Follow me, feed My lambs, feed My Sheep.

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship on
Sunday 20th September 2009

Let’s look at John 21: 15-25

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more that these?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My Lambs.”
16 He 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 seep.”
17 He 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?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”
18 “Most assuredly, I say to you when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
20 The Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

Look at the second part of verse 19

19 “…And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

• When Jesus had spoken this
• He said to Peter
• Follow me

Life is all about following Jesus. When John was preaching last week he spoke about the individual nature of God’s Call. You don’t follow me, you don’t walk my call, you follow Jesus, and you walk your own call.

Your call is to follow Jesus.

Look at verse 20

20 The Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

• Peter turns away from Jesus
• Looks to his fellow disciple
• A disciple that Peter knows Jesus loves
• The same disciple who leaned on Jesus breast at supper
• Do you remember that occasion?

Peter sees this other disciple following Jesus, Peter knows that this disciple is loved by Jesus.

He sees this other disciple and remembers that this disciple is the one who could ask Jesus Important questions. He just seems to be so close!

Peter realises that this is the very disciple who had asked Jesus the Question that Peter felt he could not ask Jesus directly.

Peter is hesitating to follow Jesus.

In his hesitation he gets distracted.

How easy it is to get distracted!

Look at verse 21

21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

• But Lord, what about this man?

You can be so concerned about another disciple
That they become a distraction to you following Jesus

There’s a thought!

You want to follow Jesus; there is no doubt about that.

But like Peter you look at another disciple, that you are convinced Is loved by Jesus, a disciple who is in love with Jesus, a disciple you would go to and say:

You ask him for me, you have more clout! Go on; just put a good word in for me.

Jesus has just had breakfast with Peter

They have talked about love and Peter’s relationship with Him.

Three times Jesus tried to get through to Peter.

Follow me Peter and feed my lambs, feed my sheep!

V15

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more that these?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My Lambs.”

• Do you love me more than these disciples?

V 16

16 He 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 seep.”

• Simon son of Jonah!
• Do you love Me?

V17

17 He 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?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

• Simon son of Jonah!
• Do you love Me?

Peter was grieved because Jesus said to him a third time

Do you love me Peter?

Lord, you know all things!

You know that I love you!

Jesus says

Well, Peter if you do love Me feed My sheep

Yes, Peter, we know that Jesus knows all things!

But Peter do you not get the point of this after Breakfast talk!

Peter the point is that you need to know that Jesus Loves You!

Jesus knows that you Love Him!

He has all knowledge!

But Peter you have to have your own revelation that JESUS LOVES YOU!

You need to know that Jesus loves you!

And you need to know this regardless of all the other disciples around you.

Peter, you need to so know his love that you will come to Him yourself.

Look at verse 19

19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

• FOLLOW ME!

Follow me Peter, regardless!

There are groups of people who still to this day base their lives on Peter, and the way he did things.

They go to someone else to get to Jesus!

Holy Disciples, who are perceived to be closer to Jesus than You, God bless them and open their eyes to see what the New Covenant says.

Listen carefully!

Jesus says to Peter and to you and I this morning

You, Follow me, Peter.

Look at verse 20

20 The Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”

• Peter turns around, away from Jesus and gets distracted by another disciple!

Peter stop turning about to other disciples, will you leave them to me?

Verse 21

21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

• Lord, what about this man?

Peter, it’s none of your business.

Peter follow me

Demonstrate your love to me to Me by being a shepherd who feeds the lambs, and the sheep!

Peter, James and John were close to one another!

One of them, John, was closer than all the rest.

Peter had got himself into a position of asking Jesus questions through John,

That’s no problem!

For a season that’s ok, But Peter Jesus wants you to grow up move on and start feeding My Lambs and Sheep.

This after breakfast talk with Peter is about preparing him for what is to come.

It is sure, that Jesus knows everything about everything there is to know!

The hard lesson which Peter is learning is preparation for his future.

Peter you have to start following me for yourself. Not through another HOLY DISCIPLE!

Its called in the New Testament GROWING UP!

Every child has to grow up.

Every child has to stand, apart from his parents who love him, knowing that he in his own right is loved.

Every student once taught must take their place in mature practice of their profession.

Each one has to grow up into independence!

Jesus know that you love him

But he wants you to know that love for yourself.

Not through another!

He wants you to know that you can come into his presecnce and ask him anything, any time.

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

John 21:15

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more that these?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My Lambs.”

Jesus eats breakfast and speaks to Peter.

It’s ok to have breakfast!

You can end up being too spiritual and neglect the ordinary things of life.

What happens if Jesus is going to speak to you at Breakfast, and you’re not there?

Husbands/ wives/ visitors/ strangers!

And you are too busy!

Jesus wanted to speak to Peter after breakfast!

I’ll just catch a bite on the move!

Be assured there is a place and a time where Jesus wants to speak to you personally.

Jesus wants a meeting with you.

He wants’ to catch up with you, and have a chat.

I had a heart full of joy to share with you at breakfast, and you were missing from the table!

I so wanted to tell you what would soon be happening in my great Kingdom this week.

I was looking forward to telling you how much I love you.

I just wanted to have some quality time with you over the porridge!!

You were not there Peter!

Feed my lambs; feed my sheep, wont you?

Ok! Lord, Jesus, we will catch up some time?

Will you Peter?

But what about King David?

He was not at the meal when Samuel arrived to anoint him?

What was David doing?

He was shepherding his father’s sheep!

Peter will you feed my lambs my sheep?

Peter will you follow me?

Can you see that Jesus is a shepherd who is feeding his father’s lambs and sheep?

Jesus is following his father to the letter!

If you love me Peter feed my lambs my sheep

Lets look at 1 Samuel 16:11

11 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. Fro we will not sit down till he comes here.”

Amazing everything is held up because David is not at the feast!!
Can you see this?

If you take up the challenge to mature in your relationship with Jesus, you will start feeding His lambs and sheep.

You will be called to the table, and at the right time you will start to function like the King that you really are.

Take David as an example of an obedient son who goes and looks after his father’s lambs and sheep.

Don’t you worry that you are not on the front line with your brothers, remember they were following Saul, and you know the out come of all that.

The house of Saul was growing steadily weaker while the house of David was growing steadily stronger.

Your kingship, Peter has to mature in your hands, and what brings it about it that you know that Jesus love you.

Follow me, feed my lambs, My sheep and you will be following in the footsteps of Jesus himself, the one who is the chief shepherd.

Jesus has called you.

Yes, he knows all things!

And, he wants you to know how much he loves you

Those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits!

Peter you can come into my presence and go out to feed my lambs and sheep with what I show you over breakfast.

Ok! That’s enough!

Its breakfast time in the kingdom of god this morning, Jesus is here, I want you to respond to Jesus.

Jesus is saying feed my lambs, feed my sheep

Jesus is saying follow me!
You are here at the table, are you going to be distracted by your fellow disciples or are you going to respond to the call?

Let me clarify the call?

Jesus wants you to feed his lambs, his sheep.

Jesus wants you to follow him.

Your response is simply to stand where you are.