“As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.”
— Mark 1: 29-31
I’ve always been intrigued by the connection I see between the healing hands of Christ and his being crucified on the cross–with nails driven through those powerful but tender hands.
People were all the time reaching out to touch Jesus–even just to touch his cloak was sufficient in a famous gospel case (Mark 5: 25-34). But he was always touching someone with those healing hands of his as well.
Read the relatively short gospel of Mark with an eye to all the touching that’s going on. I especially like the story of Jesus at the home of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law, right there in Chapter 1. He touches her–simply takes her by the hand–chasing her fever away, whereupon she gets up and carries on.
Mother-in-law has fever. Jesus touches. Fever’s gone. She goes back to being a hospitable house mom. End of story.
A powerful little story at that–a concise look at the healing power of the healing touch of those precious Christ hands.
And so–irony of ironies–they nailed nails through the tender hands of the carpenter turned rabbi and savior, on the assumption that they’d put those hands out of commission forever.
And yet, God and the healing power of God goes on touching lives every day.
Very beautifully brought out. Our wretched gratitude for those healing hands. O miserable mankind! I think the word “mankind” is an oxymoron for man is seldom kind.
Jude.
ain’t that the truth. paul
Yes indeed. Thank you.
Jude.
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BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks, Francine! Love your blog.