“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.”
Matthew 16:21 NLT
There’s an exciting nugget of truth tucked away in this verse. Jesus would suffer many terrible things at the hands of people and even be killed by the hands of people. BUT, on the third day, he would be raised from the dead, not by the hands of the people, but by the hands of GOD!
The atrocities done to the innocent at the hands of selfish, godless people are unthinkable. The pain of betrayal at the hands of people we thought were friends is indescribable. Yet, when in relationship with God, there’s another pair of hands at work, hands that raise you up, no matter how low other hands have pushed you down.
I have seen those hands at work more often than I can count. In Uganda our nine-year-old daughter lay burning with fever at night when no doctor’s hands were available, but the Healer’s loving Hands touched Amy. When the hands of army soldiers threatened to high jack my vehicle on a deserted Ugandan highway, God’s powerful Hands infused my heart with boldness and sent their caravan back down the road. When Ron was beaten by the hands of rioters in Nairobi, God’s Mighty Hand spared his life and drove the mob away.
So be encouraged—
No matter what the hands of man inflict, God’s Hands are stronger!
And HIS Hands will raise you up!
