My sheep hear my voice.  I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one will snatch them out of my hand.  What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.   (John 10: 27-29)

For the last 40 years I have often meditated on Jesus’ hands. Just think about all those hands did while He first walked this earth.  His hands blessed all of God’s children, regardless of who they were, what they had done, or where they had come from.  His hands reached out indiscriminately, while breaking down every barrier, boundary, and distinction that we can so artificially and hurtfully put up.  His hands helped the lame to walk, healed the sick, and raised the dead.  His hands exorcized evil, lying, and seductive spirits.  His hands comforted the lonely, lifted the fallen, found the lost, washed the dirty, forgave the sinful.  And His hands were finally nailed to a cross. May we always remember that the nails didn’t hold Him there, but love did—a love that’s beyond words to describe.

Today’s scripture is the only time I recall when Jesus talks about His hands. What He says about His hands and about us can give us great hope.  He says that we are in His hands. He says that we have been given to Him by the Father. He says that He will never let go and that we can’t be snatched out. He says that His hands are more powerful than any force that could pull us away.  He says that in His hands we receive eternal life, and will never, ultimately, perish.

What words could we use to describe those hands?  Powerful.  Eternal. Faithful.  Tender. Passionate. Loving.

When are those hands available to us?  Right now, and always.

What can those hands give to us right now as we face the hard times of this epidemic?  Strength, courage, resilience, patience, peace. What else? Hope.  The hope that we are in His hands no matter what.  The hope that His hands will guide and direct us.  The hope that no virus, no loss, no death, no challenge, no worry, no fear, no anxiety is stronger than His hands to hold, bless, comfort, and heal.

Do you hear His voice speaking to you?  He wants you to hear Him, for you are one of His sheep, one of His brothers and sisters, one of His beloved ones. Jesus came to offer His hands to you, and connected to His hands is His heart.  All He asks is that we offer to Him our hands, which is the offer of our whole lives. In the offering of ourselves to Him, we meet the offering of Himself to us.  And in that mutual offering we will know the embrace of His hands for this day, for this challenging time, and forever.

Reflection Questions:

1. As you meditate on Jesus’ hands, what do you see and feel?

2. How do you need Jesus’ strong hands to be holding you right now?

3. As you consider that nothing can snatch you out of His hands, what hope do you receive?