After the Savior’s resurrection, He appeared to the apostles in the Upper Room, manifesting his body to them. Eight days later, He came similarly to Thomas.

Now, sometime after these profound events, Simon Peter and four others were at the Sea of Galilee when Peter announced, “…I go a fishing. They said [say unto him], We also go with thee...” (John 21:3)

Well, they spent the rest of the night fishing in the familiar waters of the Sea of Tiberias. Peter, James, and John had earned their livelihood fishing these waters. It was from those shores years before that Jesus had called them to follow Him and be fishers of men.

Now they were home again, back on the Lake, and the mortal ministry of the Messiah was over. Could they have been wondering, “Now what do we do?”

Well, they fished the lake all night and caught nothing. The next morning, a stranger called to them from shore, “…Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find...” (John 21:5-6)

Well, they did as the stranger bid them, and immediately their nets were filled with so many fish that they could not draw them in. It was exactly what the Lord had done to them more than three years earlier. At that moment, they recognized Him! It was the Master!

Well, when they got to shore, Jesus had a meal of cooked fish and bread waiting for them.

As they finished eating, Jesus said to Peter, “…Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?...” – and I can picture Him holding up or gesturing to these fish.

Peter answered Him, “…Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee...”

Without preamble, Jesus responded, “…Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)

Then Jesus asked the question again, “…Lovest thou me?...”

And Peter’s answer was the same, “…Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee...”

This time the Lord responded, “…Feed my sheep.” (John 21:16)

Then a third time, the Lord asked the same question. The scripture says that Peter was grieved that the same question had been asked of him. Why was the Lord repeatedly asking him a question for which He already knew the answer?

“…Lord,” he said, “thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee...”

Once more came the simple command, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)

The repetition of three made a memory in Peter that he never forgot!

Once before, by a miracle, the Lord had called Simon Peter from his nets. Now similarly, He was calling him back to the work by the same miracle. Except this time, the work would end in Peter’s martyrdom, not the Lord’s.

At the same time, Jesus taught Peter and all of us a disciple’s purpose in this life. Our love for the Lord is measured by our love for others. A man or woman filled with love for God can’t rest. They must move; they must love by action. To love Him is to love His children.

There are so many things, my friends, we can do with our time each day, but of them all, helping His people pleases Him the most. He pays the highest dividends of joy to those who invest their time in His sheep.