Loving Jesus Means Feeding His Sheep: Includes A Poem
Jesus said to Peter, “Feed My Sheep”
John 21:17, “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
Why did Jesus say to Peter three times, “Feed My Sheep?”
1.Jesus wanted to remind Peter of his denial of Him three times in the courtyard three days earlier.
2. He wanted to insure that Peter knew to declare love and allegiance with Jesus was to take up the message of the cross and carry it to God”s people both the Jews and Gentiles.
3. Peter was not only called to carry the message but also to “Feed the sheep.” A shepherd not only hangs with the sheep but also keeps them safe and leads them to water and food. Jesus called on Peter to not only preach the message but also To teach and care for those who became followers of Jesus.
Now fast forward a few days later to Peters message to the Sanhedrin.
A look at Acts 4:12
Acts 4:12, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Peter who was filled, with Holy Spirit stands before the rulers and the people and declares to all his good deed of healing a crippled man, was done in the name of Jesus, whom they crucified.
Peter the man who denied Jesus three times after Jesus arrest, then ran away weeping, becomes in the book of Acts a man fulled with the Holy Spirit. Shortly after Jesus resurrection, Peter is back at his o;ld job of being a fisherman. Jesus appears to him on the beach and asks Peter three times do you love me? Of course Peter answers him three, “Yes, you know I do.” The third time Jesus looks at him and says, “Feed my sheep.”
Here in Acts a few days later Peter who is now filled with the Holy Spirit is a changed man. Peter is boldly standing in the midst of crowd, part of which is hostile to the message he is delivering. He is no longer worried about what anyone can do to him, he now lives for the Lord's service.
Tradition has it, Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel worthy to be put to death in the same manner as Jesus. However Peter ended his life, the greater story is how he continued to live his life up to the very end.
The question for those who today call themselves Christians is the same as Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Jesus?” Then feed His sheep. Take His message of love to everyone. Jesus came not to spread words of hatred but words of God's love for all.
Peter the man who denied Jesus three times after Jesus arrest, then ran away weeping, becomes in the book of Acts a man fulled with the Holy Spirit. Shortly after Jesus resurrection, Peter is back at his old job of being a fisherman. Jesus appears to him on the beach and asks Peter three times do you love me? Of course Peter answers him three, “Yes, you know I do.” The third time Jesus looks at him and says, “Feed my sheep.”
A Poem of Act:4:15
I cannot keep quiet
I cannot keep quiet
I cannot keep quiet
About my new life
I can’t keep quiet
Even if I wanted to
I can’t keep quiet
Cause I want the world
To know
You’re the reason why
While I smile
The reason why
I walk the miles
The reason why
I feel such joy
The reason why
The reason why
I cannot keep quiet
I cannot keep quiet
I cannot keep quiet
About my new life
© 2012 Timothy Whitt
