“People’s hands tell much about His work. Jesus’ hands reveal His redemptive work." ~ Zach. 13:6
Incredibly complex and versatile, each human hand features
29 joints, 123 ligaments, 35 muscles, and 27 bones, including an opposable
thumb that allows manipulation and grasping. They carry more sensory receptors
than any other part of the body.
Emerson put down her
Human Physiology textbook for the night, poured herself a glass of wine, and
relaxed for the first time in probably a week. Preparing for med school
midterms was brutal.
She sat in her
father’s decades-old recliner, not even noticing the stained and faded fabric. She
caught herself thinking of Ray, who worked two jobs to help pay for her tuition
after Mom passed away during her sophomore year. She pictured his hands folded silently
in prayer.
Ray wasn’t a big man,
but his hands were enormous, like two sledgehammers. They were strong, powerful
hands; toughened and heavily calloused from years of construction work. Deeply
tanned, they bore the noticeable imprint of hard work. And yet, when she
thought of his hands, it wasn’t simply about their size and might that brought
grateful tears.
In a way, he showed
emotion through his hands. They were welcoming and kind, yet also protective. His
were not angry, hurtful hands, but hands that valued, guided, and deeply loved
her. They were soft and kind when she
cried but firm when she’d done wrong… always with love.
She followed his
instructions for the best way to grasp a softball when pitching a ‘riser’ or
‘curve ball.’ She learned how to change a tire, fix a door handle, and rewire a
light switch thanks to his hands. They were practical skills but also an
opportunity to connect and bond with her Dad as they worked on projects
together.
Now that he too had
passed, she recalled how he grasped the responsibilities of raising a family
and clutched his Christian obligations. Emerson longed for those embracing
hands that could drain away the worries of the day and yet simultaneously set her
free. His hands were never meant to be avoided but ones to be cherished, like
those of Jesus – also a carpenter.
Jesus’ hands broke
bread and fed multitudes. They once applied clay to a blind man’s eyes, touched
lepers, healed the sick, washed the disciple’s feet, and held children in His
arms. These were hands capable of reversing death’s grip. Most importantly, the
hands of our Heavenly Father have reached out across time and space to embrace
us with the love that only God can give.
