Rest Full

By Reverend Michael Farias

Peter and the others had just finished working the graveyard shift, and of course they were hungry and needed rest.  What a pleasant surprise it must have been when Jesus called out to them, “Come, and dine.”

Not only did Jesus invite them to breakfast, but he had prepared the meal.  

Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. John 21:13.  

What a great leadership principle we see here.  It was a lesson Peter needed to learn, and so do we. The lesson is this; we rest best when we are full.  I know you can say amen to that.  Let’s take a look at it.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?”   John 21:15

Exactly what Jesus meant by “these” has been speculated by scholars.  Were “these” the other disciples?  Did Peter love Jesus more than the others?   Were “these” the breakfast of fish and bread they were enjoying?  Did Peter love food more than he loved Jesus?  Or were “these” the 153 fish they had just netted?  Did Peter love financial success more than he loved Jesus?  Who really knows what Jesus was referring to?  Whatever it was, Peter replied, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.”

The Lord had a point to make and a lesson to teach.  He told Peter to “Feed my lambs.”

Take a look at how this conversation between Jesus and Peter escalates.

Jesus said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  He said to him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” John 21:16.

We are seeing a lesson here on priorities.  First, Jesus tells Peter to feed his lambs, next he tells Peter to tend his sheep, and now there is a third directive.  

Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” John 21:17a.   

Three times Jesus has to ask Peter the same question, and three times Peter says, “yes, you know that I love you Lord”.  Once again, Jesus responds with a directive; Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:17b.

I believe we can gather from this dialog that it is important to Jesus that His flock  be well fed and tended to.  All of God’s creatures find the best rest when they are well fed.

Whether leaders are entrusted with a flock of lambs, or sheep, or any combination thereof, they need to be tended to and fed.  Tended to always, and fed regularly.

This is not a guilt trip.  I know you’re super busy, but let’s face it; You can only do so much feeding, yet your flock always needs to eat.

We are here to help.

Greater Than Gold has developed a tool that can help you with the feeding part of your ministry responsibility.  Greater Than Gold Bible Studies are designed to get the Word of God into his people by giving them a resource through which they can study the Word at their own pace.  It has proven effective in over 70 countries and in 17 languages, for over 30 years.

Nothing will ever take the place of you, the shepherd, caring for and tending to the flock of God.  You cannot be outsourced, but sometimes you can rest while your flock is being fed.

We all rest best when we are full.  Feed the flock of God.