"THE HAND THAT WAS WOUNDED FOR ME"
"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God..." (1 Cor. 6.20)
INTRO.: A song which emphasizes what Jesus did in purchasing us with a price by being wounded on the cross is "The Hand That Was Wounded For Me" (#317 in Sacred Selections for the Church). The text of stanzas 1-3 was composed by Hattie H. Pierson. The text of stanza 4 was written by Fred P. Morris. Nothing seems to be known about either of these individuals who collaborated on the words. The tune was composed by Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919). The song was first published in 1905. The original copyright was owned by Charles M. Alexander. It was renewed in 1933 by A. P. Towner and assigned to Hope Publishing Co. Towner is remembered for melodies that he provided for "Arise, My Soul, Arise," "At Calvary," "Anywhere With Jesus," "Grace Greater than Our Sin," and "Trust and Obey."
Among hymnbooks published during the twentieth century by members of the Lord's church for use in churches of Christ, "The Hand That Was Wounded for Me" appeared in the 1921 Great Songs of the Church (No. 1) and the 1937 Great Songs of the Church No. 2 both edited by E. L. Jorgenson; the 1963 Abiding Hymns edited by Robert C. Welch; and the 1966 Christian Hymns No. 3 edited by L. O. Sanderson. Today it may be found in the 1978/1983 (Church) Gospel Songs and Hymns edited by V. E. Howard, and the 1992 Praise for the Lord edited by John P. Wiegand, in addition to Sacred Selections.
The song reminds us of what Jesus was willing to undergo to save us from sin.
I. Stanza 1 says that the hand of Jesus was nailed to the cross
"The hand that was nailed to the cross of woe,
In love, reaches down to a world of below;
'Tis beckoning now to the souls that roam,
And pointing the way to the heavenly home."
A. We know that the hands of Jesus were nailed to the cross: Jn. 20.25-27
B. His hands were nailed to the cross because of His love for us: Eph. 5.2
C. The songwriter pictures the hand of Jesus as beckoning to souls that roam that they might come to Him: Matt. 11.28-30
II. Stanza 2 says that the hand of Jesus still stretches out to mankind
"E'en now I can see, through a mist of tears,
That hand still outstretched o'er a gulf of years,
With healing and hope for my sinsick soul;
One touch of its finger will make me whole."
A. In Sacred Selections, Ellis J. Crum says, "Figurative lang. is used....otherwise, this song would be unscriptural." I supposed that it is good to point this out from time to time, and I know that there are people in the religious world who misunderstand these things, but it almost insults the intelligence of the average person to have to put such disclaimers on songs. Obviously, the songwriter is not saying that she sees the actual hand of Jesus with her physical eyes but that she sees what the hand of Jesus represents with the eyes of her understanding that have been enlightened: Eph. 1.18
B. This hand is pictured as bringing healing and hope for sinsick souls: Mal. 4.2, Col. 1.27
C. The spiritual application of what the hand of Jesus stands for will make a person whole spiritually just as one touch of Jesus's hand made the leper whole physically: Matt. 8.1-3
III. Stanza 3 says that the hand of Jesus offers redemption and salvation
"The hand that wrought wonders in days of old
Holds treasure more precious than gems of gold:
The price of redemption from sin and shame,
The gift of salvation through Jesus' name."
A. The hand of Jesus wrought wonders in days of old: Mk. 6.1-2
B. Understanding, again, the figurative nature of this language, we realize that this same hand offers redemption from sin and shame: Eph. 1.7
C. Therefore, from it we can receive the gift of salvation through His name: Acts 4.12
IV. Stanza 4 says that the hand of Jesus will lead us to eternal life
"Triumphant through grace I shall someday stand,
With Jesus, at home on that golden strand,
His face in its beauty at last to see,
My hand in the hand that was pierced for me."
A. Those who stand triumphant will do so because they have been saved by God's grace: Eph. 2.8-9
B. Our hope is to stand with Jesus as the victorious saints are pictured as standing with Him on Mt. Zion: Rev. 14.1
C. Then, we shall see Him, whose hand was pierced for us, as He is: 1 Jn. 3.1-3
CONCL.: The chorus stresses again the blessings that we have because Jesus died for us.
"The hand of my Savior I see, The hand that was wounded for me;
'Twill lead me in love to the mansions above, The hand that was wounded for me."
No, I cannot literally see the actual hand of Jesus with my physical eyes. However, I can see through the scriptures, what the hands of Jesus accomplished for my salvation. Therefore, I need to be reminded often of "The Hand That Was Wounded For Me."