When reading John 21:15-17, I was reminded of the amazing talk given by Elder Holland, The First Great Commandment, in which he beautifully portrays this interchange where the Savior asked Peter three times if he loves Him.
How will we answer the question “lovest thou me more than these?”
What does “these” represent in our lives?
Christ told Peter if he loved him, to feed his sheep.
“The Greek verb translated in English as “feed” actually means “to shepherd, to tend, to take care of.” In the Hebrew translation the verb means “to lead.”[1]
I read a beautiful statement by Ezra Taft Benson regarding this:
“We realize, as in times past, that some of the sheep will rebel and are ‘as wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd.’ (Mosiah 8:21.) But most of our problems stem from lack of loving and attentive shepherding...
“With a shepherd’s loving care, many of our young people, our young lambs, would not be wandering. And if they were, the crook of the shepherd’s staff, a loving arm, would retrieve them.
“With a shepherd’s care, many of those who are not independent of the flock can still be reclaimed.”[2]
Do you love the Lord? What do you have to give up to feed His sheep?
[1] Verse by Verse The New Testament, Ogden and Skinner, pg. 706
[2] ibid, 706-707