It is wonderful that we can have a clearer understanding of our Savior when we see His heart, and His eyes, His feet, and now Jesus' hands. There are 45 verses in the NT speaks about hand/s. In the OT, God's hands are very descriptive in nature. "In his hand are the deep places of the earth. . we are the sheep of his hand."(Ps. 95:4,5) His hand is outstretched to the nations." (Isa.14:26) "The assembly of the wicked have enclosed me, they have pierced my hands and feet.(Ps. 22:6) Jesus' hands and feet were pierced!
Jesus prayed "Into my Father's hands, I commend my spirit." When someone dies and asks where did this person go, we say, He is in the Father's hands," referring to God's judgement. The hand of God, is His authority, and the right hand of God is His place of good standing. Paul was given "the right hand of fellowship" as a measure of good standing in the Church of Christ. The laying on of hands, has been used as blessings for missionaries and preachers of the gospel.
Hands! We are give praise to God with our hands! We are pray using our hands! We are serve God working with our hands! We are to wash our hands physically to keep our bodies clean. We can clap our hands to show our appreciation. We can show our love to our spouse by putting a ring on it. We can make money by using it sports events. God can heal it when broken or injured. We can lift a child and show our love for them. So many things to do with our hands.
A few years ago we had many songs that expressed our use of hands. The "patty cake song." "I wanna hold your hand." "Clap your hands" a camp song for me. My all-time favorite was, "Put Your Hand In The Man who stilled the waters." My favorite picture is "The Praying Hands" and I have the 12 inch model on my desk given to me by a friend. The story is of two brothers who loved each other living in Germany. The one brother goes to college while the other brother stays home working on the farm.
After four years the one brother graduates and sees his other brother with calloused and blisters hands. On Christmas day, the brother returns from college and gives his little brother a picture of his brother's hands as calloused. Later, it given out to his friends as the brother shared what his little brother did for him. Years later, people would the clasped hands the hands of Jesus, called the "Praying Hands."
Jesus's hands what did they look like? Well, like the face of Jesus' picture there is no description of what they looked like. But we know they were very busy. "When the sun was setting, all they, that had sick with divers diseases, brought them to to Jesus, and He laid his hands on them, and healed them." (Luke 4:40) "He could not do any mighty work except for those He laid his hands on and healed them." (Mark 6:5)
He also preached about hands, "If your hands cause you stumble, then you are to cut it off." (Mark 9:43) With the daughter of Nain, Jesus saw her condition and immediately responded "And he laid his hands on her and immediately she was made straight and glorified God." (Luke 13:13)
Then there was Peter in the boat as he sees Jesus from a distance. He tries to come to Jesus, but goes down and says "Lord save me. Then Jesus stretched out his hand and lifted him up." Jesus had powerful hands to lift Peter up out of the water. Then Jesus was with the children and had a lesson to tell. "He took them up in his arms, and put his hands upon them and blessed them." (Mark 10:16) Jesus' loving hands to bless children.
The words I love the most is when Jesus is with Thomas in the upper room. as he said to him. Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side (heart), and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered "My Lord and my God." (John 20:27,28) Putting our hands into heart of Jesus, we believe!
The hands of Jesus bring healing, teaching, loving, blessing, praying, our salvation. They were strong, and powerful. Our hands will serve Him, will worship Him, and pray for all.
CONCLUSION: During WW II there was a church with a great amount of destruction, and it had a statue of Jesus still standing but from the bombing it had knocked off the arms and hands of the statue. There were words Come unto me all ye who are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Some people wanted to get rid of it because of its shattered look. But someone said "No!, lets keep it to remind everyone what this represents. 'Christ has no arms and hands, but your hands!" We are the body of Christ(The Church) We are to be His Hands, hands to love, hands that bring healing and loving. Hands that are lifted up! Hands that serve one another. Hands that are holy, clean and pure! Remember those hands of Jesus, that hung on the cross, stretched out for YOU! Amen.
Presented By: Larry L. Vollink, Cedar Springs, MI. (616) 655-4129 lawrenceV@Comcast.net
