12/08/2012 recording date. audio/video is 11 minutes
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Feed My Sheep

I am your host Christina Farris coming from turtle30cshell.com.
Today we are talking on the last chapter of John. We have gone
through the entire book of John after this lesson has been
recorded. Some people will never read a thing I write but
hopefully they will read scripture. What I hope by teaching out
of the book of John is give a base line for new believers who
never been to church a solid structure of the book of John. Yet
it more then that, it is also to share the story of Christ from John
point of view the author of the book of John. Even he declare
he could not record all that took place while with Jesus. Yet
what he strove to do was to tell a well round story of the life of
Jesus while He walked in the flesh upon this earth. John also
wrote Revelations. A book that is both prophetic and speaks of
ancient history through the time of Christ.

John’s Gospel speaks of the time of Christ before his death and
a short history of what occurred after his death when he walked
the earth 40 days spending time in Galilee. In this last chapter I
am fixing to read it tells some of the last words to His disciples
before departing for heaven. He appears to them while they are
fishing along the shore, which was one of the first places He
called James and John to follow Him. We know Peter was there
with John and some of the other disciples. Jesus calls to them,
but they did not recognize Him. Perhaps it was dark or maybe a
little to far off shore to have good look to see exactly who
called to them from the shore. However we know they been
fishing for a long time with no luck. Jesus told them to cast the
net on the other side of the boat. Upon doing so they caught a
slew of fish that filled the boat to the point it began to sink. One
of the disciples called out it is Jesus and with that Peter
grabbed his robe because he was fishing without it and put it
on. Peter jumped in the water and swims to Jesus, not caring
that the nets were full. The other disciples got the fish ashore
and they found Jesus with fish on the coals baking. Jesus said
sit down and eat. Let us read:

John 21:1-25 KJV
(1)  After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the
disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he
himself.
(2)  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called
Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of
Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
(3)  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto
him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a
ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
(4)  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the
shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
(5)  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat?
They answered him, No.
(6)  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the
ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were
not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
(7)  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter,
It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,
he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did
cast himself into the sea.
(8)  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were
not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging
the net with fishes.
(9)  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of
coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
(10)  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now
caught.
(11)  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great
fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so
many, yet was not the net broken.
(12)  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the
disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the
Lord.
(13)  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them,
and fish likewise.
(14)  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his
disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(18)  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou
girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when
thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another
shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
(19)  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify
God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow
me.
(20)  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus
loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and
said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
(21)  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this
man do?
(22)  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what
is that to thee? follow thou me.
(23)  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that
disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall
not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
(24)  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and
wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
(25)  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the
which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even
the world itself could not contain the books that should be
written. Amen.

The net did not break with all fish the disciples caught and
Jesus said go bring them ashore. So it is in ministry when one
catch new people for Jesus we must bring them out of sin and
feed them meat of life everlasting through Christ Jesus. We can
not leave them hungry. Jesus fed His disciples three years
before the cross. And so we too must minister to people,
training them up so they to can catch fish within the safety of
the boat. Catching those needing saving with nets that do not
break.

The story goes on to tell of Jesus speaking directly to Peter.
Jesus ask Peter three times if he loved Him. Each time Jesus
says it with a little different meaning. First He said feed my
lambs, referring to the infants of the flock of God. Then He said
feed my sheep, referring to the adult sheep of the flock. Then
Jesus said feed my sheep one more time implying the flock of
God. Yet the discourse did not end there Jesus speaks that a
time would come in old age where he would be lead to a place
he would not want to go, speaking of his type of death that
Peter would suffer. From church history we know Peter would
hang on a cross and on request by Peter he would hang upside
down. Peter felt unworthy to hang in the same fashion as
Christ. Peter then asked what would happen to John. Jesus
makes it clear it was not for him to know. That was His business
not Peter’s, what would become of His servant. According to
church history John would be exiled to Island of Patmous.
There he would write down Revelations has it was revealed to
him. He would die on this island.

God gives us each a task, Peter job was to lead and to teach. He
was called to feed the sheep. Yet we all are called to teach and
to preach. Each of us learning from those who been saved and
have studied the word of God. Learning from Sunday school
teachers, ministers, Gospel workers and others who love to
share the Gospel of Jesus. Simple fact if you are saved you
have a responsibility to share the Gospel with those around
you. To be a testimony of the work of Christ in your life. To
share the grace and mercy of God. No it is not always easy. You
can not worry what someone else is doing but you must do
what God has called you too. Do not worry about the workmen
of God but do the task God has laid before you. If you not sure
exactly what that is pray and seek God and His Word. Also go
on the leading of the Holy Spirit. Remember Jesus asked Peter
three times do you love me and each time Peter says you know
I love you. If you do not love Jesus, then sharing the Gospel is
not for you. For you must care not just for Jesus but for the
sheep of God.

Dear Heavenly Father help us to strive to share the Gospel
message with those we meet. Sharing the joy of your mercy
and grace in our own lives. May the love we have for you shine
forth in our daily life. In Jesus precious name, Amen.
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Feed My Sheep by Christina Farris is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.