I Can Make Your Hands Clap

Have you ever paused and looked at your hands? No really… open your hands and take a look at your palms. Notice all the lines, creases, grooves, wrinkles, pigments, blue or purple veins, your finger prints, maybe a ring on a finger or two, perhaps even a scratch, or a scar or a bruise?

For a moment, let’s pause and think about all these hands of yours have done. As a young child they explored the world and experienced all the feelings they could with anything that could be deemed a toy- smooth, rough, bumpy, sticky, slimy, gooey, soft, luxurious, and sharp.

As an adolescent they probably felt the hands of steering wheel on that first bike ride without training wheels, the grittiness of dirt, rocks, and pebbles at the lake or playground, and the hugs from mom, dad, or close family and friends.

As a teen- your hands have felt that clamminess as nerves kicked in before a big test or performance, the warm yet sticky feeling as you washed the dishes, that first “hand-hold” with a new budding romance, or the clenching of a car steering wheel as you prepare to become a new driver.

As many of us are now adults- our hands have put in some hard labor cooking, cleaning, and manning several projects and tasks at home or in the workplace. They have caressed a newborn baby’s skin, put bandaids on a child’s ouchie, prayed over countless people, and comforted a friend who has lost a loved one.

As we look at our hands, we can marvel at all that they have already done and have yet to do. You know who else’s hands we should really examine? You guessed it- Jesus!

Jesus is just like us- his hands have done so much, but have so much to do yet. His hands have healed the sick and the blind, stilled torrid waters, brought peace to countless situations, and even raised the dead to life. But just like us, his hands are still not done working. Jesus is always around, ever present, and able to persuade the heavens on our behalf.

But how can our hands ever hold that much power? Is that kind of power even attainable? Or was is only Jesus God gave this power to?

Turns out- the same power alive in Jesus back then can be within us today! No really- God has given us resurrection power, through Jesus, to go be like Jesus to the world and people around us.

One of my newest favorite songs is “The Commission” by Cain:

“See my hands and look at my feet

It's okay if it's hard to believe

I have faith you will do greater things

It's my time to go but before I leave

Go tell the world about me

I was dead but now I live

I've gotta go now for a little while

But goodbye is not the end”

You see, Jesus knew that we would do greater things than even he could do. He knew that the power he had been given wasn’t reserved for only him, but for you and me to take in his authority. Jesus wants us to claim our power, and use it for Gods glory and his will. He wants us to understand, fully believe, and take action with our own hands- to heal the sick, feed the poor, love on and care for the wounded, orphaned, widowed, bereaved, afflicted, non-believers, and yes even our enemies, everyone!

I don’t know about you… but I’m starting to feel like a super hero in training! It’s a big task- that starts with a tiny step: we have to believe; believe that the power Jesus had back then is still attainable now, believe that Jesus is the truth, the way, and life, and believe that God has got our best interest at heart (that his will over our lives is better than our wildest dreams).

Are you ready fellow super hero in training? You ready to claim that resurrection power and harness it for great things? We have to be ALL in (not 85% or 95%). We cannot overthink it, over analyze it, or chicken out. We have to believe, trust, and unleash this power like a six year old tearing open presents on Christmas morning: excited, joyful, hopeful, full of wonder, eyes wide open, and expecting that something amazing is about to happen.

Now let’s go be the hands (and feet)!