“FEED MY SHEEP”
John 21:1-2
Key Verse: 21:17b
“He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my
sheep.’”
Now we finish reading John's gospel. John, James, Peter and some others were back in
Galilee and they encountered Jesus again. John focused mainly on Jesus and Peter. But he did
not leave himself out completely. By studying this passage we can see that even though Jesus is
risen from the dead, he is still loves his disciples and wants to train them very personally. He
prepared breakfast for his friends and he had a deep one to one Bible study with Peter. During
Bible study, Jesus asks Peter very personal questions keeps saying, “Feed my sheep” because he
wants to help Peter restore his mission as a shepherd for God's flock. I pray we can all discover
Jesus' love anew Let’s accept the unchanging love of the Risen Jesus, and make a new decision
to feed his sheep.
First, in the Risen Jesus, failure means a new beginning (1-14).
Verses 1-3 say, “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.
It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee,
the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ‘I’m going out to fish,’ Simon Peter
told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that
night they caught nothing.” Jesus had told them earlier that he would go ahead of them to Galilee
after his resurrection, but they were slow to accept. (Mt 26:32, 28:7,10,16; Mk 14:28, 16:7). So it
seems they stayed at least a week in Jerusalem until Jesus appeared to Thomas.
Now they had gone back home, and it seemed as if Jesus was not coming to meet them
right away. It seemed like the troubles of the world and everyday life were closing in on them
again. So they might wonder what they have to do. Peter decided to go out and fish. Maybe he
should earn a few bucks, or at least get some food. It seems expedient, but deep inside, we know
Peter was struggling. He had failed Jesus when he denied him three times. He had to be
disappointed with himself. On top of that, his plan to rule Israel with Jesus turned out all wrong.
When Jesus appeared outside the high priest's house and looked Peter in the eye, Peter's heart
was broken. In his human weakness, it must have been very difficult for Peter to look at the risen
Jesus. Just like it is hard for me to look at Missionary Peter when I wake up late and miss daily
bread gathering together. Did Jesus still trust him? He did not deserve to be trusted. Would Jesus
punish him? He deserved that. Peter did not have the answers. But he did not talk about the
questions either. Instead, He said, “I am going fishing.” He went back to his old life in an instant
trying to put aside all that he had seen and learned from Jesus till now. It seems like he picked up
exactly where he left off three years ago because “that night, they caught nothing.” In the
morning, they were discouraged and hungry, and they must have felt a sense of failure.
Failing to meet our goal or failing in what we think we can do well is troublesome.
Human beings have a built in desire to be successful in daily life. If we don't get into Princeton,
or if we score below freezing on a midterm, even misunderstanding our coworker can lead to
serious fatalism. Then the devil has a field day. “You idiot! You can't do anything right. You'll
never be any good for anything.” In this case, the disciples might be in danger.
Look at verses 4-5. “Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did
not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they
answered.” Jesus knew what they were suffering. But he did not call them by name right away.
It was an incognito appearance at first. He knew God’s great purpose for them to work together
with God for the world salvation plan (Jn 15:15). But they could not see it clearly. They were
unsure of themselves and maybe even doubting Jesus was with them or not. They could only see
their own power and human solutions. But Jesus came to restore them with tender compassion.
Look at verse 6. “He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find
some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
Now it really seems familiar. It was the same miracle that introduced Jesus to Peter as the ruler
of heaven and earth in Luke 5. That was the beginning of a life-changing spiritual relationship. In
some ways Peter was right back were he started. In the human realm, that seems hopeless. But
Jesus never gives up hope. Though Peter was struggling, Jesus came to him again to help him
make a new start. There is no failure in Jesus. To Jesus, failure means a new beginning.
I remembered a guy who failed repeatedly to accomplish his goal in becoming a
missionary. He got plenty of exams below freezing in language class. Frankly, he wants to give
up. But Jesus keeps pushing him in unusual ways. He sent a Bible student with a great vision
who challenges him to try again from a different angle. Like throwing the net on the right side
instead of the left side. I also remembered one lady who was watching her marriage fail because
of the temptations of the world. Through many selfish minded people, devil poured on the
pressure to tear apart what God had joined together, but Jesus had another plan. A servant of God
challenged the lady to try again according to God's hope and vision and things worked out with
incredible success. The lady even helped another lady find a life purpose and gospel calling in
Jesus as time went on. These kinds of miracles reveal Jesus to those who see them happen.
This time, through the miraculous catch of fish John recognized Jesus. He said to Peter,
“It is the Lord.” Despite his weakness and failure, Peter was eager to meet with Jesus again. He
could not stand before Jesus in a t-shirt and shorts. So he put on his outer garment on as a sign of
respect and jumped into the water. It was probably just a few feet deep, as lakes can be for quite
a distance. So in running to Jesus, Peter revealed his eagerness to study the Bible with Jesus.
