food, water and he will look after them when they are sick or have strayed from the flock. The shepherd’s life is tightly bound to his sheep and the sheep are dependent on the shepherd to care for them.
I believe that it is important to understand the passage in John 10 in order to see what it is that Jesus is telling Peter to do in John 21. In John 10, Peter was one of the sheep that Jesus, as the good shepherd, was caring for, but in John 21, Jesus was leaving going back to His Father. He was in fact giving not just Peter but us all a commission and that some of those sheep he had cared for would need to take on the role of shepherd.
Why is Peter singled out? Shortly before this event, Jesus had stood trial before Jewish and then the Roman authorities and during the Jewish portion of this trial, Peter also faced a trial, and three times failed, denying that he knew who Jesus was. So we can see a connection between Peter’s denial of Jesus and what takes place in our passage. Here, three times, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him and three times Peter says that he does and three times Jesus tells him to care for his flock. We see in this the love and forgiveness that Jesus has for Peter and indeed us that despite his failure at Jesus’ trial, He has provided forgiveness and is tasking Peter with a role in the kingdom, Jesus was establishing a role that we also are tasked with.
What was it Peter was tasked with doing? It was to feed Jesus’ lambs, the little ones who needed the most care, it was to take care of his sheep, providing for their needs and protection. And it was to feed his sheep, making sure they had a steady diet of good grass and water.
In essence, Jesus was commissioning Peter and us to take on the role that He Himself had been filling for the past three years. Now we and Peter are not expected to fully step into Jesus’ shoes that we will never be able to do. This is the role of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16), and it is the Spirit working in us that enables us to fulfill this role.
It is important to say the sheep did not become Peter’s or even our flock, they remain the sheep of the one true shepherd Jesus. And that commission given to Peter more than 2000 years ago was also given to others in Scripture and continues through us today. Did you know in Latin the word that we translate as pastor means shepherd.
I believe one of the best descriptions of the caring and feeding role of the shepherd for Jesus’ flock comes from Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church. In Ephesians 4:11-16 and specifically v11 & 12 “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”, Paul identifies those given the task of shepherding and that task is primarily an enabling one: leading the flock to maturity, to stability, and fruitfulness. It does not stop there though remember in God’s word what is termed the great commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20. We are all called to the role of shepherding no matter how big or small that may be, a kind word here, a visit to someone ill or alone. Shepherding is not just about standing behind a pulpit and preaching or taking a bible study. It is all about ensuring that we all grow in faith with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And we are importantly also called to “encourage one another and build up each other” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Let me finish with the words of Jesus from our text tonight but ask us all to substitute our own name instead of Peter and think what our response to the question is.
“Simon son of John (say your name), do you 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 (say your name), do you 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 (say your name), do you love me?” —- He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:9-19 (NIV)
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 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. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”