Feed My Sheep

It is our joy and privilege to serve in the church of our Lord Christ. Some of us are office bearers, and we are allowed to serve in this capacity. Many of us are not office bearers and we have the opportunity to serve the church in numerous other ways. It’s always a privilege to serve, but the work can be hard. Some work in the church will be really frustrating, and much will probably go thankless.

Because of all that, it’s possible that you lose sight of things. When you’re up to your neck in work, doing what you’ve got to do, you can forget who it is you’re serving. You just put your head down and press on.

But when Christian service feels like just another chore, a joyless obligation, then we’ve forgotten something crucial. We’ve forgotten that we serve a great and gracious Lord. Elders and deacons and ministers—and we all—need this reminder and encouragement: I do what I do, not to serve myself, but Christ. I seek his gain, not my own. We serve out of love for the Saviour.

That’s the heart of working in the church: because we trust in Christ and praise his name, we’re willing to work among his people! We’ll serve out of love for his gospel and glory. Yes, when we love Christ, then we’ll also love Christ’s church. His people are precious to him, so they should be precious to us also. These are the truths of God’s Word in John 21:15-17,

The Good Shepherd entrusts his flock to his earthly servants:

1) Jesus’s questions

2) Peter’s replies

3) Jesus’s commands

1) Jesus’s questions: By John 21, the disciples were getting used to the idea that their Lord Jesus was no longer dead. It had already been a couple weeks since the resurrected Jesus had first appeared. In our chapter He appears again, this time along the Sea of Tiberias.

A group of disciples had just spent a long and unsuccessful night of fishing. But then that mystery man helped them make an amazing catch. Seeing this, they knew beyond any doubt that He was the Lord. For long ago, when He first called them, Jesus said He’d make them into fishers of men—whose nets would be full of those who believed his gospel! Now they could see it: with his blessing, their work will prosper.

But this wasn’t the only thing Jesus had to teach, that morning by the sea. For after they ate their breakfast of roasted fish, Jesus had a pointed question to ask; he said to Simon Peter, “‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?’” (v 15).

Even from the way He asks the question, we know it’s a solemn occasion. Jesus calls Peter by his original family name, “Simon, son of Jonah.” You might compare it to when parents call their kids by their first and middle name—this is serious. You better listen up!

Years before, Jesus had given Simon a new name. Jesus had asked his disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt 16:15). And Simon had answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v 16). This was a good confession. So Jesus gave a name that signified the important job Simon was going to have: “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build by church” (v 18). Simon was now Peter: he was a rock, a foundation for God’s people.

This was a position of great honour, but also great responsibility. As a leader for the people of God, big things were expected of Peter. And he had failed. A few weeks ago, it happened. Jesus had been taken away, and all the disciples scattered. As Jesus was being interrogated by the leaders, Peter stood in the courtyard, warming himself by the fire.

But Peter couldn’t take the heat. Bystanders had challenged him, and said they’d seen him with Jesus. And instead of staying true, Peter denied him. He didn’t know the man. He’d never been with him.

So when Jesus asks this first question by the seaside, using that old name ‘Simon,’ we can be sure it stung him badly. It was meant to sting! Wasn’t Peter still the Rock? Or was he merely Simon again, the humble fisherman from Galilee? Was he no longer the foundation on which Christ would build the church? “Simon son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”

And what exactly is Jesus asking? “Do you love me more than these?” More than what? The best reference, I think, is to the other disciples. But some commentators say that Jesus could not be referring to them. They say this would be a bit harsh for Jesus to say, without consideration for their feelings or Peter’s reputation. What a thing to ask, with many of the disciples right there! “Do you love me more than these other fellows love me?” Just what is Peter supposed to say?