Feed My Sheep

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.
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. 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.
John 21:15-17

T he following verses from Mark chapter 1 clarify what the Gospel is and how it is needful for the saving and feeding of souls. The Gospel is clearly defined and we see that John the Baptist and Jesus preached the same Gospel:

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. (Mark 1:1-5)

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15)

When Jesus left this earth He gave the commission to His disciples: Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47) Jerusalem is the church.

This commission, when it is preached, answers with our spirits and also becomes food for us believers. The hearing of the Gospel is becoming rare. Even in the natural sense, if we were to live in a time of famine, we would search for food and go where the food is. In the spiritual sense, when food is withheld from us, it creates "famine for the Word."

The beautiful account of Joseph explains that during the famine Joseph's father, Jacob, heard there was corn in Egypt and instructed his sons: …get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. (Genesis 42:2)

One of my favorite songs "Feed My Sheep" by the late Pastor A. Mickelson has beautiful words regarding the feeding of the sheep. The sheep should be led where the feeding is best and to where the feeding is complete (verses 1-2). It's vital that sheep receive the best food, since sheep are known to be finicky or picky eaters—as are the sheep of Christ's pasture.

Sheep may even search through a whole bale of hay to find one blade of clover, whereas goats may eat almost anything. These are the words of Jesus in John 10:2-5: …he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Hearing the complete Gospel is what satisfies our spiritual portion or appetite. Sheep sometimes stray and the Shepherd of the soul seeks for those sheep. Sometimes they will not return; but if they avail themselves of forgiveness their garments can be made white by the blood of the Lamb through this glorious Gospel preached to them.

As one elder pastor so often stated: "Because Christ has commanded me His commission to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins, I wish to preach it to you now." When we are thankful for what we have received and obey Christ's command to preach repentance and the remission of sins, the mysteries of the Scriptures are opened and the "feeding is complete," as so aptly stated in Pastor Mickelson's song.

 From my own experience and observation, I have found I am spiritually strengthened, revived and given food that often can't even be measured when pastors have a spirit of obedience and understand this instruction and preach it, and they may say with the prophet Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3).

M ay the instructions of Christ to bind up the wounded and bring God's peace to those who are troubled and in need of reconciliation and consolation that their sins are forgiven in Jesus' name and blood yet clearly be opened and go forth—in keeping with Christ's teaching and example. For our sake, and for the sake of our children, may the Scriptures that support Jesus' instruction yet be expounded upon, preached and taught. It is woven throughout the Word: the royal priesthood, the prodigal son's conversion, Apostle Paul's conversion, the keys to the kingdom, Christ washing the disciples' feet and countless places that have been given for our need regarding how souls are converted and kept in faith.

Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck… (1Timothy 1:19) We then will not err in withholding proper food for hungry souls, believers and unbelievers alike, and our children will partake in the same blessed heritage that we have so graciously been given. The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever… (Deut 29:29)

In God's peace. ~ Phebe Johnson

 All who really know the Master Know of pastures rich and sweet,

Fragrant meadows rich with clover Where the feeding is complete:
Know the nooks beside cool waters And where secret fountains leap,
Unto these the Master saith: "If thou love Me, feed My sheep."
Care thou for the weak and weary, Lead them where the feeding's best,
For they've browsed amongst the thistles And the thorns gave them no rest.
Seek the thirsty and refresh them In the pools so clear and deep,
For He saith to those who love Him: "Feed My weary, wayward sheep."
Pastor A. Mickelson, 1923, #622 Hymns and Songs of Zion