“Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand; I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on the light. Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.”
I venture St. Peter would have loved that hymn because it captures one of his last times with Jesus before the ascension. Peter had repented grievously for denying Jesus, but it didn’t get discussed, at least not according to the biblical record, until John 21. Resurrected Jesus joins His disciples and after breakfast brings up the breach between them. Three times Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Three times Peter says yes, and three times, three symbolizing fullness, the Lord tells Peter to feed and tend His sheep.
What follows is not so well known. “When you were young you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’”
This evening 53 Concordia Seminary students receive their first calls into pastoral ministry. “Love and follow Jesus, whatever comes.” Isn’t that the message of faith to us all? “Do you love Me? Then follow Me.”
“Lord God, You have called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.” (LSB, collect 193). “Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.”
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