John 21:16
"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."
This passage reflects Jesus’s forgiveness and restoration of Peter. After Peter’s three denials, overwhelmed by shame, Jesus leads him to reaffirm his faith by the Sea of Galilee at dawn, with a campfire glowing, bread baking, and fish frying—a vivid scene of reconciliation.
Jesus’s command, "Feed My sheep," elevates Peter from "Follow Me" to a shepherding role, equipping the flock for maturity and fruitfulness (see Ephesians 4:11-16 for more on pastoral responsibilities). Peter wasn’t to replace Jesus—only the Holy Spirit could do that (John 14:16)—but to care for Jesus’s sheep. This marks Peter as the first pastor, a tradition continuing for over 2,000 years.
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