约翰福音21:15-17
神是在让彼得在喂养小羊、牧养羊、喂养羊的过程中，见证是神自己促使信心的成长，随着责任的更加深入，其实是彼得自己的生命更加进深。
彼得的困境
耶稣三问彼得爱主之心，前两次耶稣问彼得，你爱（希腊原文agapao，最高层次、全然奉献、无条件的爱）我吗？彼得都是回答，是的，我爱（phileo，真实的兄弟情、亲密感）你。彼得是很诚实的，我真的没有无条件的爱，我们相处了这么久，我的确是爱（phileo）你的啊。我也想爱（agapao）你啊，但我真的只有phileo的爱啊!
结果，耶稣居然第三次问彼得，你爱（phileo）我吗？彼得这时候的反应，忧愁了：耶稣，你在怀疑我吗？
//约翰 21:17（希腊文原文大意）：ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· φιλεῖς με; “彼得忧愁，因为耶稣第三次对他说：‘你 philéō 我吗？’”
“因为”后面直接引出的是第三次的问题内容（即 philéō），而不是单纯说“因为第三次问了”。所以语法上更倾向于解释为：彼得忧愁，是因耶稣第三次用他的词（philéō）来问，直戳内心。//
这里彼得的反应像不像我们自己啊？主啊，我认识你这么久了，我当然爱你啦，虽然还不到无条件的爱，但至少我爱你啊。但耶稣的问题是，你对我的情感的爱是真的吗？如果我们对自己足够诚实的话，可以观察自己：是否也在这爱的困境中？面对身边的亲人，想爱爱不出来，别说无条件的爱了，一旦对方没有按照自己的意思，连phileo也很难了。我好像心中也没有上帝的爱啊？！
耶稣的托付：在喂养中成长
耶稣好像看出了彼得的困境了，给彼得指了一条爱心成长的道路。
原来，耶稣托付彼得喂养的责任，与耶稣三问彼得爱主之心是密切联系的。以前我总觉得，耶稣在说什么呀？没头没脑的说了一个托付，前面彼得回答说了爱只有phileo，然后你还托付他？
原来，喂养是爱的成长的解药。只有去喂养了，爱才有可能成长。耶稣问，你爱我吗？彼得说，我爱。耶稣说，你去爱（喂养）我的小羊试试看，你会更爱我。在给的时候，主会自己同在，彼得见证了主的同在做工（灵的世界是真的啊！），信心（爱心）就增长了。这个就是有的还要加给他的“马太原理”啊？你去爱（喂养）小羊的时候，先从一点点开始，就像你的信心，从芥菜种籽开始，就是先有一点点，然后，你就发现神是加倍的给你的。这也是，你要给人，神必给你的意思！这也是耶稣说的5千两，2千两的意思。你去赚吧，后面的神是一定会给你的。这也是耶稣所给的大使命（太：28:18–20），不是当你还没有agapao的爱的时候就自我牺牲般的去作，而是耶稣指的一条与祂同在的成长道路：你去传，传的时候祂必同在、必赐予，你在过程中会见证祂的同在，你的信心爱心就成长了。真的是：施必受更为有福！
这里，信心和爱是一体的，信心成长了，爱才会成长，所以当耶稣问彼得的时候，彼得没有agape的爱，其实际也是没有完全的信，只有信心增长了，完全的爱才会慢慢出来。
从这个意义上看，我终于理解了为什么吴博士说，他需要我们，他和我们是团契；我们总觉得是我们需要他，他这么厉害，哪里需要我们呢？这里，你终于发现，原来，吴博士是在喂养我们的过程中蒙神大大的赐福，信心（爱心）不断的成长的！
这里也解释了为什么耶稣托付是从喂养小羊开始，因为这三个层次相比，喂养小羊还是最为基础的，喂养小羊很多时候可能只是你心中的起意，想把灵奶给到对方，至少先从这里开始。
喂养的三个层次
（1） 约翰福音21:15 - “喂养我的小羊”
“耶稣对他说：‘喂养我的小羊。’”
希腊原文：
喂养（βόσκω，boskō）：这个词在希腊文中指的是“照顾”或“喂养”，它强调的是为羊群提供所需的食物和关怀。βόσκω不同于ποιμαίνω（poimaino，牧养），它更侧重于实际的喂养行为，提供食物，确保羊群的基本需要得以满足。
小羊（ἀρνίον，arnion）：这是指“羊羔”或“幼小的羊”。这个词的使用特别强调了羊的年轻和脆弱，可能代表着教会中的新信徒或需要特别照顾的群体。
思考：
耶稣对彼得的托付首先是喂养小羊。我想，耶稣的小羊包括谁呢，彼得在不在里面呀？经过了三次的不认主，彼得跌落的非常深，内心的信心可能只剩小羊的那么多了，我觉得耶稣首先恢复的是彼得这只小羊，然后他也才能喂养其他小羊，“你回转以后，要坚固我的弟兄”(路22:32)。
