Jesus Tells Peter Three Times to Feed His Sheep

After the Resurrection, Jesus was eating with Peter. In John 21:15-18 the Word says, "When they had finished eating Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you truly love Me more than these?' 'Yes, LORD, You know that I love You.' Jesus said, 'Feed My lambs.' Again Jesus said, Simon, son of John, do you truly love Me?' He answered, 'Yes, LORD, You know that I love you.' Jesus said, 'Take care of My sheep.' The third time He said to him, 'Simon, son of John, do you love Me?' Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time do you love Me. He said (to the LORD), 'LORD, You know all things, You know that I love You.' Jesus said, 'Feed My sheep.' " 

The commentary shares, "Jesus asked Peter three times to remove the cloud of Peter's previous denial of Jesus. Each time Jesus followed through with the phrase, 'Feed My sheep.' Jesus is spoken of as The Shepherd of His flock, the Flock being His Church of believers. Jesus was committing Peter to follow through with spreading His Word. Peter came to realize the significance of Jesus' words about His death and resurrection. 

"How would you respond if Jesus asked you, 'Do you truly love Me?' Do you really love Jesus? Are you even His friend?" If so, share His word of salvation with those who do not know Him and what He did for mankind to be saved. He took all mankind's sins upon Him and paid in full the penalty of eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. Those who accept His free gift of salvation will forever be in eternity with Him. Those refusing His salvation will pay for their own sins forever in the Lake of Fire.  (Revelation 20:11-15) 

What About GOD's Insect Creation?

Proverbs 6:6-9, "Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, ruler, or governor to make them work, they labor hard all summer gathering food for the winter. I want you (man) to learn this lesson!"

Individual ants are born for specific purposes. As man, there are many different jobs performed, but different individuals perform different jobs. Not everyone does the very same job or nothing would get done! They ALL work! Many people can be considered lazy bones  as the above scripture mentions!

Proverbs 30:27, "Locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks." Sounds like man's military forces. 

Matthew 3:4 speaks of John the Baptist's food: "(John) His food was locusts and wild honey."

That brings us to bees. Their honey is one of the healthiest foods we can eat!

If it was not for their gathering all the nectar from different sources, we would not have honey!

Now come the spiders. They are not insects because they have eight legs. All insects only have six legs. Did you know not only silk worms spin silk? Spiders do also for their webs!

All of these, plus thousands of other different insects, were in the Garden of Eden as well. Genesis 1:25 GOD created, "...and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds." Which brings me back to my primary scripture of Psalm 145:21 that states, "Let all creatures praise His Holy Name forever and ever." Romans 8:21 also confirms the animal kingdom on the New Earth (that Revelation speaks of in Chapter 21). Romans states all of GOD's creation (animals included as Psalm 145:21 stated) will be liberated, "The creatures themselves will be liberated from death and decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of GOD." 

If you don't know Christ Jesus as your Savior, you can know Him! Simply humble yourself to admit you are a sinner ("All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of GOD!" Romans 3:23). Ask Jesus to forgive your sin and He will. ("All who call upon the Name of the LORD Jesus will be saved." Acts 2:21) And His Holy Spirit will enter and testify to your salvation! (Mark 1:7-8, "After me (John the Baptist) will come One more powerful than I...I (John) baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.") Those accepting Christ have the promise of the Holy Spirit in them. 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Do you not know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received from GOD!" Come to the LORD today and realize the amazing things our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD has planned for you; not just now, but also in His Eternal New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem for all who believe in Him and what He did for you on the Cross by taking all your sin upon Him! Hallelujah to our GOD! 

Christ Jesus' Third Appearance After His Resurrection

John 21:1-15, "Jesus again appeared to His disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. (Simon Peter and two other disciples.) Peter said, 'I am going fishing.' They replied, 'We'll go with you.' they were out all night and had caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize Him. He called out to them, 'Friends, haven't you any fish?' They answered no. He said, 'Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.' When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish! One of the disciples said, "It is the LORD!'  Immediately Peter jumped into the water! The others followed him in the boat towing the net of fish!

"When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with some fish on it and some bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish you just caught.' The net was so full of large fish, yet it did not break! Jesus said, 'Come, have some breakfast.'

"Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after he was raised from the dead."

A verse that blesses my heart comes from John 20:29, Christ says to His disciples, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen (Me) yet have believed." Do you believe in Jesus? He is the Savior of all who come to Him asking forgiveness of their sins! Acts 16:31, "Believe in the LORD Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."

