Probably the soldiers who had the notorious distinction of driving the nails through His hands into the wood will remember throughout eternity those minutes when they fastened Him to the Cross. They will never forget when they held his hands and positioned them on the cross for the nailing. Did one man hold the nail in place while another swung the hammer? We don’t know. In the middle of the process did they hesitate and did they glance at each other with wide eyes in wonder as they saw how their ‘victim’ fully cooperated with them? How unusual. No struggle. No prying open a clenched fist. No holding the arm in place with their knees as they stretched Him out on the cross.

Were they too callous to notice that this man was not like the ones they normally crucified? To them, was it just another set of hands to attach to the wood? How much did they know about those precious hands? Maybe one of their relatives suffering from leprosy had been touched by these very hands. But that’s enough speculation. Let’s flip the calendar to this very day. What do His hands mean to me?

I was reading Psalm 95 and verse seven caused me to pause:

We are the sheep of His pasture. What a shepherd He is. He leads us from one green pasture to another. There is nothing dry or barren about His pasture. Out there in the world, those who don’t know the Good Shepherd are being led from one barren field to the next. Rocky, dry, barren lands and full of dangers. The lost sheep are being damaged and hurt and starving every day. Did you thank the Lord today that the Good Shepherd found you and now you are feeding in His pasture and that you are the sheep of His hand. A hand that lovingly touches you in your distress and reassures you. A hand that feeds us with nothing but the best for our growth. Sometimes we receive discipline from His blessed Hand. Of one thing we can be certain; such correction is done with deepest love and affection. How do I know? The print of the nails says it all!

Centuries before Our Saviour was crucified, His hands upon the cross were in view. In Psalm 22 we read: “They pierced my hands and my feet.”

Here is one more little thought to enjoy today. Get this one! Jesus said: “I GIVE unto them eternal life; and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” Even if you are filled with doubts today, if He gave you eternal life, you will never perish. Nothing can ever remove you from the safety and security of His hand. The print of the nail says it all! If He loved you enough to endure the nails and the Cross, you can be sure He is never going to let you go. He paid too much for you. You are precious to Him.