While they are eating, Jesus asks Peter, "...do you truly love me more than these," to which Peter responded, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus then said to Peter, "Feed my lambs." This exchange between Jesus and Peter is repeated three times, with Peter becoming a bit more uncomfortable with each repetition.
The formerly brash, self-assured Peter is much more reserved in his proclamation of his love and seems a bit unsure of his abilities to fulfill successfully the charge that Jesus is giving. He’s still grieving his betrayal of Christ; yet, even though Peter was unsure of his ability to be faithful, Jesus knew otherwise. He called this fisherman to become a shepherd and feed sheep.
Throughout the Bible, we are compared to sheep and Jesus to our Shepherd. When Jesus asked Peter to feed His sheep, he was placing in Peter's care His children. This was no small calling; Peter, as well as any of us who have responsibility over others, was being commissioned to serve and to care for Jesus' flock. As parents, we are shepherds to our children.
A shepherd takes the care and keeping of his flock quite seriously. Psalm 23 talks of the Lord being our shepherd and how he cares for us, His sheep. In verse 4, David proclaims, "...your rod and your staff, they comfort me." This is a powerful image because the comfort from the rod and staff comes after much personal investment on the part of the shepherd.
A young shepherd carefully chooses and crafts his rod and staff; they are the essential tools of his trade and are designed to fit him. He then practices, learning to use his rod with great precision until it becomes like his "right arm." It is the symbol of strength, power, and authority in all serious situations. It's a tool used as a weapon against predators, for discipline, and for the sheep's welfare. When a wayward sheep wanders too close to danger, the shepherd throws the rod within range near enough to frighten the sheep back to the safety of the flock. He uses it to count the sheep and to examine them for any signs of injury or disease.
The staff is most often used to comfort the sheep by drawing them together. A shepherd will skillfully use the crook of the staff to lift a newborn lamb that's been separated from its mother and reunite them or use gentle pressure from the staff to guide the wandering sheep back onto a path of safety. And, when the sheep really get into messes, the staff is used to untangle them from thorns and brambles from which they can't free themselves or lift them back onto solid ground after falling off a cliff while chasing yet one more mouthful of grass.
Is it any wonder that David wrote that we are "...the sheep of his pasture"? How often do we wander off the beaten path chasing something that captures our attention and need God's rescue? How often do we unknowingly (or knowingly) encounter danger only to be protected by our Shepherd?
As parents, we are commissioned by God to shepherd our children. He's called us to "feed sheep." This is no small responsibility. We know it, just as Peter did, so we must rely on God's guidance to help us. He will teach us to use our "rod and staff" - His Word - with precision to lead our children along the safe path, to protect them, to discipline them, to comfort them, and to help them when they get entangled in dangerous situations. He will be our Shepherd and lead us in the way in which we should go.
Gentle Shepherd, thank you for guiding us, for leading us back onto the path of safety when we stray, for keeping us safe and for comforting us.
Lord, You’ve called us to be a shepherd to our children and to “feed” them. Please help us to follow your example and give us the wisdom to guide them in “paths of righteousness” and to protect them from all harm.
Thank you, Heavenly Father.
“A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller
