“Feed my lambs, Feed my sheep”

Third Sunday of Easter, May 4, 2025

John 21:3 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

The Apostles of Jesus were maybe just standing or sitting around probably thinking about Jesus.  The one they followed was crucified before their eyes, and Jesus appeared to them twice in the upper room.  Maybe they wondered if they would see Jesus again or was that it, either way the Apostles may have spent a lot of time just pondering these days of sorrow, joy, and wondering what’s next.

Peter must have gotten anxious as they stood around brooding and said to the others with him, “I’m going fishing.”  It was something they knew how to do, and it would take their minds off wondering what’s next, so the others said, “We will go with you.”  At least they would accomplish something and maybe a good catch will cheer them up.

Good thought let’s go fishing, but it didn’t go as they had hoped, no catch of the day, just wet empty nets.  Who knows what might be going through their minds at that time.  Maybe their thoughts went back to what’s next.  Their emotions were up, down, and maybe sideways too.  With out Jesus guiding the Apostles, how are they supposed to carry on, what should they do?  Is life going back to the way it was before…?  

John 21:4–6, 12 4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So, they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”

They have been through this scenario a couple of times before, someone standing on the shore telling them which side of the boat to throw their net on to catch fish.  They certainly hadn’t had any luck on their own.  So, they listened and took the advice.  Low and behold, there were fish, big fish, and so many that it made the net hard if not impossible to pull in.

John, being part of this fishing expedition, suddenly sees the light come on.  This must be Jesus.  Who else would tell us to try the other side of the boat and know we would catch an abundance of fish.  This is Jesus who shows us the way when the way we take does not work.  This is Jesus coming to the rescue when our thoughts get in the way of the actions we should know to do.

Peter gets so excited that he puts on his outer clothes and wades in to greet his Lord.  I’m sure he might have been thinking along the lines of, this is a sight for sore eyes.  This is the Lord whom we followed and whom we want to continue to follow.  But we haven’t figured that part out yet.  How do we follow Jesus when He is not here to guide our every step?

John 21:15–16 15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

Service with a smile.  Jesus was already cooking fish on the barbie and inviting them to breakfast.  Yes, this group of Apostles caught 153 fish that did not break the net that held them.  But who kept the net together?  And who will keep the Apostles together to do what Jesus has taught them to do.

Jesus answers the question that has been so heavy on their minds.  Jesus answers the question with a question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”   first to see where Simon Peter’s heart was.  We should love God more than anything.  Jesus tells Simon Peter to feed His sheep.  Maybe at first this is to say keep my teaching going first to the Apostles and then remember I taught you to be fishers of men.

Jesus says to Peter again, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  Peter maybe perplexed says, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”  And this time Jesus says tend my sheep meaning that the Apostles and disciples need a leader.  Jesus is asking and telling Peter at the same time, to lead His followers by feeding them His word, and leading them to follow Him.

John 21:17 17He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Now Peter must be very perplexed as Jesus asks a third time, “Do you love me?”  Maybe at first this must seem to be a little overbearing, but Jesus was driving a point of His will into Peter.  Feed my sheep, tend my sheep, and feed my sheep. 

What should we do next was the question.  The answer is to continue the ministry Jesus had started and had taught them.  Three years of seminary is over; you had your year of vicarage when I sent you out to the people.  Now is the time to carry the torch and fish for men that they may know the gospel as you now know it.

John 21:18–19 18Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19(This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

This is where one’s faith is tested.  We know that Jesus was crucified for preaching the gospel which the Pharisees took as preaching against the law.  Preaching more than the law would undo the hold the Pharisees had on the people.  Power corrupts, money corrupts, but forgiveness saves.

Jesus is telling Peter that his fate will be much like that of Himself.  As Jesus was hung on a cross to die so would Peter.  The cross we carry is more than just our sins.  The cross we carry is also our faith in that we would be willing to die even as Jesus did. We die for Jesus and for the gospel, except Peter chose to be hung upside down on the cross. 

Jesus is letting Peter know, class is over, the time is to put what you’ve learned into action, the time is to take and lead the Apostles and disciples to fulfill the will of God, the time is to fish for men.  The will of God is that everyone should know that Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose for our salvation in Him.  Jesus says, “Follow me.”  Not that we follow in works, but that we follow in faith and thanksgiving for our Savior has risen! Amen.

      Written by Pastor Curtis A. May