There were many pairs of hands at work at The First Good Friday. The crowd gathered around Jesus, followed him through the events, witnessed the entire process. Many pairs of hands were working then. Some of the hands' actions are what we do today. This is a good reflection of what we are to use our hands for. May the Lord has mercy on us that we do not use our hands for vice and evil, rather with the Lord's help, we bring love, hope and peace to this world.
The hands that washed the feet - Not just anyone's feet, Jesus washed his own disciples' feet after they declined to wash for each other as there was no servant that day. To serve men we need to have humility before God!
The hands that prayed - Jesus knelt down and prayed to the Father, "Not my will but yours be done." His hands submitted to God. The hands that surrender to God has perfect peace.
The hands that sold Jesus - Judas took 30 silvers and sold his master and friend out. Betrayal is not just a political tactics, its human nature to be tempted to trade for something better and higher!
The hands that captured - A group came to seized Jesus in the secret dark hours, carrying out their plot with their hands. When we do things that are not right before God, we always have to hide it, do it in the dark against our conscience.
The hands that chopped - Peter seeing the crowd, took a sword and chopped off one ear. He thought a bit of self- defence could prevent disaster from happening. How often in life, we take matters into our hands, doing it our own way and thinking we are doing God a big favour. But actually, we mess up God's perfect plan!
The hands that healed - The Lord Jesus used his very hands to heal the "fallen" ear. But alas, his words and deeds have fallen to deaf ears. Many desire the healings but not heeding the word of God.
The hands that accused - The group of leaders schemed and framed Jesus and told Pilate that Jesus incited spirit against the Romans. How evil can evil be? When we accuse someone, always remember that we point with one finger and three other fingers are pointing back at us. "He who has no sins, let him cast the first stone!", Jesus told the crowd when they wanted to stone the woman caught in adultery.
The hands that did nothing - Although the crowd knew that the accusations were false, they did nothing and moved along with it. They were just being spectators. In life, when we are unsure of certain accusations made against someone, we do no justice when we just sit around and say nothing to defend or worst still, we help spread the wrongful statements around!
The hands that pushed off responsibility - While Pilate had the power to release Jesus after finding no sufficient faults against Him, he chose to refer to someone else, so that he did not have to do the bad guy job. Passing the bugs, blaming others are the very traits of human beings. What we do not like to do, we pass it on! It is easy to give comments after someone have done it!
The hands that have been washed - Pilate thought that by washing his hands, he became not guilty when he judged an innocent man of death penalty! How naive can one be? When our hands are caught with the blood of the innocent, we simply wash it off and thinking all is well!
The hands that punished Jesus - The Romans soldiers who beat Jesus and fooled Him around did more than their duty call, for they had no fear of God in them! Even Pilate's wife feared so much that she sent messenger to Pilate to have nothing to do with causing harm to Jesus!
The hands that was nailed to the cross - Three pairs of hands were nailed to the cross that day, one pair repented before Jesus and accepted by the Lord; the other pair rejected and laughed at Him. But that ONE PAIR who took away the iniquity of us all ! That ONE PAIR was crashed through the bones pierced for our sake!
The hands that took Jesus' body for burial - Joseph did something very noble. He stood up against all odds to ask for the crucified body of Jesus, he was not even family member. He was not afraid or ashamed. He gave his new family tomb to Jesus! In our life, we need to learn to show acts of kindness to people of other races and creeds.
We have much to learn from all these pairs of hands at work on that day when Jesus was crucified. Think before we use them! God give us one pair of hands so that we can put it to good use. It is never too late to repent and turn around to God.
Inspired by God to write this on Good Friday
Doria Tai
Sabah
10 April 2009
At this holy event, my favourite hymn is “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Isaac Watts written in 1707. Charles Wesley reportedly said he would give up all his other hymns to have written this one.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
[Added by the compilers of Hymns Ancient and Modern]
To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.
