15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16 Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ 17 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.
John 21: 15-17
In yesterday’s reflection we thought about how Jesus wants us to let go of him. That our worship cannot only be our private or corporate worship of bible reading and prayer. (As important as these are and should not be neglected.) We are to let go of Jesus in order to go instead and tell others of the good news that Jesus Christ is alive.
To often the command to go instead is understood to be given to someone else. People talk about the great work missionaries are doing. They also talk about how much more important that work is or how they could never do what missionaries are doing.
At the heart of this line of thinking is the idea we are not good enough or talented enough. We use the same excuse Moses used at the burning bush, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?‘ (Exodus 3:11) Or if this is not our excuse then it is because there is something in our past or present. We feel unworthy just as Peter who had denied Jesus three times on the night of his arrest. (Mark 14: 66-72)
The living Jesus does not look on our past or our natural abilities, much less what we think of ourselves. The living Jesus is a risen Jesus who has atoned for every sin and shortcoming. This means Jesus has prepared us for service in his Kingdom. The fact that Jesus lives, having already died, means that we have no excuse not to go instead. In fact Peter discovered not only was he to go, but he was given a very specific task, to feed Jesus sheep.
Each and every one of us have been called by name. That calling has brought to us to where we are today. Our jobs, our families, our friends. For many of us, because of the corona-virus regulations, we have been brought to a cross roads in our lives.
No matter our circumstances the living Jesus has given us the missional task of feeding his sheep. The sheep we have to feed are no less important, nor is their care a lesser task that anyone else’s sheep. The question we are faced with today is how seriously do we take the care of the living Jesus’ sheep which he has placed in our care?
Prayer Lord Jesus thank you for your atoning sacrifice on the cross. Thank you for how you have made me fit for service in your kingdom. Help me to understand and to be obedient to your command to feed your sheep, the sheep you have given to me. Help me to see the significance not only of the command, but the sheep, the lives you have placed in my care for your names sake. Amen.
Other reflections from Moneydig