Jesus is Essential
John 21:15: So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.”
Why did not Simon Peter use the word our Lord uses? If you want my opinion, this man is through boasting. Never again will he brag of what he will do. Never again will you hear him saying, I am going to do something big for the Lord. For here on he is going to do something big, but he is not going to say anything about it. He comes to the low plain: “I have an affection for You.”
Now will you notice the exhortation. Our Lord responds, “Feed my lambs.” Let me give you a better translation: “Be grazing my baby lambs”—the word for lambs is diminutive, which means little baby lambs. “Simon Peter, if you love Me I want you to go and graze the little baby lambs; I want you to feed them.” Many Christians seem to think He said, “Be criticizing My little lambs.” But He has not given you that commission, friend. He says feed them. 1
Walking with Jesus
How would you best measure your love for Jesus? Is it conditional and based upon your circumstances? Is your love shown when it is most convenient for you? Is it committed, but not fully surrendered? I think love is best measured by humility. The less my life is about me, the more my life will be about Him. Let us learn to love through brokenness and humility.
We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19
To feed His lambs is perhaps one of the greatest privileges on earth.
Praying
Lord, thank You for always feeding me so graciously. You are my Bread of Life.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (John 11-21) (electronic ed., Vol. 39). Nashville.
