Savior of the World

What an uplifting experience it has been to help with the Savior of the World production! Hearing members of our stake act out the conversations that may have taken place among the apostles and early saints around the events of the Savior's death and resurrection has brought the scriptures to life for me in a way I haven't experienced before. It has opened my mind to consider how the Savior may have taught and served them. I can more easily feel His loving tenderness and everlasting kindness as He patiently helped them to understand what He had done for them--and for all of us. It is more clear to me what He wanted them (and now us) to do for Him.

His words to Peter while Peter dined with his friends are particularly meaning to me. He said, "Simon, Son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?" and Peter hastily answered, "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee." The Lord then responded, "Feed my lambs." Twice more the Lord asked and Peter responded, almost desperately the last time, that he indeed loved the Savior. But, the Savior answered, "Feed my sheep," and again almost pleadingly, "Feed my sheep."

Peter said again and again that he loved the Lord, but perhaps the Lord felt to ask him more than once because Peter was so easily distracted turning his attention back to the meal and conversation with the others. Am I not the same? I too am so easily distracted with different things in my life that all too often my love for the Lord is in word only.
I can even now feel the Lord's love in His plea to Peter. "If you love me, please, take care of my sheep." There was nothing that Peter could really do for the Lord Himself, but what he could do for the Shepherd's sheep. The Lord another time had taught:

"For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me...Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt 25:34-36 and 40)

How clear does it have to be for me? Whether it be home teaching and caring for a family, inviting a friend to church, spending time with and teaching my children, making sure my wife is happy, or helping build and paint a set for our Stake production, it is the same. My love for Him is measured by my efforts to feed His sheep.

Thanks for all your insight as we work together on the production. What a marvelous and faith-building experience this has been already!
Ben