"IF YOU LOVE JESUS, TEND HIS SHEEP"
John 21:1-19 05/04/2025
We all make mistakes. None of us is perfect, and we know that. But here's the amazing thing: our mistakes can help us grow. They can be stepping stones, not stumbling blocks. God can use even our failures to shape us into better followers of Christ.
As the Apostle Peter once said, “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). That’s what today’s Gospel is all about—growing, healing, and being restored by Jesus.
Let’s look at Peter’s story in today’s passage. He was far from perfect—just like us. Yet, his journey from failure to faithfulness is powerful. He shows us that even when we mess up, Jesus doesn't give up on us.
Peter is having a moment of reflection. He remembers the day, three years earlier, when he dropped his fishing nets to follow Jesus. He remembers how Jesus welcomed him, renamed him from Simon to Peter (which means “rock”), and gave him a new identity. Peter believed he would be the strong one—the rock Jesus could count on. He once boldly declared, “Lord, I will never betray You. I’ll lay down my life for You.”
But we know what happened. That boldness faded when fear took over. On the night Jesus was arrested, Peter was scared. He denied knowing Jesus—not once, not twice, but three times. And just as Jesus had predicted, the rooster crowed. Peter realized what he’d done and wept bitterly. He was brokenhearted and ashamed.
Then came Easter. Jesus rose from the dead, and Peter was filled with joy—but he still hadn’t had that one-on-one conversation with the Risen Lord. His heart was still carrying guilt and confusion. What now? Could he still be a disciple? Was there still a place for him in God’s plan?
Peter returns to Galilee with the others. Days go by. Nothing happens. There’s no word from Jesus. So Peter, restless and uncertain, says, “I’m going fishing.” It’s like he’s saying, “I’m going back to what I know. I don’t know where I stand with Jesus anymore.”
They fish all night—and catch nothing. But then, at dawn, they see someone on the shore. It’s Jesus—but they don’t recognize Him at first. He tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. They obey—and haul in 153 large fish! John turns to Peter and says, “It’s the Lord!”
True to his impulsive nature, Peter doesn’t wait. He jumps into the water and swims to Jesus. It’s as if he’s saying, “Lord, I’ve been waiting for You. I need You. I’m so sorry I failed You!”
On shore, Jesus is making breakfast over a charcoal fire. And after the meal, He pulls Peter aside for a private conversation.
Three times Jesus asks, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”
And three times Peter answers, “Yes, Lord. You know that I love You.”
And each time, Jesus responds with a call to action:
“Feed My lambs.”
“Tend My sheep.”
“Feed My sheep.”
Why did Jesus ask three times? Because Peter had denied Him three times. Jesus wasn’t trying to shame him—He was restoring him. With each question, Jesus was wiping away a denial and replacing it with love. He was saying, “Peter, I still believe in you. You're still the Rock. You’re forgiven. Now go and fulfill your calling.”
From that moment on, Peter changed. He preached boldly. He led the early church. He helped thousands come to Christ. And in the end, he gave his life for the Gospel—crucified upside down because he didn’t consider himself worthy to die the same way as his Lord.
Peter wasn't perfect. Neither are we. But the Risen Christ meets us in our brokenness. He knows our failures. He knows our fears. And He still loves us. He restores us. That’s what Easter is really about—resurrection, not just for Jesus, but for us. New life. New beginnings. Forgiveness. Hope.
And don’t miss this: Jesus didn’t just say “Do you love Me?” and leave it at that. He said, “If you love Me, feed My sheep.”
In other words, real love leads to action. If we love Jesus, we show it by taking care of His people—His sheep. We serve. We encourage. We nurture. We forgive. That begins with our church family and extends to our neighbors, our communities, and the world.
Feeding and tending are signs of discipleship. They are the real expressions of love for Christ. That’s what it means to follow Jesus—to imitate His life of service, compassion, and grace.
So let’s hear this call afresh today: If you love Jesus, tend His sheep.
Serve others. Care for one another. Love deeply. That’s how we live out the resurrection. That’s how we say “Thank You” to the One who never gave up on us.
May it be so for you, and for me. Amen.
