Held In His Hands
Scripture References
Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions
13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. 14 As many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— 15 so shall he sprinkle[3] many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.
1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? 9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. 11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,[10] and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9
Jesus the Great High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
John 19:17-30
The Crucifixion
1 Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him. 2 And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. 3 They came up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. 4 Pilate went out again and said to them, “See, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no guilt in him.” 5 So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Behold the man!” 6 When the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him.” 7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” 12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.” 13 So when Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called The Stone Pavement, and in Aramaic Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.”
The Crucifixion
16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus, 17 and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. 18 There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. 19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20 Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. 21 So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but rather, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22 Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” 23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, 24 so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things, 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
The Death of Jesus
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” 29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus’ Side Is Pierced
31 Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 35 He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. 36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”
Jesus Is Buried
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. 41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. 42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.
Sermon Script
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Amen.
Your Hands Tell A Story
Look at your hands… do they tell a story? Mine are getting wrinkled which shows my age. Worn, chapped, and scarred, each feature with a story to tell. What story do your hands tell? I realize there is more in our life narrative than our hands will reveal, but you must agree that our hands are a vital part of what we do each day. With our hands we prepare food, do chores, or type on a computer. Each day our hands are busy serving a task we direct them to do.
As we have progressed through this season of Lent and have considered God’s Word, we have seen how our Lord’s hands have been at work for us. We have learned how in our brokenness, we are held in His hands, as He is the master physician who is able to bring us back to life.
In His Hands
His hand is mighty to save and pulls us from the depths of despair. He has bound the strong man… the evil foe. He reached out to heal people with leprosy, and He continues to bring eternal healing to the untouchable. His hand of compassion stops death in its tracks and gives life.
All these things are in His hands, and we can trust this day that He, in fact, does have the whole world in His hands, including our very lives… As you are aware, yesterday we celebrated Maundy Thursday. This is where we found Jesus, knowingly having the world in His hands, humbled Himself as a servant, washed His disciples’ feet and fed them the last supper. Even to this day, He continues to serve and feed us with His presence in the Sacraments.
As we reflect on all that Jesus did with His loving, gracious, gentle hands… “that” is all part of what leads us up to this moment. For on this Good Friday, He was delivered into the hands of sinful men… look at your hands again… even those hands took part.
Betrayed
So, what did the hands of this world do to Jesus? Through the hands of the Gospel writers, we learn that His betrayer led a band of soldiers to arrest Him and take Him to Annas. One of the officers of the high priest struck Jesus with his hand when He testified to the truth.
He was handed over to Caiaphas. In the meantime, Peter was warming his hands by the fire and denying his Lord. Then Jesus was handed over to Pilate, who wanted to be hands-off on the whole matter.
Soldiers used their hands to twist a crown made of thorns, press it into His brow, clothe Him in purple, and repeatedly scourged Him. To amplify the matter, the cries of “Crucify Him, Crucify Him” echoed all the louder as Pilate attempted to wash his hands of the whole affair.
His Hands Carried The Cross
My friends, Jesus was stricken, smitten, and afflicted… yet with what strength He had left, His hands willingly carried His own cross up Calvary Mountain. Ever so weak yet His spirit so strong. Falling time and again, each time He got back up with His unwavering perseverance to continue onward. Knowing a fatal moment was in store.
Then… in a few short moments, the Lord of glory… the one through whom are all the wonderous works of God were revealed… the one in whom all things were given…was nailed to the cross. Those nails were driven into the hands of our Lord… and He was crucified
Is This What We Have To Offer?
This is the work of the world’s hands. This is what the world has to offer the Lord. This is what we have offered to Him. The world rejected Him, refusing to see the work of His hands as the hands of a King. So those hands were pierced with nails driven into a cross.
Look at your hands again… what story do they tell? Would they tell a story of giving or taking? It is easy to fall into the grasp and sense of wanting to use our hands to be the owner of the vineyard… thinking what we do with our hands have some sort of authority.
At times we try to convince ourselves that by the work of our hands, we deserve to be the ones in charge. Putting ourselves on a pedestal we do not belong.
But there cannot be more than one king. Our desire to elevate ourselves means that anyone else who claims to be king must die. That is just what we have done to the King of kings and Lord of Lords on this very day.
