Jesus’ Hands

King Charles was unable to attend the annual Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral yesterday. However, in a recorded message played at the service, he said of Maundy Thursday:

“It has its origin in the life of Our Lord who knelt before his disciples and, to their great surprise, washed their travel-weary feet…. in doing so he deliberately gave to them and to us all an example of how we should serve and care for each other,”

“In this country we are blessed by all the different services that exist for our welfare. But over and above these organizations and their selfless staff, we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need.”

His words reminded me of the old children’s song:

Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all,
Healing pain and sickness, blessing children small,
Washing tired feet and saving those who fall;
Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.

Take my hands, Lord Jesus, let them work for you;
Make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do;
Let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too,
Till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.

We remember the hands of Jesus, strong, skilful, carpenter’s hands, that blessed children, touched the outcast leper, stilled the storm; on Maundy Thursday they washed feet, served humbly, broke bread, embraced friends.

Jesus calls his followers to follow his example; their hands become Jesus’ hands.

Today’s good Friday. The kind hands that did such good were viciously, brutally, nailed to a rough wooden cross… We remember Jesus dying words: ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit’

He still calls his followers to commit their weak, damaged, pain-full hands into the power-full hands of their heavenly Father-God.

I remember another old song:

 Put your hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water
Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea
Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently
By puttin’ your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.