John had beaten Peter to the tomb, but Peter was not going to lose to John again. In this way
Peter is great. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish. When they
landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus had already
prepared a delicious dinner breakfast for them after a hard day's night. It was just what the
hungry and tired disciples needed. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just
caught.” See how Jesus encouraged them, celebrating with them that they had caught many fish.
He did it to completely restore their sense of victory. The disciples began to feel good.
Then Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” Most likely, Jesus cut their bread into
slices, toasted and buttered it. Jesus also deboned the fish. Then he put generous portions on each
disciples’ plate and passed them out one by one. All the disciples had to do was stuff their face.
Jesus is so gracious. He is just like the missionaries who cook up a big dinner for the students on
Thursday night. We pray the students will be like Jesus disciple and bring many more students in
their net to meet Jesus well. Jesus' tender actions and embracing heart, combined with the tasty
fish and bread, convinced them of his love. There is an expression, “the way to a man’s heart is
through his stomach.” The disciples could literally taste Jesus’ love. They could feel Jesus’ love.
They realized from their deep hearts that Jesus’ love for them had not changed. Jesus was still
the same. He loved them unconditionally from the beginning to the end. Moreover, they accepted
his resurrection as a practical reality. The Risen Jesus was with them not only on Sunday, but
also on a workday by the seashore. This was really the beginning of a new age of personal
fellowship and interaction with God. The disciples were truly beginning eternal life from this
moment on.
Second, “Do you love me? Feed my sheep” (15-25).
Eating fellowship with Jesus was a marvelous moment for the disciples. They could see
memories of life together with Jesus and all his grace to them. Feeding the five thousand with
five loaves and two fish, and the Last Supper, when he fed them and washed their feet. Hymns of
praise to Jesus began to rise in their hearts. By the time the meal was over, they were really
thankful and happy. James probably made a giant burp. Then Jesus directed his attention to
Simon Peter.
Let’s read verses 15-17. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that
I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love
me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’
The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because
Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you
know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”
Jesus asked, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” Jesus’ question
was like a knife cutting through the atmosphere. It pierced Peter’s heart and all the disciples must
have sat up straight, sensing that serious words were coming. We can learn several things here.
For one thing, it is clear from what he said that Jesus wants his disciples to love him
unconditionally. “Do you truly love me more than these?” The words “truly love” refer to love
that is unconditional and unchanging. The words “more than these” teach us that we must love
Jesus in the first place and we must love Jesus most. Matthew Henry said: “We must not be
surprised to have our sincerity called into question, when we ourselves have done that which
makes it doubtful. Every remembrance of past sins, even pardoned sins, renews the sorrow of a
true penitent. ... It is well when our falls and mistakes make us more humble and watchful. The
sincerity of our love to God must be brought to the test; ... (so pray that God) ... will examine and
prove us, whether we are able to stand this test.” If God sees you skipping worship service, he
might give you a test. It might hurt a lot. But if you let God's testing remind you that God is God
and you are his creation, then you might renew your relationship with him in the right way.
Peter had seemed to love Jesus but right now he was wavering between his good job and
his life of mission. He had left his family for extended periods of time. He had put off his career
for a while. But Peter could not love Jesus more than his own life. When he had to do this, he
failed miserably. Nevertheless, Jesus wanted him to grow until he could love Jesus more than
anything, even his own life. It is only possible when we realize the love of Jesus who laid down
his life for us. If we experience Jesus' love then our love for Jesus can grow. When we continue
to grow, we can love Jesus “more than these.”
Another thing to learn is that Jesus wants his disciples to become shepherds for his sheep.
Though Peter seemed to sacrifice much to follow Jesus, in truth, Peter just soaked up Jesus’ love
and recognition. Peter had done very little to serve others. Soon Jesus was going to heaven.
There were many young and weak believers. They needed a shepherd. They needed someone to
love them and care for them until they could grow strong in Jesus. So Jesus said, “Feed my
lambs.”
What does it mean to “feed my lambs”? Caring for flocks means showing them where to
get food grow strong and healthy. In caring for Jesus' sheep, it includes both physical and
spiritual food. Jesus fed his disciples dinner after work, so Jesus’ disciples should do the same
for others. But Jesus also fed his disciples spiritually. He had opened their eyes to the spiritual
world by revealing the hidden power of sin, the devil’s mischief, the work of the Holy Spirit, the
power of God’s word, and the importance of prayer. Now they were becoming spiritual men.
Now Peter had to help others receive new birth and grow spiritually by sharing the word of God.
But it takes patience. Jesus has been very patient with all of us. Perhaps it is most difficult to be
patient with others when they fail. But Jesus bore with Peter in his failure, and Peter should learn
to bear with others. He must bear with them until they grew from sheep into great shepherds.
