When Jesus told Peter “Feed My Sheep” (John 21:15-17), he was conveying and entirely new life-style to Peter. He wasn’t suggesting an avocation for his disciple, but a radical change that carried infinite implications that Peter couldn’t possibly know I advance. What Peter did know, was that Jesus, once a carpenter, called himself a “shepherd.” (John 10:112:18) “I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me–just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10”14-16) After the Resurrection Jesus passed his shepherd’s staff to Peter. The Bible never again mention’s Peter as a fisherman, but only as the great disciple who accepted Jesus’ staff.

Even though Israel had once been exiled from their land and eventually returned to their home, the image of a shepherd was deeply embedded in Israel. Abraham, the father of the nation,and his son Isaac and grandson Jacob were all shepherds. In the land of Egypt the twelve tribes were all shepherds at least until their slavery, and the division of the land of Israel was made for shepherd families. The exodus was consummated with the blood of a lamb on the lintels of houses. Israel’s greatest king, David, was a shepherd.

God elevated shepherds when David told King Saul, Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. . . . The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. (1Samuel 17:34-37)

Though herding sheep was no longer highly esteemed in Israel in Jesus’ time, all Israelites knew their heritage as a nation of shepherds, and at Jesus’ words, some became believers. ( John 10:21) As a Hebrew, Peter knew the centrality of shepherds and shepherding to his people. He knew, too, that Jesus placed himself in the center , and that the sheep, mentioned in parables and in lessons, were going to need a shepherd who would die for them. Jesus said: The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. (John 10:17)

When Peter said”yes” to Jesus , he knew for certain what kind of shepherd he would have to be. Peter said, “Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you.”(John 21:17)

Love in Him,

Prue