A way through your trials

Friday, January 4, 2019

The Wounded Hands of Jesus

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

John 20:26–28

In 1867, Rose Hartwick Thorpe wrote a poem called “Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight.” Thorpe set her poetic account of an old English folktale in the days of Oliver Cromwell and the English civil war that took place in the 1600s. A young woman named Bessie learns that the love of her life has been sentenced to be executed when the church bells ring at sunset to announce the curfew. Determined that the bell not ring, she begs the church sexton to abandon his duty, but he refuses. Undaunted, she climbed to the bell tower and wrapped her hands around the clapper. Though the sexton pulled on the rope, the bell did not ring. The poem ends with these lines:

O’er the distant hills came Cromwell; Bessie saw him; and her brow,
Lately white with care and anguish, glows with sudden beauty now,
At his feet she told her story, showed her hands, all bruised and torn;
And her sweet young face, still wearing traces of the anguish borne,
Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his eyes with misty light.
“Go! your lover lives,” cried Cromwell. “Curfew shall not ring to-night.”

Jesus Christ owed no debt for sin, because He lived a perfect life. But He paid the debt that we owed, and the marks are still visible on His body. His great love for us provides the offer of salvation, but we must accept it. Salvation is a free gift, but must be received.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

The price has already been paid for our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

CURRENT RADIO SERIES Giving God Your Best   CURRENT TV SERIES Generosity

“How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?...” --Hebrews 2:3 Can you imagine life without the confidence and assurance of your salvation in Jesus Christ? Life can be hard, and it comes with heartbreak, sorrow, struggles, and grief. So to live it without the hope of salvation is hard to imagine! And yet, some people do live this way. You know these folks. They put a big smile on their faces and say things like, “We’re going to hope for the best,” or “We’re crossing our fingers that our luck with change soon.” Perhaps someone told you that if you would only follow Christ, all your problems would be solved. Well, that’s not true. Jesus never promised it… and we should never make that promise. Our faith does not give us immunity from trials, but it does provide a way through them. I know life can be painful. Some sorrows threaten to suck the air out of us, and during those times you may think, “I’m not going to get through this.” But you will, with the help and the hope of Jesus Christ. Jesus is with you now. He will be with you through the trials and sorrows. And he will be there when they pass. Jesus himself said, “In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart: I have overcome the world.” You see, we are not alone. The one who overcomes all trials is with us. So no matter what comes your way, hold fast to the hope of your salvation in Jesus Christ. Our Lord is an unshakable foundation! And you can trust that he is working in you, proving you, pruning you, and preparing you for eternity.   OUR FAITH DOES NOT GIVE US IMMUNITY FROM TRIALS, BUT IT DOES PROVIDE A WAY THROUGH THEM.