John 21:15: So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs.
John 21:16: He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep.
John 21:17: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep.
The Question then arises, feed My sheep what? And how do we feed them? What is Jesus talking about? Well in order to determine this, we have only to look at the life of Jesus. What was His life all about?
I think the Word that comes to mind is love. All Jesus said and all Jesus did was about Love.
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus is the Creator God. And in the book of First John we are told that God IS Love. So, who are the sheep Jesus is speaking of and what are we to feed them?
Are not we, the born again believers, His sheep? Did not Jesus say: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Are we not to feed one another? And what are we to feed one another?
One thing is for sure; unless we love one another we will feed each other nothing. That is nothing of value, for sure.
John 15:12: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
So how do we feed one another? By loving one another? By praying for one another? By caring, and bearing one another's burdens? By demonstrating the love of Christ in all our actions, both for one another and, in fact, for the whole world, that Jesus died for?
I Corinthians 13:4: Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
This is a good check for our selves. Do we suffer long? (As, did Jesus)? Are we kind? To each other and to all people? Do we envy others? Are we vain and swollen with pride? Are we selfish and seek only after our own interest? Do we behave properly?
Do we allow ourselves to be provoked easily? Instead of thinking on whatsoever things are lovely, do we concentrate on evil, or bad things? Are we happy when bad things happen to those we do not like, or feel have harmed us in one way or another? Do we always tell the Gospel Truth, or do we tell our own truth, so that we always look good?
Do we bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things, as did Jesus our example?
No we are not perfect. But we need to examine ourselves, as we are told in this passage: 2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
So how do we measure up to this examination? How do we look when we stand in the Light of His Word? Are we in the faith?
So what do we feed each other and upon what do we feed? What did Jesus say?
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
As GMI pointed out in another thread The Word of God is our meat and bread. Until we feed upon His Word and grow to maturity, how can we expect to feed another?
So how do we measure up to this examination? How do we look when we stand in the Light of His Word?
John 21:16: He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep.
John 21:17: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep.
The Question then arises, feed My sheep what? And how do we feed them? What is Jesus talking about? Well in order to determine this, we have only to look at the life of Jesus. What was His life all about?
I think the Word that comes to mind is love. All Jesus said and all Jesus did was about Love.
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus is the Creator God. And in the book of First John we are told that God IS Love. So, who are the sheep Jesus is speaking of and what are we to feed them?
Are not we, the born again believers, His sheep? Did not Jesus say: I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Are we not to feed one another? And what are we to feed one another?
One thing is for sure; unless we love one another we will feed each other nothing. That is nothing of value, for sure.
John 15:12: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
So how do we feed one another? By loving one another? By praying for one another? By caring, and bearing one another's burdens? By demonstrating the love of Christ in all our actions, both for one another and, in fact, for the whole world, that Jesus died for?
I Corinthians 13:4: Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
This is a good check for our selves. Do we suffer long? (As, did Jesus)? Are we kind? To each other and to all people? Do we envy others? Are we vain and swollen with pride? Are we selfish and seek only after our own interest? Do we behave properly?
Do we allow ourselves to be provoked easily? Instead of thinking on whatsoever things are lovely, do we concentrate on evil, or bad things? Are we happy when bad things happen to those we do not like, or feel have harmed us in one way or another? Do we always tell the Gospel Truth, or do we tell our own truth, so that we always look good?
Do we bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things, as did Jesus our example?
No we are not perfect. But we need to examine ourselves, as we are told in this passage: 2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"
So how do we measure up to this examination? How do we look when we stand in the Light of His Word? Are we in the faith?
So what do we feed each other and upon what do we feed? What did Jesus say?
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
As GMI pointed out in another thread The Word of God is our meat and bread. Until we feed upon His Word and grow to maturity, how can we expect to feed another?
So how do we measure up to this examination? How do we look when we stand in the Light of His Word?
