Feed My Lambs

“So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He said unto Him, Yea Lord; Thou knowest that I love Thee.  He said unto him, Feed My lambs.”  John 21:15

It was the third time that Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection.  They were fishing, and Jesus had prepared breakfast for them.  After they had eaten, Jesus and Peter had a private conversation.  Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him.  Peter answered in the affirmative.  Then Jesus said, “Feed My lambs”.  Of course these “lambs” to which Jesus referred were His followers.  Peter would later become a great preacher of the gospel.  But for now, he was still a new believer and still reeling from his shame at denying that he knew Jesus when Jesus was on trial.

Jesus followed up His question by asking it two more times.  By the time Peter answered the third time, he was a little frustrated as if he wasn’t sure Jesus believed him.  Peter answer, “Lord, You know all things.  You know that I love you.”  There are two interesting things to note about their exchange.  The first is that Jesus asked Peter three times, the same number of times Peter denied Him when Jesus was before Caiaphas the high priest, the scribes and the elders (Matthew 26:56-75).  Jesus had forgiven Peter, but perhaps this question repeated three times was a reminder for Peter to remain humble which was one of the personality traits that Peter was somewhat lacking.  He also wasn’t known for thinking before he spoke.  I think many of us have that same problem!

The second thing to note is the word “love” that Jesus used.  The first two times, “love” is translated from the Greek “agapao” which indicates a godly, sacrificial type of love for another.  Peter answered with the word “love” as translated from the Greek “phileo” which indicates a deep fondness for another.  The third time that Jesus asked if Peter loved Him, Jesus used the word for “phileo” instead of “agapao”.  Perhaps Jesus was letting Peter know that He knew that Peter still had a ways to go before he would become the mature gospel messenger who would sacrifice all to spread the good news of Jesus Christ.  The Lord demonstrated His patience with Peter as He does with us all.

No one at the moment of conversion to Christ becomes an instant mature Christian.  We are instilled with the Holy Spirit when we are born again, and He is given to us to help us grow in our faith in Christ, but spiritual maturity takes a lifetime.  And it doesn’t come without diligent study of God’s Word, and a determination to walk in righteousness.  Living as a Christian is a 24/7 way of life, but it is the best life that one can live.