Then He led them out as far
as Bethany, and lifting up His
hands He blessed them.
Luke 24:50
Last week we had the opportunity to raise up our hands and put them together and applaud the one person in our life that deserves a standing ovation: Mom… yes, our mother! “Dear Mom, thank you for being my mother. May your day be a happy day!”
When a person lifts up his hands it might, however, be for a different, contrary reason… like raising them up in a defensive way to protect oneself from harm. It’s something we might read about in the paper or see on the news again this evening.
Many wives live in terror as abusive husbands (or boyfriends) raise their hands to strike them. Many children cringe in silent terror when a bully lifts his hands to threaten their safety and well-being. Many nations exist in helpless terror as ruthless dictators lift their hands to oppress them. I mean, it’s on the news almost every day!
While Mother’s Day is a day to lift up our hands in recognition of our mother’s love, her beauty, and integrity, and our love for her, contrarily ugly things can happen when some people raise their hands to do harm.
When Christ lifts up His hands, we also see some ugly things. We see pain in those hands. Those are the hands that were tied as Jesus was beaten by His accusers. Those are the hands that struggled to carry His own cross to Golgotha. Those were the hands through which nails were driven onto Calvary’s accursed cross when Christ was crucified. Those were the hands that suffered and died in our stead.
We also experience and feel guilt when Christ raises His hands. Can you imagine how guilty Peter must have felt when he saw those hands? He had in fear denied his Lord. Can you imagine how guilty Thomas must have felt when he saw those hands? He had doubted his Lord.
And if we’re honest about ourselves, we can imagine that it was for our sins that Jesus had to die—when He took our sins upon Himself for our sake. When we see the scarred hands of Christ, we should realize that we have been crucified with Christ!
Terror enters our hearts when Christ raises His hands. We see in the Father’s dealings with Jesus just how seriously God takes sin. God’s words say, “Be perfect.”
God’s threat says, “The wages of sin is death.”
Yet, in the hands of Christ crucified and risen God says, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Yes, it was God’s ultimate purpose to love us to the ‘nth degree through the hands of Christ raised to bless us, not to cause us pain or guilt or terror. They were raised to bring us the peace that surpasses all human reason and understanding.
What’s more, He continues to bless us, daily with the richness of God’s mercy and grace that comes through His Word declared and Holy Sacraments for the forgiveness of sins, and the promise of life and salvation.
When you see the risen hands of Christ, still scarred by the marks of the nails, don’t be afraid; you need not doubt; only believe. Believe that He is your only Savior for blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
Each month a member of the Cook County Ministerium will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week our contributor is Reverend Dean Rudloff, Life In Christ Lutheran Church in Grand Marais.
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