Hands

Have you ever followed our Lord’s hands? The Psalmist invites us to: “As the eyes of servants look to the hands of their master, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He have mercy on us.” Ps. 123:2

Tiny hands, clinging to his mother’s finger as he nurses in the warmth of her embrace.
Dirty hands of a little child at play all day.
Calloused hands of a young man who knew how to shape wood and touched his work with loving satisfaction.
Hands raised tirelessly in prayer to His Father.
Hands that held the Torah and followed along as he read aloud in the Synagogue.
Hands that knew how to make and use a whip on those who sought to sell the gifts of God.
Hands that touched the leper as he said: “I do wish. Be clean!”
Hands that held and hugged little children and gave them both welcome and blessing.
Hands that reached out and grabbed Peter as he sank beneath the waves.
Hands that touched a young girl who had died and raised her to life again.
Hands that touched a bier holding a dead young man and stopped death right in its tracks.
Hands that broke the loaves and fed thousands.
Hands that plucked the heads of grain on the Sabbath and ate.
Hands that held the bread and broke it and gave it to His disciples on the night of His betrayal.
Hands that lifted up the cup and blessed His Father and gave His own His blood to drink.
Hands that refused to rise in self-defense.
Hands used only to bless and to bestow.
Hands that for all the good that they did and gave were pierced with nails.
Hands held lifelessly in His mother’s own hands beneath a bloody cross.
Hands that Thomas was offered to touch on the other side of the grave.
Hands that are raised in blessing over the disciples as Jesus ascends.
Hands that never cease to be lifted in prayer and in blessing for His people for all eternity.

“He’s got the whole world in His hands” sings the Negro spiritual. Indeed, He does. Redemption's story can be read out entirely by following His blessed hands.