Hands in the BibleSample

Hands that Suffer

The pierced hands of Jesus are one of the most profound symbols of His love and sacrifice. In Isaiah 53:5, the prophet describes the suffering of the Messiah as an expression of His substitution for us. He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds, we are healed. The pierced hands of Jesus are an eternal reminder of the price He paid to reconcile us with God.

In the Gospel of John, we find the account of Thomas, who was not present when Jesus appeared to the other disciples after the resurrection. Thomas said he would not believe until he saw the nail marks in Jesus’ hands and touched His wounds. When Jesus appeared again, He invited Thomas to see and touch His pierced hands. Thomas’s response, “My Lord and my God!” is a declaration of faith that recognizes Jesus as the risen Lord. Jesus replied, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The pierced hands of Jesus remind us of His sacrifice and also challenge us to have faith. Thomas’s faith was strengthened by seeing and touching Jesus’ wounds, but Jesus calls us to believe without seeing. The pierced hands of Jesus are not only proof of His suffering but also a symbol of His victory over death and His ability to bring healing and redemption to all of us.

Challenge:

Reflect on the significance of Jesus’ pierced hands in your life. Think about how you can live in a way that honors His sacrifice and demonstrates His love to others. Take time to meditate on Jesus’ scars and what they represent to you. Additionally, strengthen your faith by remembering Jesus’ words: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your immense sacrifice and the love shown through Your pierced hands. Help me to remember daily Your suffering for me and to live a life that reflects Your love and grace. Strengthen my faith so that I may believe without seeing and trust in Your victory over death. May my hands be used to serve, bless, and bring healing, following Your example of sacrifice and compassion. Amen.

In this devotional, we are reminded of the depth of Jesus’ love and the price He paid for our redemption. Jesus’ pierced hands are an eternal symbol of His love and sacrifice, inviting us to trust in Him and live lives of service and dedication to others. May we always look to Jesus’ scars as a reminder of the redemptive power of His death and resurrection.