随着彼得在喂养小羊的过程，他见证神自己招聚小羊，吸引小羊的过程，他也直接从神那里得着食物（否则他拿什么喂养？），他成为了成年的羊（能吃固体食物），也才有可能去牧养其他的羊。事实上，我们自己的体验也见证到，当你去喂养小羊的时候，你会得到非常丰盛的、从神而来的食物。你更加见证到神的真实，你自己的信心爱心也更加成长。
（2） 约翰福音21:16 - “牧养我的羊”
“耶稣对他说：‘牧养我的羊。’”
希腊原文：
牧养（ποιμαίνω，poimaino）：这个词指的是“牧养”或“照顾”，但它的含义比βόσκω更加广泛。它不仅仅是提供食物，更包括领导、引导和保护羊群。这是一个更全面的照料，涉及到羊群的整个生命过程，包括精神上的引领与教导。
羊（πρόβατον，probaton）：这指的是成年羊，象征着已经成熟的信徒。与“小羊”（ἀρνίον）不同，这里的羊是信仰上已经成长的群体，意味着彼得的责任是带领和引导成熟的信徒。
反思：引导、领导、带领这么困难的工作，彼得怎么完成呢？主你是大牧人啊，是你自己在牧养吧？彼得是谁，能担当此重任？可耶稣明确的是说：你牧养我的羊啊！带领、引导都是方向性的，如果彼得自己方向把握不对，怎么引导呢？谁引导彼得的方向呢？不是主自己吗？彼得得自己先跟好耶稣的方向，我的羊认得（认得、理解、听从、回应）我的声音(约翰福音 10:27，约翰福音原文是成羊，成羊才认得声音)。
我想到吴博士关于地震时第一只知道地震的老鼠的反应比喻，这只感受到地震的危险的老鼠对着它的同伴呐喊着：“地震啦，快跑”！这不就是方向性的引导吗？或许牧养并非都是我理解的那么“辛勤劳苦”“面面俱到”，可以从基本的、方向性的开始。这就是在讲福音，其实是在讲给自己听的，新我发出声音，在给自己的老我听呢！
与此同时，牧养有“面面俱到”的那些方面吗？仿佛林前里面，保罗管得很宽。我想到吴博士带领我们跟读“事件”时，“三步两步到属灵”，在日常的事情里面是有两个国的，人的国、神的国，两者不可分割，在日常的事情里面窥见方向性的、神的国的实际。这样，这个牧养的范围就一下子宽了，却又不是那么“面面俱到”，仿佛能把人累死的那种。吴博士这样带我们，他自己也是在生活当中这样跟读的。他在观察我们的反应的时候，会很兴奋，很开心，因为看我们对事件有了和他类似的反应出来。这是不是，他在牧养我们的时候信心也得到成长了啊？！
（3）约翰福音21:17 - “喂养我的羊”
“耶稣对他说：‘喂养我的羊。’”
希腊原文：
喂养（βόσκω，boskō）：与约21:15相同，耶稣第三次再次使用了βόσκω（喂养），这里的对象是成年的羊，强调的是对成年的羊也有喂养的责任。
反思：成年的羊喂养什么呢？他们不是自己会吃固体食物了吗？还需要喂养吗？成年的羊可以自己吃神的话，从启示里，从自身的经历里，那么这只羊和那只羊吃的是一样的信心的食物吗？碰到了类似的挑战吗？这里可能说的是团契啊，通过彼此的团契，实现成年的羊的喂养。这里我想到的是属灵争战的体验（成年的羊才有争战）的分享。“你的争战是什么样呢” ？吴博士分享说，他第一反应出来的都是老我的反应，我们是不是啊，我们也是啊。在这样的分享里面成年的羊在相互印证，相互喂养呢。
年老的彼得——成熟的爱
耶稣接着说了关于彼得年少和年老时两种不同的表现，年老时的彼得，的确活出来的是舍己的爱了。当彼得一生牧养群羊时，他自己也在主的手里被牧养、被改变。他从年少时的“随己意而行”，到年老时“被带到不愿去的地方”，不是失去，而是爱的深度、生命的成熟。如果我们的爱尚未成熟，就勉强自己去作很多“舍己“的事情，这就变成宗教式的自我要求，难怪会服侍得苦哈哈的了。
耶稣的呼召
说完这些，耶稣说：你跟从我吧！耶稣发出了呼召，你去试试吧，你跟着我去作吧！你会发现自己的信心（爱心）慢慢成长的。如果今天我们发现自己和彼得一样在爱心成长的困境中，我们看到了这真是神发出的拯救的应许，是耶稣指明的道路，我们也去试试吧！阿门。
Feeding Is the Antidote for the Growth of Love
John 21:15–17
God was leading Peter, in the process of feeding the lambs, shepherding the sheep, and feeding the sheep, to witness that it is God Himself who brings about the growth of faith. And as the responsibilities deepened, in fact, it was Peter’s own life that was being drawn deeper.