Animal Awareness Of And Obedience To GOD

Job 12:7-10, "But ask now the beasts of the field, and they shall teach thee...

"...and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: or speak to the earth and it shall teach thee...

"...and the fish of the sea shall declare unto thee. Who knoweth not in all these (animals) that the hand of GOD hath worked this? In Whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind."

Romans 8:21, "All creation anticipates the day when it will join GOD's children in glorious freedom from death and decay."

As previous quoted, "all living things have souls." It is man who has the spirit of GOD breathed into him. Unrepentant man's spirit is dead until he comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Let your spirit come alive in Christ Jesus, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

Jesus Appears to the Disciples Including Thomas

John 20:24-31, "Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the LORD!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my fingers where the nails were and put my hand in His side, I will not believe it.' A week later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe!' 

"Thomas said to Him, 'My LORD and my GOD!' Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen (Me) and yet have believed.'
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book (Book of John). But these are written that you (we of today) may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of GOD, and that by believing you may have life in His Name."

Some miracles of Jesus.

 1. Jesus heals the blind. (Mark 8:25)

2. Jesus heals the lame man. (Matthew 21:14)

3. Jesus heals the leper. (Luke 5:12-13)

4. Jesus raises the girl, Tabitha, from the dead.

(Mark 5:35-42)

We too shall be raised from the dead at the last trumpet sound and receive our eternal bodies and be forevermore in eternity with our Awesome, Almighty, Creator, Savior, Holy Father GOD in the New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem! Hallelujah to His Holy Name! (I Corinthians 15:52-54) If you don't know the salvation of Jesus Christ, all you need do to receive Him is humble yourself as a lost sinner. Ask Him for His forgiveness of your sin and become your Savior. He will and His Holy Spirit will come into you confirming your eternal salvation! The glories He has in store for His chosen in salvation goes beyond our imagination! His glories are yet to be revealed to all who are saved in Christ Jesus!

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Revelation 5:5, "Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Christ Jesus is the ONLY one worthy to open it.

Why is Jesus referred to as a Lion? Jesus is the King of kings and the LORD of lords. Let's look at the king of beasts.

Some time back, a story was shared of a lion caring for a baby deer (that is usually their food source.) The lion would treat the doe as it's own baby by not allowing any other lions to come near it. The baby was so young, it finally perished from lack of nourishment, but the lion protected it to the end and never harmed it.

Several stories have been documented over the years of this phenomenon.

The Bible teaches there is coming a time when Christ rules in His Millennial Reign, "The lion will lie down with the yearling." (Isaiah 11:6) 

     
"...and the lion will eat straw like the ox." (Isaiah 11:7) 

Even today (with great care) man can be at peace with a lion. 

But in the New Heaven and New Earth this will be the norm! "Let all creatures praise His Holy Name forever and ever." Psalm 145:21 

Jesus Suddenly Appears Behind Locked Doors

John 29:19-23 (Luke 24:36-43), "On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the LORD. Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I Am sending you.' And with that He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.'"

Jesus appeared through locked doors! He was no longer bound by this universe's Laws of Thermal Dynamics. Appearing, disappearing, yet He was not a "ghost." He had Thomas to touch His hands where the nails were driven into them to hang Him upon the cross and see His pierced side. (John 20:25) More on this next week!

Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the Disciples. The Holy Spirit did not come into the other believers and followers of Jesus until at Pentecost, "Suddenly a sound like a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit..." (Acts 2:2-4) Now, today when each person asks for Jesus' forgiveness, His Holy Spirit enters and verifies His salvation of them! His Word tells us in Hebrews 13:5, "GOD has said, 'I will never leave you, never will I forsake you.' " 

One day we too will have these imperishable bodies. (I Corinthians 15:52-58)

"In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and we (who are still alive) will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O grave, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin...but thanks be to GOD! He gives us (eternal) victory through our LORD Jesus Christ!' (In the now) Know your labor is not in vain!"    One Day you will receive a new body. One that will live forevermore, never knowing sorrow, pain, sickness again; or one that will, with all these things plus more that we can't now comprehend. An agony that will forever withstand the punishment of sin in the eternal Lake of Fire where the Laws of Thermal Dynamics will never apply. How can anyone reject so great a salvation in Jesus Christ! Choose Life in Christ forever! Don't reject Him and be separated in an agony of punishment that He has already paid for you. But you must repent and receive Him to receive your eternal heavenly body. Do so now if you haven't already! And be ready to hear that Trumpet sound and be changed in the blink of an eye!