After Jesus rose from the dead, we read a conversation between Peter and Jesus. (See John 21:15-17) Three times Peter is asked if he loves Jesus. Each time Peter replies, “Yes.” The first time this occurs, Jesus tells Peter to “feed my lambs.” The second time Peter is told to “tend my sheep.” Finally Jesus says, “feed my sheep.” As I read through this passage, it stuck out that Jesus used the words lamb, sheep, and sheep. Peter was told to feed both lambs and sheep, but he was told to also tend to the sheep. 

This got me wondering what are the differences between a lamb and a sheep. I am a city girl through and through. I don’t know anything about livestock, other than how good some of them taste. So, I did what any modern girl does when wondering about something, I went online and typed “what is the difference between a lamb and a sheep.”

What Is A Lamb

I found out that a lamb is a sheep that is under a year old. It is during this time when it is the most valuable. The hide makes the best leather, and the meat is the most tasty and tender. It is also in this first year when the lamb bonds with the shepherd. Lambs need milk to survive but will eat grass as they get older. Lambs tend to be playful and friendly. I remember when we lived in Ireland, seeing all the baby lambs jumping all over the countryside. It’s one of the things I miss most. 

What Is A Sheep

Sheep on the other hand are over 12 months of age. They then are split into a ram if it’s a male or a ewe if it’s a female. By this time, the sheep will know who their shepherd is by their voice. Though a lamb may get more money if it is slaughtered, a sheep may yield more money over its entire lifetime. People make money off of the wool a sheep provides. Of course ewes can have babies and provide more money. They can even be slaughtered and provide meat, called mutton, and leather. 

The Lesson

What is the lesson in all of this? Notice Peter was told to “feed my lambs.” Who in the Christian world is a lamb and what do we feed them? Someone who is new in the faith will be considered a lamb. This is someone who doesn’t know much about what the Bible says. They are still learning what it means to allow the Holy Spirit to lead them. They are like a baby Christian. 

To be clear, time has nothing to do with whether or not someone is a lamb or a sheep. I have met ladies who say they have been saved for decades who would still be considered a lamb. It’s about maturity, not age. These people are examples of the Christians in Hebrews, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:12-14‬ ‭(ESV‬‬)

What Is Food For The Lambs

What do we feed these lambs? ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:2‬ ‭(NLT)‬‬ tells us, “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,” What is spiritual milk? What are we supposed to be teaching these lambs? 

First, we are to teach them how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. They need to be able to learn how to listen and obey the voice of God. This is part of them developing their own relationship with God. They can’t rely on you and me to tell them about God. 

Second, they need to learn how to read and study the Bible. Again, how will they know who God really is unless they develop their own relationship with him? 

Third, we need to teach them to pray. This goes back to the first lesson. It is important they know how to pray. They need to know that prayer isn’t some formula, or some ritual. No, it’s simply having a conversation with their creator. I’ve met many Christians who are afraid to pray out loud. This shouldn’t be. If you aren’t afraid to talk to a person, you shouldn’t be afraid to talk to God. He’s way less judgmental and way more interested in what you have to say than any human. 

My husband Brett talked to a person one day about prayer, telling them that he was available to pray with anyone. The response was, “Oh, I hope no one needs it.” This person didn’t understand prayer. It’s like breathing; everyone needs it!

Needs Of A Sheep

Once a person has the basics down, they can graduate to being a sheep. A sheep needs two things according to Jesus. They need to be tended to and fed. 

Naturally, sheep still need to eat. That means they should continue to dive deeper into prayer, hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit, and studying the Bible. These three things will never stop in the life of a mature Christian. We should always have a hunger and thirst for righteousness. The Bible tells us we will be blessed with satisfaction when we hunger and thirst for righteousness. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew‬ ‭5:6‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬

What does it mean to tend to the sheep? I think it means we check in with these people we have been given to disciple from time to time. We ensure they haven’t turned their ear to false teachings. We talk to them about what they are learning. Maybe we send them a teaching that was meaningful to us. We could call and pray with them during a set time. We make sure they are doing well in their walk with Jesus, and there isn’t any splintering of their faith. It’s about ensuring they are taken care of.

What Are You

Who has God placed in your life to help lead from being a lamb to a sheep? What steps will you take to care for the lambs in your life? Maybe you find yourself identifying with the lamb description. Who has God placed in your life who is more like the sheep? Go ask them to teach you how to become a sheep. Most of all, remember we all still have things to learn and areas to grow in. We may be a sheep in one area and a lamb in another. That’s ok. This is why we are all parts of the body of Christ. We all get to learn from one another. Let’s all be teachable!

Side Note: This is where I learned about lambs and sheep. I found it to be a good resource for this post.