Peter’s Dilemma
Jesus asked Peter three times about his love for Him. The first two times He asked, do you love (agapao—the highest level, total devotion, unconditional love) Me? Peter responded each time, yes, I love (phileo—genuine brotherly affection, closeness) You.
Peter was very honest: I truly don’t have that unconditional love. We’ve been together all this time, and yes, I do love (phileo) You. I even want to love You with agapao, but honestly, I only have phileo.
Then, surprisingly, the third time Jesus asked, do you love (phileo) Me? At that moment Peter was grieved. Lord, are You doubting me?
// John 21:17 (Greek nuance): ἐλυπήθη ὁ Πέτρος ὅτι εἶπεν αὐτῷ τὸ τρίτον· φιλεῖς με; Peter was grieved because Jesus said to him the third time, do you phileō Me? The word “because” introduces the content of the third question (phileō), not just the fact that it was asked a third time. Grammatically, it points to this: Peter was grieved because Jesus’ question used Peter’s own word (phileō)—it grieved his heart. //
Doesn’t Peter’s reaction look like our own? Lord, I’ve known You for so long, of course I love You. Maybe not with unconditional love yet, but at least with phileo. But Jesus’ question presses deeper: is your affectionate love for Me real? If we are honest, aren’t we also caught in this dilemma of love? With those closest to us, we want to love but fail. Forget unconditional love—once the other person doesn’t go our way, even phileo is hard to hold on to. And we realize: maybe I don’t really have God’s love in my heart.
Jesus’ Commission: Growing Through Feeding
It seems Jesus saw Peter’s dilemma and pointed him to a pathway for love to grow.
The commission to feed was directly connected to the threefold question about love. I used to wonder: what is Jesus saying here? Peter just admitted he only had phileo, and yet Jesus entrusted him?
Feeding is the antidote for the growth of love. When you feed, love grows. Jesus asked, do you love Me? Peter answered, I love You. Jesus said, then go feed My lambs. You will love Me more. In giving, the Lord’s presence would be with him, and Peter would witness the Lord at work (in our experiences, the spiritual reality is true!), and his faith and love would grow.
This is that principle of Matthew: to the one who has, more will be given. When you begin to love, to feed, even just a little—like faith beginning as a mustard seed—you will find that God multiplies it. This is also the meaning of give, and it will be given to you. It is the parable of the talents—the five, the two—go and trade, and God Himself will provide the increase.
This is also the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20). Not that when you lack agapao you force yourself into self-sacrificial striving. Rather, Jesus was showing a pathway of growth with His presence. Go and proclaim, and as you do, He will surely be with you, He will supply you, and in the process you will witness Him. Your faith and love will grow. Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Faith and love go hand-in-hand. When faith grows, love grows. So when Jesus asked Peter about love, it was not only love that was lacking but also mature faith. Only as faith increases does perfect love gradually come forth.
From this perspective, I finally understood why Dr. Wu often said he needed us, that he was in fellowship with us. We always thought it was us who needed him—he was so strong, why would he need us? But now we see: it was in feeding us that he himself received abundant blessing from God, and his faith and love kept growing.
This also explains why Jesus began with “Feed My lambs.” Among the three layers, feeding lambs is the most basic. Sometimes it may be no more than the desire in your heart to give spiritual milk to someone. At least start there.
The Three Levels of Feeding
1. John 21:15 – Feed My lambs
Greek: boskō (feed, provide food and care); arnion (little lamb, young and fragile).
