A Season of Seeds Day 2: Feed My Sheep

When day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Him. Jesus said, “Friends, have you caught any fish? Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find fish.” Peter recognized it was the Lord, jumped in and swam for the shore. The other disciples came in, dragging the net full of fish! When they got out, they saw a charcoal fire made and fish placed on it and bread. Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you just caught and come and have breakfast.” When they had finished, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Tend My lambs.” Jesus asked and Peter answered the same a second time and Jesus said, “Feed My sheep.” Then He asked a third time and Peter was hurt but answered the same and Jesus said, “Tend My sheep.” From John 21: 4-17

This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture, because I have been on that John 21 beach! In 2002 I spent four months in Israel and was able to jump in the car and in a day reach pretty much any place mentioned in the Bible. This beach is by the Sea of Galilee, not far from ancient Capernaum and it is a rock beach. I brought back three white, heart-shaped rocks to remind me of each time Jesus asked, “Do you love me?”

The first day I went to this beach, my heart was pierced by the picture of the gentle love of Jesus, in His recognizable resurrection body, providing the fish (above and beyond what they could eat that morning) and preparing breakfast for His disciples. Oh, I am jealous! What an intimate peek into the love He had for men He had schooled and led for three years.

Sometimes we hear our pastor say (probably doesn’t actually say it like this!): Clean the church. Diaper the babies. Teach Sunday School. Hand out tracts. Visit the invalid. Drive the church bus. Cook a meal. That little voice in our head might say, Allergic to bleach. Can’t that day. What do I pay staff for with my tithe? Will I get Covid? Where are the deacons? Cooking for the family!

If we were having breakfast on the beach with Jesus, and all He asked was, Do you love Me? How would we answer that? Of course we would say, Yes!

And when He says, “Tend My lambs. Feed My sheep. Tend my sheep.” What will we say? “Uh, no, ask someone else!” Or, might we say, “Maybe I could clean the church for that special program I love. My granddaughter has been diapered in the nursery since she was a newborn, I can give that love back. There is a favorite Christian book God keeps putting on my heart, maybe I could lead a discussion on that.”

Jesus came on Christmas Day as a baby so that He could eventually serve and feed us! And the harvest He most wants us to be involved in always starts with the servant heart of love that He modeled for us, with breakfast on the beach. And ending with His final sacrifice for us.

For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give away His life as an exchange for many. Mt 20: 28

How might God be leading you to tend and feed His lambs and His sheep during this season of reflection?

Shepherd of my heart, I love that You cook for Your hungry ones! You have tended and fed me for so long and I now want to be that shepherd for others. If a sacrifice or a fear is involved, cover it with Your love and my gratitude and help me step out into the meadow or on the beach, wherever You and Your sheep are. Amen.