Our Sinful Hands
The sinful work of our hands drove those nails right into His and hoisted Him up on a cross. Do we dare ask… What can Christ do with His hands nailed to the cross?
To those who looked on in dismay, it may appear that such hands are unable to do anything. Not only that, to those who witnessed these events, it looked like the hands of sinful men orchestrated this entire thing… but we know differently. We know what Christ’s hands can do when nailed to the cross.
Isaiah foretold it all. Isaiah writes in chapter 52 verse 13 of a Suffering Servant who “shall act wisely; He shall be high and lifted up and shall be exalted”. Then goes on to say He will be “marred, beyond human semblance”.
In the next chapter, Isaiah writes that His exaltation will not be what people expect, and people will be perplexed when they ask… “to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Throughout Isaiah, the arm of the Lord carries much of the same meaning as the hand of the Lord.
The Arm Of The Lord
The arm of the Lord displays His might, glory, care, judgment, and salvation. Upon looking at this Suffering Servant, how could this be the arm of the Lord? I read to you Isaiahs words from chapter 53, starting at verse 2…
He had “no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him”. “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not”.
Isaiah is not just speaking for himself… or his own time… or Jesus’ time. Even you and I are a part of this today. This is our sin. This is what we have to offer the Lord’s Servant. Our sin drove those nails into the hands of the Lord.
The people that were standing there that day witnessed sinful men use their hands to crucify Jesus. But was it just the work of sinful men?
Only God’s Hands Can Do
Isaiah helps us see that Christ’s suffering and death goes beyond the work of humankind. He continues to write that this Chosen One whom we “esteemed . . . stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted” (53:4) has accomplished something that we could not do.
“He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities.” This “chastisement” was fulfilled to bring us “peace” and healing by “His wounds” (53:5). This world’s sin, our sin, “has [been] laid upon Jesus” (53:6).
It was the Lord who orchestrated this night! As Isaiah continues in chapter 53, verse 10, “It was the will of the Lord to crush Him; He has put Him to grief”. This was the arm of the Lord all along! Yes, it is true that this sinful world did these things to Christ. However, it was the will of the Lord that determined how this salvation event would take place.
Isaiah continues in verse 12… “He . . . makes intercession for the transgressors”. Christ has atoned for all our sin. In fact, He has atoned for the sin of the entire world. Every misdeed. Every hateful action. Every sinful thought. He has taken the punishment we deserve for the work of our hands.
He Took My Place
He willingly took our place in order to bring forgiveness and life and salvation to each one of us helpless sinners.
For us… All the suffering He went through on this night, He willingly remained silent… like a sacrificial lamb, He took all our transgressions upon Himself (53:8).
He took all of it to the cross and received in His body the full punishment that we deserve. The wrath of God and condemnation that this world has gathered up with its hands, were poured out upon Him. Then nailed to that cross.
Jesus Hands
Indeed, we know what those hands can do while nailed to the cross… Those are not just ordinary hands. They are life-giving hands. They are the hands of the Lord who is mighty to save, even though to some folks it looked like weakness.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”. The cross is the powerful hand of the Lord at work in each one of us.
Isaiah continues… For “the will of the Lord shall prosper in His hand”. The will of the Lord prospers in the hand of Christ, His only Son, who was nailed to the cross. Because, in Christ, we have the forgiveness of all our sins! That is good news…
And with the scars in His hands… His feet… and pierced side… shows in this very act itself, He is able to do so much more than the most powerful authority on earth. He can do what no one else can! And He has done it; Indeed… “It is finished” (John 19:30)! For that we can be so thankful.
Forgiveness
What a gift to know that all His work to atone for our sins was completed on that cross. The world needs to hear what Jesus can do with His hands nailed to the tree. The world needs to know… we are among the offspring of whom Isiah speaks. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world; we are the family of God.
Jesus suffered and died to earn forgiveness of all our sins, so we can be with Him forever (Best day ever). What can Christ do with hands nailed to the cross? He is doing what only He can do.
Look at your hands once more… let them tell the story of Gods healing and restoring work in your life… Brothers and Sisters in Christ… Today Jesus’ hands remain scarred for you. The One with the pierced hands is drawing you close right now to Himself to be with Him for eternity.
And may the peace of our crucified Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… who surpasses all understanding, guard your heart, your mind, and your hands, now and forever.
Amen.