Reflection: Jesus’ first commission is to feed the lambs. And doesn’t that include Peter himself? After denying the Lord three times, Peter had fallen so deeply that his faith was as small as a lamb’s. Jesus was first restoring Peter as His lamb, so that Peter could then feed others: when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers (Luke: 22:32).
In the process of feeding lambs, Peter would witness God Himself gathering and drawing them, and he too would directly receive nourishment from God—otherwise what could he give? Thus he himself became mature, able to handle solid food, and able to shepherd others. Don’t we experience this too? When you feed lambs, you yourself receive abundant nourishment from God, and your faith and love grow stronger.
2. John 21:16 – Shepherd My sheep
Greek: poimainō (to shepherd): broader than boskō, not only feeding but leading, guiding, protecting. probaton (sheep): adult sheep, symbolizing mature believers.
Reflection: Guiding, leading, shepherding—such a difficult task. How could Peter possibly accomplish it? Lord, You are the great Shepherd; is it not You who are truly shepherding? Who was Peter that he could bear such a responsibility? But Jesus clearly said: you shepherd My sheep. Direction and guidance are at the heart of shepherding. If Peter himself could not grasp the right direction, how could he lead others? Who then guided Peter’s direction? It had to be the Lord Himself. Peter himself first needed to follow closely after Jesus’ direction. My sheep recognize (recognize, understand, obey, and respond to) My voice (John 10:27; in the Gospel of John the original word refers to mature sheep, it is the mature sheep that recognize the voice).
I was reminded of Dr. Wu’s analogy of the first mouse sensing an earthquake. That mouse, sensing the danger, cried out to its companions: “An earthquake! Run!” Isn’t this precisely a directional kind of guidance? Perhaps shepherding was not always what I imagined—so exhausting, so comprehensive, covering every detail. It could begin simply, with direction. Preaching the gospel was in fact also preaching to ourselves: the new self crying out, and the old self hearing.
At the same time, did shepherding also involve those “comprehensive” aspects? As if in 1 Corinthians, where Paul seemed to take care of so many things. I thought of how Dr. Wu had led us when we “followed events”: instead of staying only at the level of cause-and-effect, he guided us to read the events in light of their spiritual dimension, discerning the patterns and commonalities from a kingdom perspective. In daily matters, there were always two kingdoms present—the kingdom of man and the kingdom of God. They were inseparable, and in daily matters we could glimpse the direction of the kingdom of God. In this way, the scope of shepherding suddenly expanded, yet it was no longer that overwhelming “comprehensive coverage” that could wear someone out.
Dr. Wu had led us in this way, and he himself had lived in this way. When he observed our responses, he had been excited and joyful, because he saw us beginning to react in ways similar to his own. Wasn’t this, too, his own faith being strengthened and growing as he shepherded us?
3. John 21:17 – Feed My sheep
Greek: boskō again, here directed toward adult sheep.
Reflection: What does it mean to feed mature sheep? Wouldn’t they already know how to feed themselves on solid food? Did they still need feeding? Mature sheep could feed on God’s Word themselves, drawing from revelation and their own experiences. But was the faith-food of one sheep the same as that of another? Did they face the same challenges?
Here the feeding might point to fellowship—through mutual fellowship, the feeding of mature sheep is realized. I was reminded of the experiences of spiritual warfare (only mature sheep enter into warfare). Sharing these experiences was itself a way of feeding. What does your warfare look like? Dr. Wu once shared that his very first reactions were often still the reactions of the old self. And weren’t we the same? Yes, we were. In such sharing, mature sheep could affirm one another and mutually feed one another.
The Aged Peter—Mature Love
Then Jesus spoke of Peter’s youth and old age. In old age, Peter truly lived out sacrificial love. Through a lifetime of shepherding the flock, Peter himself was being shepherded and transformed by the Lord. From youthful doing as he wished to old age when he was led where he did not want to go—this was not loss, but the depth of love, the maturity of life. If our love is still immature, and we force ourselves into acts of self-sacrifice, it becomes religious striving—and no wonder service feels so heavy.
Jesus’ Call
After all this, Jesus said: follow Me. It was a call: go and try. Walk with Me. You will see your faith and love slowly grow.
If today we find ourselves, like Peter, caught in the dilemma of love’s growth, we can see this is truly God’s promise of salvation, the pathway Jesus has pointed out. Let us also go and try. Amen.
jia bing 2025.9.22