This post is written by Leslie Hudson as a companion for Unit 28, Session 3 of The Gospel Project for Adults, Volume 10: From Many People to One People (Winter 2023-24).
My husband and I love to travel with our kids. We love the mountains as well as the water. We like to hike, canoe, camp, and ski. Unfortunately, we also love animals. We have a geriatric dog named Kip, a young-and-too-energetic dog named Boone, a flock of chickens, a cat, and some birds. If you’ve ever been in an animal-loving household, you know where I’m going with this: animals and travel don’t easily mix.
We don’t take any of our animals with us on trips, meaning we are at the mercy of the kindness of friends and neighbors to keep everyone alive while we’re gone. Tending to all the “zoo” (as I call it) is too much to ask of any one person, so we do our best to split up the responsibilities without making it too hard on anyone.
For example, we were gone for nine days a few months ago. A friend offered to keep Boone at his house since his dog is Boone’s best friend. Some neighbors down the road were willing to feed and water Kip and the chickens. And we asked another friend, who also has birds, to take care of the birds. (Yes, we know that’s too much. Yes, we should either stop traveling or get rid of some animals. But that probably won’t happen.)
As we drove out for our trip, I looked at my husband and said, “I know the zoo is in good hands,” and I meant it. I knew that the friend watching Boone would see to it that he got exercise, plenty of food, fresh water, and socializing. I knew that Kip would be happy to see our friends down the road; they’ve been taking care of him for his whole life, and he knows how much they love him. The chickens would get plenty of food, and the birds would be visited each day, inspected for any injuries and held just to make sure they stay friendly.
This is the scene that came to mind this week as I pondered Jesus’s words to Peter: “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15), “shepherd my sheep” (v. 16), and “feed my sheep” (v. 17). Jesus knew His last few days in a resurrected human body were drawing to a close. And He knew that Peter, humbled and encouraged, would now play a massive role in leading, guiding, and directing the early church. Those first Christians, much like Christians today, were sheep-like. They tended to gather in groups; they were a little timid and flighty; they weren’t really sure where to go; and they desperately needed someone to take care of them.
Such was the job description handed to Peter: feed and nurture those sheep. Make sure they get plenty of pure truth from the Word of God. Guide them with a gentle but firm hand. Look them in the eye but also get a glimpse at their emotions and focus. Help them when they seem low on hope and speak truth in love. Point them to Jesus and show them how to walk in obedience.
When Peter had a chance to reflect on what Jesus was asking, I wonder if he felt a little overwhelmed. The body of believers went from eleven to thousands very quickly. Could Peter possibly feed and nurture all those sheep? Probably not, but Peter wasn’t the only shepherd. John was there, and Paul would soon be added to the leadership. Like our friends who all work together to keep our zoo alive, those early church leaders realized the monumental task was too much for them. They would need to completely depend upon Jesus, the Spirit, and one another.
It’s still what church looks like today; the responsibility doesn’t all fall on the Pastor or staff; we all work together to guide, minister, love, and gather. As you prepare for this week’s lesson, may you see your own calling and responsibility in your flock.
Leslie Hudson loves her mornings of silence, coffee, and Jesus—not in that order. She lives with her husband and kids in White Bluff, Tennessee, where they raise blueberries, figs, and bees. She loves to spend her free time reading, writing, journaling, and helping others know and follow Jesus.
