Restaurants offer menus with food and beverage choices, so customers can order what they would like to eat or drink. Customers expect the restaurant to have what is on their menu. If it’s not available, we are disappointed. One time, I went to a Krispy Kreme donut shop, and I asked for a blueberry cake donut from the menu. They said they were out of those. I was disappointed they ran out; I had to choose another donut from the menu.

In John 21:15-17, Jesus has a conversation with Simon Peter. Jesus asks him, do you love me? Peter replied, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my sheep.” Jesus and Peter repeated this dialogue two more times.

Why did Jesus respond to Peter with the command, Feed my sheep? Jesus knew Peter had denied him three times before he was crucified. Jesus wanted Peter to show that he loved him. Peter’s words were not good enough anymore.

Jesus didn’t trust Peter’s words.

As a result, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” What did Jesus want Peter to feed the sheep? It certainly wasn’t physical food, but spiritual food.

More importantly, Jesus wanted Peter to feed the people (sheep) Jesus to prove his love for him.  

So, I ask, What’s on your menu? Is Jesus on your menu? Are you feeding people Jesus? Some people have hate, jealousy, selfishness and bitterness on their menu.

Don’t eat from their menu. Find people who have love, peace, patience, humility and forgiveness on their menu. Most importantly, find Christians who have Jesus on their menu.

Christians have a responsibility to show we love Jesus. We have to feed a world hungry for Jesus.

The world is searching everywhere to fill their hunger, and to quench their thirst. Let’s fill their hunger with the bread of life.

In John 6:35, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life: they that cometh to me shall never hunger; and they that believeth on me shall never thirst. “ 

The hymn, “How to Reach the Masses,” says, Oh the world is hungry for the Living Bread, lift the Savior up for them to see; trust him and do not doubt the words that He said, “I’ll draw all souls unto me.”

What’s on your menu? 

Matthew Shannon is pastor of Beulah AME Church in Farmville. His email address is pastormatthew.shannon@gmail.com.