There is another lesson in Peter's spiritual growth through the lesson. After the third
question, Peter said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Peter realized that
Jesus knew all things, including the exact contents of his inner man. Now Peter could see that
Jesus knows Peter better than Peter knows himself. It is essential to understand that for a human
being to truly trust God and truly love God. Unless we know that Jesus knows all things, we will
always have doubts about everything he tells us to do. At the Last Supper, Jesus had told Peter,
“Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter should have
accepted Jesus’ words. But he had his doubts about Jesus' knowledge so he said, “Lord, why
can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” When he ignored Jesus’ word and
trusted his own idea, Peter failed miserably. But now Peter realized that Jesus’ words were more
trustworthy than his own thoughts, even about himself. This realization was the basis for the real
restoration of Peter.
There is also deep meaning in the three questions Jesus asks. The first two questions are
about true love. The first question ask about the thing Peter loves most. “Do you truly love me
more than these?” Or, “Is there anything or anyone in this world or any other world that you love
more than me?” It is a deep and probing question to challenge every part of our idolatrous human
nature and lead us to God whom we must worship with all our heart. The second question asks
whether or not we will really love Jesus more than ourself. “Do you truly love me?” There are no
more these in this question. All that is left is you and me. Can you give up all your concepts if I
don't like them? Will you hand you life to me and let my Holy Spirit lead you from now on? Will
you let me live in you and over flow out of you the love of God” Or will you be a little bit selfish
about what you want and what you think I should do?” This is a difficult question but it is also
rooted in absolute unconditional love. The third question is just “do you love me.” Some see it as
a digression from “agape” love in verses 15 and 16, to “phileo” love in verse 17. From
unconditional to merely human love. But it seems clear that Peter valued phileo the most. The
third question is the one that hurt Peter. It really challenged his failure and traitorous actions
from last week. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. This love is the love that enables a man
to die for his country or to fight for his loved one. The other love is unconditional. But this one
can have conditions. In the spiritual realm, it loves Jesus because he gave his life for us. It asks
Peter, Now, you big mouth, Now that you had time to think about what you said and how easy it
was to wimp out, Now do you love me enough to lay down your life for me for real?” Or “are
ready now to take up your cross of mission and follow me wherever I lead you, no matter what I
command you and in spite of all that people will say about you.” This is a very personal and
agonizing question. It is a very real question that we also have to answer.
Do you truly love Jesus?
Jesus expressed plainly that he had no confidence in Peter’s human love and loyalty to
him. This hurt Peter. Peter had wanted to be faithful to Jesus with his human love and loyalty,
but he had failed completely. To admit this failure before Jesus was painful. But in doing this,
Jesus helped Peter to die to his passion and pride. It was a step in building a new foundation for a
love relationship based on Jesus’ grace and truth alone. His questions cut right through to Peter's
soul. They teach us about real love. Real love is more than a feeling. It is more than thought.
Love involves decisions of the will that lead to action. Jesus wanted Peter to go beyond the level
of feelings to begin to practice the love of Jesus in action. Jesus wanted Peter to heal the hurts of
his sheep, feed them when they were hungry, solve their marriage problems, restore them from
failure, and so on. When Peter did these practical things for his sheep, Jesus would regard it as
love for him. Peter said, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.”
Look at verse 18. “I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and
went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else
will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” It was a prophecy about Peter’s future
indicating how he die. Then Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” Peter was a happiest baby in the
world and he became a carefree teenager. He played soccer with the guys and went swimming,
then he went to the Dairy Queen for ice cream. He followed the crowd, enjoying the coolest
fashion trends like tattered blue jeans, spoke the fashionable dirty words with his gangsta crew,
and did his hair up slick with hair glue. But Jesus when he was ready, Jesus said, Follow me! So
Peter began to subdue his human freedom to glorify God and serve others. He fixed up his
fisherman mouth, put on a suit and tie and he read the Bible. He memorized the book of Joel and
gave a nice message at the Pentecost World Mission Report a few weeks later. Ultimately he
became a martyr for Jesus. It was a life changing Bible Study, as Jesus’ words gave Peter a new
foundation for life as a shepherd and restored in Peter a clear life direction and life-giving spirit.
Peter wanted to start sharing the grace of god right away so he tried to share it with John.
So he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” He wanted to share the blessing of martyrdom with
his old friend. But Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to
you? You must follow me.” Jesus has a clear purpose and direction for each of his disciples. It
was Peter’s business to follow Jesus according to God's will for him. Some may die as martyrs.
Others may serve many years and die in peace. Each of us must obey God’s will personally.
Look at verse 25. “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written
down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be
written.” Let's fill the world with books about what Jesus has done for us. Let's fill the Internet
with Bible study materials, messages and testimonies about the things Jesus has done for us.
Let's share the gospel of God's amazing grace in Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Let's say,
say Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” And accept his personal calling to feed his sheep at
Rutgers, Princeton, America, the Muslim World, North Korea and everywhere in our generation.
Amen?