Farm Chores

April 18

Read: John 21:15-25

Farm Chores

“(Jesus) said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (v.15)

After Jesus had fed his disciples, he draws Peter aside to ask him the same question three times: “do you love me?” Much has been said regarding this triad of questions and its symbolic “reinstating” of Peter. Personally (as I have written about before) I don’t think Peter ever really “fell out” with Jesus or was in any need of “reinstating” perse’. I don’t see Jesus as being capricious, or “kicking a person out of the club” even if they do mess up! (Which I don’t think Peter’s denials were a “mess up” to begin with; it was moreso an effort to take matters into his own hands not a genuine rejection or being ashamed of Jesus.) That being said, I do think the repeated nature of the questions was powerful - it says that Peter was “grieved because he said to him three times ‘do you love me’?’ (v.17) It made him sad that Jesus would ask three times in a row a question that Peter thought the answer to was obvious. We all know that Jesus was not asking the question to “get an answer”, he was asking the question to teach, to instruct, to inspire and lead Peter! He wanted Peter to “feed his sheep”.

What exactly does that mean, to “feed one’s sheep”? Jesus is never spoken of as having ACTUAL animals / sheep. He is not asking Peter to take care of his animals since he was leaving. We know that Jesus repeated spoke of the people who followed him as his “sheep” and himself as a shepherd. (cf. John 10) Jesus is talking about the people who follow him and love him. Jesus wants Peter to “feed” these people. But the question still remains, what does THAT mean?

The responses that Jesus gives are not actually all identical here in John 21. The first is “feed my lambs”, then “tend (or rule) my sheep” and the third one is “feed my sheep”. What we see here is Peter’s call is to both the young or new and the old or seasoned followers of Jesus… it is to both “lambs and grown sheep”. In addition, it includes feeding, tending or leading, and “feeding” again. Peter thought he was already doing this… that this was obvious or clear - but Jesus was telling him to get ready because his role was shifting… what he was asking him to / his responsibilities in the Kingdom of God were about to “level up”. It was time for Peter to get his hands dirty with some farm chores… feeding and tending to sheep!

We all kind of intuitively know what this means, but think about what just took place before this proposition was put in front of Peter. Jesus had met the disciples in their fear, when locked in the upper room. He had resolved any skepticism and doubt they may have had. Jesus shows up on the beach at the end of a failed fishing trip… a miserable day at work for these “fishermen”. He encourages them, gives them instructions (leads them in a new way of doing things), and is used by the Heavenly Father to work a miracle that leads to supernatural blessing (a mega-full net of fish). Then Jesus welcomes them onto the beach, feeds them breakfast (after a long night of fishing… they were HUNGRY), and he counts their blessings with them and celebrates! For the three years before his crucifixion, Jesus had taught the disciples the scriptures, he had spoken to them the words that the Father had told him to say, and welcomed them in to participate in the work of the Father by sending them out to “cast out demons” and to “heal the sick” themselves. This is what it looks like to feed and tend to the flock of Jesus!

Feeding the sheep is encouraging the people of God. It is meeting them when they are down… on their worst days. It is speaking the truth of God to them and challenging them to try something different (cast the net on the other side!)… to live in a different way. It is trusting that when we follow the instructions that come from the Lord, there will be breakthrough… blessing… sooner or later our “nets are filled”. It means counting others blessings with them and celebrating them. It means actually feeding them… meeting physical needs. This is “feeding” two times over… spiritually feeding and physically feeding! It means teaching the word of God and sharing with others what the Lord call you to share. It means participating in the work of the Father - including the miraculous. If we love Jesus, then this is what we are called to… feeding the lambs, tending the sheep, feeding the sheep. For the old and the young. For the new and the “seasoned”. Physical care and spiritual care. Direction and leadership. Feed my sheep!

Are you ready for YOUR farm chores? Lets go feed some sheep. Love you guys. - JDP