SHARE GOD’S MESSAGES AND FEED HIS FLOCK LOVINA: No matter how harsh the economy of the jungle is, a lion will never eat grass. DORCAS: I understand your point, but that is not a compliment to the lion, rather it is a limitation on its own part. LOVINA: How do you mean? DORCAS: A lion lies down and walks on grasses, but cannot eat them, knowing that these are potential food to other animals: To the grass-eaters, the lions are like, ‘some have food, but cannot eat’. What a burden for the lions to know they dwell and tread on food and precious diets, but they cannot partake of that food, rather they must work hard in hunting and hurting other animals who feeds on what themselves cannot feed on. The lions wish they could eat grass or straw like oxen, instead of being limited to flesh of other animals: by relying on the flesh of other animals, the lions do hurt other animals in order to gain their own food. Therefore, while they gain their own food, other animals see them as terrorists and ravening wolves that prey on them. A day is coming when the lions will be granted the privilege of feeding on straw once again (Isaiah 65:25); in that day, the lions will not have to hurt any animal again in the holy mountain of God; for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of God, as the waters cover the seas (Isaiah 11:7-9). LOVINA: I knew it; I knew that when Nebuchadnezzar was turned into an animal, God still gave him the privilege of eating grass instead of hunting and killing other animals for his meal: it was easier for him that way, because he does not have to hunt in order to eat. (Daniel 4:32) DORCAS: Away from lions eating grasses or not, let us discuss on feeding the flocks of Christ: Why did the Lord asked Peter to feed his flock when they had just finished eating? Why mentioning Peter in particular among the others with him? And who are the flock of the Lord, Jesus was referring to in that context? (John 21:12-17) LOVINA: 1. He told Peter to feed the flock immediately they had just finished eating because he was not referring to the physical food which they had just eaten by then, but rather the spiritual food which is can be used to express love for Christ more than these (physical food). 2. I guess he probably chose Peter because Peter had more divine revelation of Jesus Christ from the Father than all of them and knew who Jesus was when he said, you are the Christ the Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16, John 6:68-70). 3. As for the sheep or flock of the Lord he was referring to, I will say they are his people including the rest of the apostles of Christ by then: Even though they were apostles of Christ, they were like sheep to Peter who was also an apostle. An apostle (Peter) could still shepherd and feed other apostles, even after Christ himself had already shepherded and fed them for about three years or more. I have seen where a teacher in Christ fed and shepherded an apostle, pastor and even general overseer of churches; to him, those great men of God are like sheep that still needs to be feed. When the lions learn how to eat straw or grasses like oxen (ruminants), even a lamb can teach them on how to chew the cuds. DORCAS: I do not agree it was because of the ability of Peter to divinely know whom Jesus was spiritually better than the rest of them, rather it was because of the leadership qualities of Peter over all the others: It has more to do with who the better leader (shepherd) was, than who knew Jesus Christ in Spirit. Infact, if it was about divine revelation of Jesus Christ, John would have being chosen instead of Peter to feed the flock; and the reason I said so is because, Peter divinely knew Jesus before he was crucified better than the rest of the apostles then, but after the resurrection, John divinely knew Jesus better than Peter himself. Remember, it was John who first recognized Jesus when he stood by the water and even told Peter that Jesus is the Lord, before Peter immediately covered his nakedness and jumped into the sea (John 21:7). Before the death of Jesus, Peter had more divine revelation of Jesus more than John the beloved; but after the resurrection, John the beloved had more divine revelation of Jesus Christ more than Peter. May be Peter felt a little competition with John which was why he asked Jesus what about John, what will John do? (John 21:20-22). Peter was a shepherd, even while they were all under the shepherding of Jesus Christ the chief shepherd: A simple difference between a shepherd and a sheep includes: the shepherd feeds the sheep or flock, while the sheep only knows how to eat and drink. Peter had a shepherd’s heart more than all the other apostles in that place: Before Jesus selected Peter for that task, Peter had proven himself worthy because he could bring food also. LOVINA: I understand your point; it was Peter who brought the net full of fishes when Jesus said, ‘bring some of the fishes you caught’. DORCAS: Yes. Jesus spoke those words as a general test to all of them, but only Peter took the initiative to go back and collect the fishes they caught and left by the sea shore: Peter alone dragged the whole net that is meant for seven of them to drag, while the rest of them were busy eating the fishes Jesus already roasted. At first Peter said I am going to fish (that is to provide for them who are kept indoors without food), and the rest of the seven with him followed him; while they were there, Jesus came by morning and called them children, saying, “Children, do you have any food?” After calling them children, Peter distinguished himself as a shepherd, while the rest remained a sheep or lambs because they only know how to eat besides knowing who the Lord was. If the seven of them followed Peter to drag the fishes they caught just as the followed Peter to go afishing at first, they would have been better off than remaining sheep and lambs before the LORD ascended into heaven. LOVINA: Now I see it was all about a test to all of them, and Peter alone passed that test: Jesus directed them on how to catch the fishes (gave them the message); but only one of them knew how to share the message of the Lord with others. Jesus brought the food they ate there, Peter also contributed by bringing or sharing the food (message): But the rest only knows how to eat and enjoy the food (message), without having the initiative of sharing with others also. That was why they were referred to as lambs, sheep and flocks. DORCAS: Yes, you now know the reason I am telling this is for you to always share the word of God (food) with other people: do not just be a listener who enjoys the preaching or sermon, but be a contributor as well and even share the good food with others. It selfish to be eating what Jesus cooked or roasted, without bring your own share for others to eat. Peter was not the one who had the best revelation of Jesus Christ in that place, but Peter was the one who had the shepherd’s heart after Jesus who will feed the sheep of God; just as David was a man after God’s own heart because he will feed the sheep of God well (1 Samuel 13:14). As it is written, “I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15). LOVINA: Messages (fishes in the nets) came from the Lord himself and were not tagged in the name of any one of them, but only the one who will take the Lord’s messages (fishes) to the place where the people are feeding, is qualified to receive the mandate to feed the Lord’s sheep (1 Peter 5:2-4).
Posted on: Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:32:48 +0000
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