DAILY BREAD OF LIFE

(KJV.)  JOHN 21:15-17

(15)  So when they had dined,  Jesus saith to Simon Peter,  Simon, son of Jo'nas,  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 Jo'nas, 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 Jo'nas, 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.


DO YOU REALLY LOVE ME?

Simon Peter had the urge to go fishing at the sea of Ti-be-ria, some of his colleagues decided to go with him but that night they caught nothing until day break, Jesus stood at the shore watching them but they did not know who he was, he asked them if they had caught anything yet?  They answered nothing, he asked them to cast their net on the right side of the ship to which they obeyed him and caught a hundred and fifty-three fishes unbelievable! however, before Jesus started to talk to them, Jesus had already started a fire of coal and had a fish and bread, he invited them to breakfast with him, at that point they are aware of him but said nothing;

Case in point,  (15)  So when they had dined,  Jesus saith to Simon Peter,  Simon, son of Jo'nas, 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.  Jesus was up to something; after the breakfast, he asked Simon Peter, if he actually loved him more than catching those fishes, Simon Peter answered, yes Lord, you know that I love you, Jesus said unto him, Give food to my lambs; let us look at few points, (i) First of all, if Peter loved Jesus as he claimed, why was he not spreading the gospel to unbelievers to save souls into eternity but thinking about his own sustenance and catching fishes after Jesus ascended to heaven?  (ii)  Secondly, did not Jesus already called him out of fishing to follow him so he can be fishers of men? (Matt. 4:18,19).  (iii) Thirdly, during three years of Jesus ministry, was not Peter and rest of the disciples taken care of and did not had to worry about their sustenance?  then how come when Jesus left, Peter now lack faith that he will still be taken care off, if he continues to spreads the gospel?  but wanted to get back to fishing business to which Jesus had already called him out of into his ministry; however, Jesus knows the hearts of men and will not allow Peter to fail to accomplish his mission, so came that morning to get the assurance from him that he would care more about preaching the gospel than fishing to make a living.


WORDS OF INSPIRATION:

Points to ponder,  (16)  He saith to him again the second time,  Simon, son of Jo'nas, lovest thou me?  He saith unto him,  Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.  He saith unto him,  Feed my sheep. Jesus, wanted to make sure that Simon Peter was certain of what he was saying to him; remember it was the same Simon Peter, who assured Jesus at the Passover table that he was willing to go to prison and to die with him but when troubles came upon Jesus, he denied him three times. (Luke Chapter. 22); therefore, Jesus asked if he loves him over and over again, to be certain that Peter does get the point, not to seek his own agenda but to be mindful of spreading the good news to save souls for eternity.  (17)  He saith unto him the third time,  Simon, son of Jo'nas, 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.  Jesus asked him the same question again the third time, but Peter became upset within his heart because Jesus asked him the same question three times; but Jesus did that for lack of trust in Peter, because at the Passover feast table, he pledged his allegiance to Jesus that he would never deny him but when persecutions trails and sufferings came upon Jesus Christ, and he was questioned by some of his persecutors if he knew and was with him, Peter denied him before men three times and the cock crewed for Jesus's prophesy to be fulfilled;  Peter was selfish in this aspect, he thought about his own safety and not of Jesus his master to save himself from perishing for righteousness sake.

Fruits of thoughts, Simon Peter was the same disciple who denied Jesus three times that he knew him not during his trails; therefore, Jesus knew his heart that he is not faithful;  Peter was supposed to continue with the ministry of saving souls for Christ, for Jesus already assured him in Matthew 16:18; that he is a rock upon which he will built his church:  if he does loved Jesus truly, why did he go fishing with other disciples that morning and not fishing souls with the gospel?   because, Peter was self centered, and thought about his welfare instead of welfare of others;  in Luke 22:35; Jesus questioned his disciples before his trails started, if they lacked anything when he was with them; in other words, Jesus wanted them to know that he is going away but they will still not lack anything,if they continue to do his will;  but Simon Peter the rock on which Jesus will built his church, needed to be encouraged again by Jesus at the seashore of Ti-be-ria to focus on the great commission and not on fishes of the sea or his own sustenance.


CONCLUSION:

Dearly beloved, what is our focuses today in the faith of the righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  Are we focusing on our own self agendas as Simon Peter did at the Sea of Ti-be-ria, when he was commissioned to spread the gospel to save souls for eternity?  If Jesus Christ shows up to dine with us today;  what questions will he ask his believers?  followers, let us be more caring and feed the sheep, lambs and even goats and bring them all to the pasture of our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior forever and evermore.  Amen and Amen!


QUOTE OF THE DAY:

(KJV.)  Matthew 10:37  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:  and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.