He was chosen by God to save a people and nation. He was not what the people expected: He was not a mighty warrior, nor was he a powerful earthly king. He was a servant.
The hands:
The rough calloused hands of a man who knew physical labor.
The hands of a carpenter who worked with wood.
The gentle hands of a man who could heal physical and emotional scars with a touch.
The hands of a teacher who used everyday objects to teach a lesson.
The hands of a healer that caused blind eyes to open and see.
The hands of an itinerant preacher who took the scroll of Isaiah and read to his hometown crowd.
The hands of a busy man who took time to bless little children.
The hands of a man who directed a little donkey through the streets of Jerusalem.
The hands of a friend who served the bread and wine.
The hands of a servant who washed and dried tired, dusty feet.
The hands of a man in prayer, bowed down with sorrow, as he waited in the garden.
The hands pierced by nails.
The hands, Jesus’ hands.
God chose to send Jesus as a servant—a helper who used his hands in so many ways to alleviate the worries, sorrows and cares of a people overcome by oppression. Jesus walked the dusty roads and lived among the very people he came to serve. He restored life and health and transformed lives by his very touch. Those whom he touched were never the same.
As we again anticipate the birth, let us remember that we still find comfort in Jesus’ hands today. His hands are open, beckoning, inviting all who come. We are redeemed by the precious blood of God’s chosen one—Jesus!
Marguerite McDowell