What is the significance of Jesus' command to "Feed My sheep"? The Setting: Breakfast with the Risen Jesus John 21:15-17 unfolds on the Galilean shore after a miraculous catch. Peter, once boasting yet recently fallen, now shares a quiet meal with the resurrected Lord. The scene is tender, restorative, and utterly intentional. Three-Fold Restoration of Peter • Three public denials had pierced Peter’s conscience (John 18:17, 25-27). • Three public affirmations of love are now drawn from his lips. • With each affirmation, Jesus commissions Peter: – v. 15 “Feed My lambs.” – v. 16 “Shepherd My sheep.” – v. 17 “Feed My sheep.” The repetition drives home full restoration and underscores the gravity of the task. Meaning of “Feed My Sheep” • “Feed” (Greek: boskō) conveys steady, continual nourishment. • Spiritual food is the whole counsel of God’s Word (Jeremiah 3:15; Acts 20:27). • “My” affirms ownership; the flock belongs exclusively to Christ (John 10:14). • “Sheep” refers to believers who require guidance, care, and protection (Psalm 95:7). Old Testament Echoes • Ezekiel 34 exposes unfaithful shepherds and promises that God Himself will shepherd His people. Jesus now delegates that divine role to undershepherds. • Psalm 23 models the shepherd’s provision, guidance, and protection—standards Peter must emulate. New Testament Amplification • Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock … be shepherds of the church of God.” • 1 Peter 5:2-4 reveals Peter passing the mandate forward: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you … and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory.” • 2 Timothy 4:2 underscores feeding through preaching: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.” Who Are the Undershepherds Today? • Pastors, elders, and teachers formally bear the charge (Ephesians 4:11-12). • Parents, mentors, and every believer also contribute to nourishing others with Scripture (Colossians 3:16). Practical Ways to Feed the Flock • Present clear, accurate exposition of Scripture. • Guard doctrinal purity against wolves (Acts 20:29-30). • Model Christlike character so the flock sees the Word lived out. • Provide compassionate care—visiting, counseling, encouraging. • Equip believers to feed themselves through personal Bible study. Promises Tied to Faithful Feeding • Eternal reward: “When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). • Maturing saints: “Equipping of the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). • Unified witness: well-fed sheep reflect the Shepherd’s heart to a watching world (John 13:35). Living the Mandate The command “Feed My sheep” remains a living word. Every act of opening Scripture, every moment of patient guidance, every sacrificial investment in another believer echoes the voice of the risen Lord on that Galilean morning. Faithful obedience honors His love and secures the health of His precious flock. |
    |