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taken from Pearls, Points, and Parables, by F.E. Marsh 1908
Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25)
"I do love this beautiful, white, and perfect hand; but I dislike the other, ugly one," said a little girl as she took hold of the left hand of her mother, and pushed the right one, which was marred, crooked, and scarred and twisted.
A look of pain was seen in the mother's face for a moment, then she said, "Shall I tell my little girl a story?"
"Yes, mamma, please."
"One night when you were a baby I smelt fire, and as I hurried to where you were lying in your cot, I found your clothes alight. I tore them from you with my hand, but that hand was burnt as a result. The marred hand is an evidence of what I suffered for you."
When the child had heard the story, she exclaimed, “Oh, forgive me, mamma, for calling the scarred hand ugly, I now think it is the more beautiful of the two."
Christ’s hands are beautiful because they bear the marks of the nails of Calvary's tree. The hands of Christ are studded with the jewels of blessing, and they are so, because they were once nailed to the cross (Psalm 22:16)
They were once gory with the blood of suffering, but they are now glorious with the blessings of salvation. He shows His hands to us (John 20:20), let us view them and see what they can do.
The hands of Christ are symbolical of His power; hence, in speaking of the power of the Lord with John the Baptist, it says, 'The hand of the Lord was with him" (Luke 1:66).
Christ’s hands are:
Strong to Save
Peter found Christ’s hand strong to save, in response to his "Lord, save me"(Matt.14:30, 31). He can pluck out of hell's mouth, sin's power, Satan's grip, iniquity's pit, the flesh'sinfluence, self's pursuit, and the world's glamour.
Potent to Heal
The touch of Christ's hand meant cleansing to the leper (Matt. 8:3). Christ can heal, by His touch of power, palsy's sloth, pride's fever, temper's fits, the heart's impurity, the mind's blindness, the knees' feebleness, and the ears' dullness.
Skilled to Open
Christ's hands upon the eyes of the blind man meant sight to him(Mark 8:23). Christ alone can give the inner illumination which shall cause us to see the sinfulness f sin, the Sufficiency of Christ's Atonement, the secrets of God's Word, and the splendor of His
Sufficient to Supply
"Thou openest Thy hand, they are filled with good" (Psalm 104:28). The statement is true, providentially, spiritually, and eternally. The good God saves by His good grace, to a good life, and for a good end. There is always more left after we have done taking—as is illustrated in the feeding of the five thousand—than there was before. Taking from God, enriches Him.
Tender to Bless
"Put His bands upon them" (Mark 10:16)are the words which describe Christ's action in relation to the children. Christ has the touch of the sympathetic friend, the loving mother, the kind father, the gracious brother, the thoughtful sister, the good Samaritan, and the gentle Jesus.
Strong to Uplift
"He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight" (Luke 13:13). The poor woman was bowed earthwards, and could not lift herself up—like many a believer in Christ, who has life from Christ, but who has not liberty through Him.
Mighty to Keep
None can snatch from the hand of Christ, because His hand is encircled by the hand of the Father. (John 10:28). The ability and agility of Christ proclaim His power and willingness to bless. He meets the need of the times, and is always timely in His aid.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. (Isaiah 49:15-16)
