Hands—they really do tell a story. Calloused hands usually mean hard work that stains the palms, and the fingertips have callouses. Dishwater hands—they can look chapped and show a tender red color.
One day, my mind began wondering about the hands of Jesus. Not the condition of His hands, though, but what His hands did while He was on Earth.
The hands of Jesus touched people in need of healing. They held and soothed little children as He blessed them. They created furniture and did repairs with His carpentry skills. His hands unrolled the Scriptures as He studied—and as He taught in the temple on the Sabbath day. Even breakfast was produced and prepared by Jesus’ hands on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. How about the hands that held a whip as He uttered words that condemned the guilty—or as He gently raised a young girl from the dead?
Jesus’ hands multiplied food to feed the hungry who had listened to His words all day under the hot sun. His hands broke bread as He ate the Passover supper with His 12 friends, the disciples—including the one who would betray Him that evening.
The hands of Jesus—they were an integral part of His life on Earth, creating, healing, providing, soothing.
Let’s use our imagination. Think about the lepers Jesus touched and healed, doing the unthinkable in that era! He had no fear of touching the untouchables. Can you imagine how those hands felt to the lepers when He touched their disfigured bodies? I imagine it was such a gentle and loving touch that it surpassed any touch they may have experienced before. The lepers were hungry for this touch.
How about the miracle of multiplying the bread and fish, where hungry children and adults were fed with food multiplied by the hands of the Creator? I wonder if the food tasted even more special. It certainly would be fresh bread and fresh fish—nothing stale about what Jesus created from the little boy’s original lunch.
Imagine with me the night the 12 disciples celebrated the Passover supper with Jesus. Unbeknownst to 11 of them, there was a betrayer in their midst. Although Judas’ upcoming act was certainly known by Jesus, He still stooped to touch the dusty and dirty feet of the one who would “knife him in the back.” His hands were full of compassion and love, desiring for Judas to repent and follow Him with his whole heart.
Picture the Lord of the Universe hanging on the Cross, His hands outstretched because of love. Love for you and for me. Do you think people around the foot of the Cross or watching from a distance remembered those very hands that were used by Jesus during His life on Earth? Hands that were used to meet some need in their life. Hands that brought healing and health, hands that brought escape from hunger and fear, hands that were never prejudiced against the outcast and less-than person.
Hands are valuable. Valuable to our daily living, and also valuable to the blessing of others. Hands are a gift from God, bringing joy to the receiver and pointing others to God. Open up your hands and let God use you to touch others. Your hands are His hands. Let your hands tell the story of God’s love.
