The first work that Christ entrusted to Peter on restoring him to the ministry was to feed the lambs. This was a work in which Peter had little experience. It would require great care and tenderness, much patience and perseverance. It called him to minister to those who were young in the faith, to teach the ignorant, to open the Scriptures to them, and to educate them for usefulness in Christ's service. Heretofore Peter had not been fitted to do this, or even to understand its importance. But this was the work which Jesus now called upon him to do. For this work his own experience of suffering and repentance had prepared him.

Det første hverv, Kristus betroede Peter, da han genindsatte ham i tjenesten, var at vogte lammene. Dette var en opgave, hvor Peter kun havde ringe erfaring. Den ville kræve megen omhu og nænsomhed, megen tålmodighed og udholdenhed. Den kaldte ham til at tjene dem, der var nye i troen, til at belære de uvidende, til at lukke Skrifterne op for dem og til at oplære dem til at gøre et nyttigt arbejde i Kristi tjeneste. Hidtil havde Peter ikke været egnet til at gøre dette eller til blot at forstå, hvor betydningsfuldt det var. Men det var til denne opgave, at Jesus nu kaldte ham. Hans egne erfaringer om lidelse og anger havde beredt ham til den.