Stretch Out Your Hand
Recently, I was listening to some instrumentals of Irish folk songs. One of the songs that was playing was a song entitled, "The Black Velvet Band." As I listened to it, the phrase "stretch out your hand" came to mind. I thought of the story in the gospels of how Jesus healed the man with the withered hand and the trouble that the establishment made for him, since it was done on the Sabbath. So, I sat down and wrote a poem based on that story that fits the music. Since I have not finished harmonizing the tune, I am presenting it here as a poem rather than a song.
In this story, Jesus was giving an example of how life is to be lived in God's Kingdom. It is up to us to take the example seriously and to put people before rules and public opinion.
- The Old Professor
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Offer Your Hands
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Stretch Out Your Hand
He watched him come through the church door,
his withered hand oddly askew.
Our Lord looked on him and with pity said,
"Come forward and I'll heal your hand."
There were people, who wanted to trap him,
and waited to see what he'd do,
But their hard hearts just made Jesus angry, then
he said to him, "Stretch out your hand."
The poor man simply obeyed him,
then saw that his hand was restored.
But those plotting how to destroy him said,
"Our Sabbath rules you must obey."
Jesus asked them, "Why should I not do good;
do evil things bring a reward?"
They were baffled and they could not answer him.
He chuckled as they walked away.
You find yourself in a quandary,
and you don't know what you should do,
You might ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?"
And maybe you'll then understand.
When you see someone being mistreated
and it's all depending on you,
Just remember what Jesus had done that day,
and say to them, "Stretch out your hand."
Copyright © Jay D Weaver, June 26, 2007
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