There is nothing more precious to the Christian than thinking about the nail scarred hand of Jesus. It is known that as Jesus appeared to his disciples the scar where the nail pierced still remains. That and the wound on his side are scars that will remain upon him throughout eternity because we can never forget what he did for us.
John 20:25-27
“So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
But why on his hands? What does it mean? Is there any significance for us as believers? The nails that pierced his hands were an instrument that opened up one of seven streams of blood that have great benefit for believers.
One day you and I will see the nail prints in his hands, understanding that the wounds on his hands provided a great benefit – the authority of the believer.
Hands are amazing creations. I think hands speak of authority. Even evolutionists unwittingly give credit to the creator because of the hand. The evolutionist say that because of the way the thumb and forefingers work together is why man was able to work and climb to the top of the food chain.
The hand is not a fluke of evolution but rather a creation of God. It is God who gave man authority over the earth to subdue it and man have been given authority through our hands.
Consider the power and authority expressed by hands written of in biblical context. In Moses’ hand he held up the rod, a symbol of authority and the waters parted. It was in David’s hand he held the sling where he exerted his authority, and the Giant fell.
There is nothing more precious and soft and kind than a mother’s hand, because her hand on a fevered brow has the authority to sooth away the pain and hurt. She reigns and exerts her authority by loving.
The President of the United States lays his hands upon the Bible as he takes the oath of office, thus receiving authority. The surgeons’ hands wield a healing scalpel and with authority those hands operate and heal. The machine operator knows the power he has in his hands. One wrong move and many could die.
Sit down at a computer and by using your hands you are connecting with the world through the world-wide-web.
I think it is interesting that we are commanded in scripture as we worship to lift up our hands to him – the supreme authority! It is as though the raising of our hands pays homage to the King – the supreme authority of the universe.
His hands are symbols of authority.
Who is the ultimate authority in the Church? It is not the Pastor – its Jesus. It is Christ. He is the head of the church. No wonder we see him in Revelation holding the seven stars in his hand, and walking among the candlesticks.
And how incredible are the hands of Jesus. His hands multiplied the loaves and fishes. His hands healed the sick. His hands comforted the lonely and the hurting.
Those very hands were stretched out on a cross. They put that large spike nail and they pinned him to the cross. Blood flowed freely through those hands. I want you to understand that the spikes did not hold Jesus on the cross. His eternal love for us kept him on the cross. The reason was he was providing for us the authority of the believer.
Because his hands were pierced – his authority has flown down across the thousands of years through an untold number of hands.
Peter understood the authority of the believer. He used his hands in the ministry. When he reached out to heal a beggar waiting beside the temple, Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. He exercised the authority of the believer! The scripture says, Acts 3:7 KJV “And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up…”
Paul used his hands in ministry understanding the authority of the believer. Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied.”
What hands have done in the mighty name of Jesus is incredible,
Christians have used the authority of the believer with their hands by reaching out to a neighbor in time of need. Hands have been laid upon shoulders to bring encouragement in time of grieving. Hands in the name of Jesus have distributed clothes, food, and medicine. How many hungry have been fed by hands authorized by the master? How many meals have been given in the name of Jesus? How many believers have opened the doors of their homes to be a shelter for the oppressed and the abused?
Why? It is because they recognize the authority of the believer. And that authority was purchased by the shed blood of Jesus as the nails pierced his hands. Hands have built churches. Hands have preached the gospel using sign language. Hands have loved the unlovable. Hands have touched the untouchable.
It was Christian hands that first reached out to right social justice. It was Christian hands that fought to free the slaves, and bring equal rights to women. The amazing thing was that every one of those hands that has done a good deed in the name of Jesus had to redeemed.
Let’s never forget that it was our sinful hands that caused Jesus to be hung on the cross.
Stop for a moment this morning and consider how many sins have been done by your hands.
Here is the good news today. That stream of blood was opened up in hands so that your hands might be redeemed. Hands that once sold drugs now are lifted to the King! Hands that once beat their children in anger, become instruments of healing in the name of Jesus. God wants to use your hands. Your hands are instruments to show the authority of the believer.
Think of Paul’s hands, once they were used to persecute the church, but they were redeemed by the blood of Jesus! So much Holy Spirit power resided in those hands that when a poisonous snake came out of the firewood he was placing on the fire and bit him, he did not die. He did not die, but the serpent died.
There is power in the blood of Jesus. Let Him redeem your hands today. If you have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, remember, you have the authority of the believer. The nails in Jesus’ hands provided that benefit for you.
