Someone mentioned to me recently about helping hands and it caused me to think a bit more about hands. Yes, helping hands are a great support in jointly working together to achieve something. In the Book of Exodus we read where Moses had his arms held up and supported by the helping hands of Aaron and Hur during the battle against the Amalekites. There they were until sunset to ensure victory (Exodus 17:11-13).
 
Some of you older ones may know who it is in the picture above, singing, “You Need Hands”. No prizes, but it is Max Bygraves  and the younger readers will be saying, “Max Who?”
 
I could list the sort of descriptions we have about hands, like, caring hands, working hands, soft hands, willing hands, holding hands, strong hands. We even talk about, “hands on” or “all hands to the pump” where we get stuck in together. I know with the refurbishment of the church premises it has certainly been like that.
 
More importantly we, of course, have “praying hands” where we seek to speak of adoration to our Father God, giving Him praise and thanksgiving. We too pray for others, those in need of one sort or another, and those who need to know of the saving love of a Heavenly Dad who loves them beyond measure.
 
The hands I haven’t spoken of are those hands of Jesus; the hands that healed the blind, (John 9), touched and healed the man with leprosy, (Matthew 8) and fed the crowd of over 5,000 people, (Matthew 14).
 
But the hands of Jesus also bore the marks of crucifixion, the hands of the compassionate healer torn to pieces as the nails were hammered in. Such cruelty, yet such love, love so deep, so wide that we will only experience it when we get to meet Jesus face-to-face in Heavenly glory.
 
His hands were pierced for you and me, that’s perfect love. Oh that we are able to experience that love as we raise our hands in praise to Him.