Feed My Lambs
Feed My Lambs
This week, I have been enjoying reading the Holy Week Devotionals from Proverbs 31 Women. They are short and thoughtful and are helping me to focus on the sacredness of this week, and to remember the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for us.
Today’s author, Lisa TerKeurst, referenced John 11 and 17 so this morning I decided to dig into that section of Scripture during my quiet time. I had some extended time to talk to Jesus since I was off for Spring Break 🙂 I read John 11 and then hopped over to John 17 to 21, and just really spent time thinking about what the events leading up to the crucifixion might have been like.
I thought I would share a few of my favorite takeaways from this section of Scripture.
📖Jesus’ prayer for ME…for all of us as believers, He prayed for ME - when He was facing the most awful, brutal death, He took the time to pray for ME and for YOU. Kind of sits you back in your chair, doesn’t it?
John 17:23 “I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
V. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
📖When Jesus is talking to Pilate and Pilate was exerting his power by saying “I have the power to free you or crucify you.” and Jesus firmly puts him in his place….when He responds in verse 11. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” I like to imagine Jesus saying, “Well, actually…YOU DON”T!” LOL
📖In Chapter 20, Mary Magdalene (you know the woman with a WHOLE lot of mistakes in her past), After His resurrection, she is the first person the Jesus appeared to!
John 20:16 “Jesus said to her, “Mary!” Imagine her utter surprise when she realized who she was talking to!
📖One of my all-time favorite passages in Scripture is when Jesus so lovingly and decisively reinstates Peter. Peter messes up - HUGE! And, at such a crucial time. I am sure that he was overcome with grief, remorse and shame.
BUT GOD.
Open your Bible…Go do it….I’ll wait……….
Read John 21:15-19
As you read, imagine what Peter must have been thinking. What would you be thinking?
Oh man, I really messed up!
Jesus said I was going to deny Him.
I promised I would not.
I broke my promise.
I was so sure of myself.
But, I did it.
I really messed up.
I denied the One who died to save me.
I did it not once, or twice, but three times, just like He said I would.
He knew and He still brought me along to the garden.
He knew I would mess up, but He still died for me.
He knew that I was not going to do what I said…
But, He LOVES me anyway.
Any of these thoughts resonate with you? They resonate with me, in fact, I think that I can relate to most of these.
As you read, did you feel Peter’s shame slowly slip away?
Did you notice how Jesus lovingly and decisively brought Peter back to Himself?
Did you see that Jesus led Peter to confirm his love for him 3 times. The same number of times that Peter denied Him? What a beautiful sweet moment. I imagine Jesus just opening His arms to Peter and lovingly welcoming him back to pure relationship.
- it’s good stuff, isn’t it? -
And, did you catch what Jesus said - what his charge was to Peter? What He told Peter to do? Did you catch what He did NOT do to Peter?
He did NOT say - “Well, Peter, you done messed up, so I can’t really use you anymore.”
OR
“Well Peter, you denied me and I am just not sure I can trust you - so maybe you shouldn’t talk about Me to others.”
NOPE!
NONE OF THAT….that is the enemy talking. We get to choose - who are we going to listen to? The condemning, shaming voice of the enemy, or the voice that says....
Feed my lambs.
Take care of my sheep.
Feed my sheep.
And FOLLOW ME!
Jesus made it so simple for Peter, and for us. We get to choose to follow Him.
He gave Peter a job to do - an important job to do….Jesus did not keep score, send Peter into a spiral of shame, or bring up Peter’s denial. He lovingly, clearly provided an opportunity for Peter to respond.
Yes, Lord, you know I love you.
Yes, Lord, you know I love you.
Lord, you know everything, You know I love you.
THAT IS WHAT JESUS DOES…He restores relationship with us. With you and with me…no matter what we have done, He provides us with the opportunity to turn our hearts to HIm - even after we have royally messed up! He folds us into His arms and allows us to say,
“Yes Lord, You know everything. You know that I love you.”
Then, feed my lambs.
Resources:
🐑 Special thanks to Ohio ATI for letting me snuggle with a lamb!
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