Planting Seeds Day 4: Feed My Sheep

This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture, because I have been on this John 21 beach! In 2002 I spent four months in Israel and was able to jump in the car and in a few hours reach pretty much any place mentioned in the Bible. This beach is by the Sea of Galilee, not far from ancient Capernaum and the shore is rocky with lots of reeds and some sand.

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 to the shore. The other disciples came in the boat, 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

That day I went to this beach, my heart was pierced by the vision 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 was jealous! What an intimate peek into the love He had for men He had schooled and led for three years. I brought back three white, heart-shaped rocks to remind me of each time Jesus asked, “Do you love me?”

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

If you were 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 answer like this, “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 facilitate a discussion on that.” 

How might God be leading you to tend and feed His lambs and His sheep?   

Shepherd of my heart, I love that You cook! You have tended and fed me for so many years 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.