Acts 25:3-21 / John 21:15-19
Jesus instructs Peter: “Feed my lambs. Tend
my sheep.”
Jesus
looked upon God as a shepherd: “The Lord is my
shepherd.” Psalm 23. The Israelites also looked upon
their leaders as shepherds, God’s representatives. Thus Ezekiel condemns these
leaders for being bad shepherds and foretells that God will replace them With a
good shepherd. (Ezekiel 34:2, 23)
It’s
against this scriptural background that we must interpret Jesus words: “I am
the good shepherd.” John 10:11. It’s against this biblical background that we must also interpret
Jesus’ words to Peter: “Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep.” John 21:15-16. Jesus commissions Peter to succeed him as the shepherd of the flock
of his followers.