Join me, if you don’t know the words join me in singing:
He’s got the whole world in His Hands; He’s got the whole world in His Hands, He’s got the whole world in His Hands; He’s got the whole world in His Hands. He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands, He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands, He’s got my brothers and my sisters in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the sun and the rain in His hands, He’s got the moon and the sun in His hands. He’s got the wind and the clouds in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the rivers and the mountains in His hands, He’s got the oceans and the seas in His hands. He’s got you and me in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got everybody here in His hands, He’s got everybody here in His hands, He’s got the whole world in His hands.
I wonder as Mary held the baby Jesus in her arms, as she held His little hands, what she thought? If Mary looked at her baby in her arms and was amazed at this little hand with fingers that curled, stretched, looked so small and helpless. I wonder if Mary knew her son’s hands were the hands of God?
Join me in your Bible, Matthew 9:18-26:
While Jesus was thus speaking to the Pharisees behold, a ruler came in and knelt before Jesus, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hands on her, and she will live. And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players, and the crowd making a tumult, Jesus said, “Depart; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at Jesus. But when the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.
Matthew 9:27-34:
And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, son of David.” When Jesus entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes Lord.” Then Jesus touched their eyes saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread Jesus fame through all that district. As they were going away, behold a dumb demoniac (one possessed) was brought to Jesus. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke, and the crowds marveled saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
Matthew 14: 28-33:
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink Peter cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught Peter, saying to him, “O man of little faith why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 19:13-15:
Then the children were brought to Jesus to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belong he kingdom of heaven.” And Jesus laid his hands on them and went away.
Mark 1:40-42:
A leper came to Jesus beseeching him, and kneeling said to Jesus, “If you will, you can make me clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Mark 8:22-26:
And Jesus and His disciples came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to Jesus a blind man, and begged him to touch him. And Jesus took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the village; and when Jesus has spit on his eyes and laid his hands upon him, Jesus asked him, “Do you see anything?” And the blind man looked up and said, “I see men; but they look like trees, walking.” Then again Jesus laid his hands upon his eyes; and the man looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly. And Jesus sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”
Luke 4:40:
Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; and Jesus laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
Luke 8:24-25:
And they went and woke him saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And Jesus awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was calm. Jesus said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying one to another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the wind and water, and they obey him?
Luke 24: 36-40:
As the disciples were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed they saw a spirit. And Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see’ for a Spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
Psalm 31:15:
My times are in thy hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
In the scriptures that were just read, where were these people in their lives when they reached out for Jesus? They were in the dark, scared, ill, blind, and in desperate straits. I do not believe for a moment that it is God’s will that we should suffer. For what kind of God would make us in His image to punish us?
And, as I study the Bible one thing is very clear to me and that is there is only one way to heal our wounded souls. For there is still a great need in this world to be healed and the only way for a wounded soul to be healed is by the touch of His hand, of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, to come from our own risk-taking efforts to change the circumstances of our lives.
Now this is not to say one may be cured on this earth, or war, diseases, poverty, famine, among a few of the world’s problems is going to stop. But the road to salvation, the road to inner peace, begins when one makes the choice to reach out and feel the touch of His hand upon their soul.
Matthew 8:14-17,
And when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother in-law lying sick with fever; Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served him. That evening they brought to Jesus many who were possessed with demons; and Jesus cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
OKAY WALTER, I hear what you are saying but why did my loved one have to die? Why didn’t my loved one feel the touch of His hand and live? I wish I had the answer on who lives and who dies. I wish I had a magic wand and could make everything fine in this life, but I don’t. Maybe these things happen as a message to the world that yes death does happen to all. Yes disease and misfortune does happen but there is healing, internal healing when one feels the touch of His hand. And… He walks with me and He talks with me, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.
For in my life I have observed something interesting about those who have felt the touch of His hand in their lives. Yes they want to live, to love, to enjoy life, to grow old, but when they have felt His touch they are not scared for they know they are not alone. The problem (I believe), lies not in what we believe, but in what we want. Maybe it’s time for all of us to quit wanting what I want and to have faith in Christ for our lives. To have faith and hope… not in this world, not in mankind… or, peace on earth. But to have hope in Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior, while living
Galatians 2:20,
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
For as Jesus who sat in the Upper Room with His disciples and after supper Jesus took the bread, broke it and said, take, eat, this is my body broken for you. Eat this often in remembrance of me. Then after supper, Jesus took the cup, blessed it and said, take, drink, this is my blood of the New Covenant shed for the forgiveness of the sins of many. Drink this often in remembrance of me.
In this season of Lent, on the way to the cross, on the road to salvation, who lives in you? Is your flesh of this world or do you live by faith in the Son of God, who loves you and gave himself for you? At this very moment what attitude or actions are the biggest obstacles to your salvation?
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it, for if one has felt the touch of His hand then how can one not be glad? What stops you from getting on your knees at this very moment as we pray? Remember, no one knows why the questions in our lives outweigh the answers. Although our Father does not promise us we’ll understand He does give us His hand of guidance through the storms in our lives.
Let us pray,
Father God, the words of Bill Gather’s song says it all, shackled by a heavy burden ‘neath a load of guilt and shame then the hand of Jesus touched me and now I am no longer the same. Since I met this blessed Savior, since he cleansed me and made me whole I will never cease to praise him I’ll shout it while eternity rolls. He touched me, O, he touched me, and O the joy I feel in my soul. Something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole. Thank you for that promise in our lives, Father God.
Amen
