Christ’s
Hands, Our Hands
“When
he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Matthew 19:15
Bruce Jenneker, in "Christ's Prayer to
Ours: A Way Into the Heart of God," tells the much-loved story of Christ's
arrival in heaven after his Ascension from the earth. The devil, they said, still smarting from
Christ's descent into hell, was furious that Christ had defeated him and robbed
him of his power to shape the lives of men and women. So, masquerading as Jesus
Christ himself, the devil rushed ahead of Jesus into God's presence and,
holding his hands up high in a greeting of triumph, approached the Divine
Grace, saying 'I am here, I have done the work you gave me to do, I have
offered my life for the salvation of the world. Give me the seat of honor at
the right hand of your majesty and let me share you power.'
Let me see your hands, your feet, and your
side,' God answered, 'for those dreadful wounds suffered in love are the proof
of your faithfulness, and they alone can gain for you access to my majesty and
power.' Of course the devil
had no such wounds to show, as all in heaven could see from his uplifted hands.
At that very moment Christ appeared--See! He lifts his hands above! Alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love! Alleluia! Of course the devil was exposed for
the fraud he is and once again cast into outer-darkness, while Christ was
welcomed by the divine grace to sit at God's right hand, there forever to
intercede for the world he loves for which he died a cruel and agonizing
death." Look how Jesus used his hands . . . to wash his disciples feet, to
break bread, to hold children, to go fishing, to climb to "high
places," to lift in prayer, to pass out food, to gather in friends, to
calm down, to rile up, to forgive.
Years ago, James C. Howell devotes a
twelve-chapter book that examines some of Jesus' "hand-iwork." This book could be the basis of a wonderful
ideas on "The Hands of Christ".
Here are the hands he showed. He had Living hands, Praying hands, Unfurling hands, Teaching
hands, Touching hands, Healing hands, Feeding hands, Serving hands, Holy hands,
Pierced hands, Sending hands, and Joining hands.
Gerald Coates, leader of the Pioneer
movement in England, compared the fivefold ministry to the five fingers of the
hand. The apostle is the
thumb. He gives stability, holds the counterbalance, and can literally touch
all the other fingers. The prophet is the index finger. He points at you and
says: 'you are the man!' The evangelist is the middle finger, the longest of
all and sticking furthest out into the world. The ring finger resembles the
pastor/shepherd, caring for internal relationships. The little finger is the
teacher: he can worm his way deep into any ear, and there share the truth of
the gospel." -
Someone has been
suggested that there are five possibilities for the use of our hands.
First, we can wring them.
Handwringers are
forever moaning "how awful" this is, how awful that is, and never
offer any course of action that might change the circumstances. Their energy
and insight is completely wrapped up in being wrung-out.
Second, we can fold them.
Hand-folders do
nothing. Immovable, immutable, impassive, hand-folders are unconcerned and
uncommitted. By claiming that problems are "out of our hands"
hand-folders insulate themselves from any involvement and injury.
Third, we can wash them.
Like Pilate,
hand-washers think that with enough water they can dilute any responsibility
they might have for themselves or others. Like Lady Macbeth, however, their
hands are never clean, and their soul is never still.
Fourth, we can lift them.
A hand with
nothing in it is not always empty. Open hands, lifted to God in prayer offer
all that we have to God's service. Lifted hands are empty so they may be filled
with power from on high.
Fifth, we can stretch them.
These are the
most obviously active hands. Hands stretched out in peace and service, healing,
hugging, holding, and helping hands. These are the hands of the woman in our
story this morning.
The pierced
hands of salvation are the sixth and most complete use of the hands ever
devised by God.
Press your thumb to your chest. Pray for those closest to you. Your kids,
your family, your friends, etc.
Press your index finger to your chest. Pray for those who have mentored you,
coached you, and instructed you. Your teachers.
Press your middle, longest finger to your
chest. Pray for those over
you: your bishop, your pastor, our president, your mother, etc.
Press your fourth finger to your chest. This is the least used finger in your hand.
Pray for those aspects of your life that are least used in the cause of the
kingdom, or least anointed. Ask God for a fresh anointing in your life and
ministry.
Press your little finger to your chest. Pray for the week and the poor and those who
are neglected by society -those who are most vulnerable.
Terry Risser
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright
2014- Terry Risser
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