His Hands and His Side
Jesus shows the disciples “his hands and his side.”
This can be interpreted as Jesus’ way of telling the disciples that it is him, and that he is alive.
Moreover, the nail marks on his hands and the wound on his side are no longer the signs of death.
With his resurrection, those are now signs of God’s power and life.
God’s hand signifies power and protection. (Examples, “the mighty hand of God” in 1 Peter 5:6, “the palm of God’s hand” in Isaiah 49:16, “Your right hand saves me” in Psalm 138:7). Earlier in John’s Gospel, Jesus spoke of himself as the good shepherd, and “no one can take [the sheep] out of [his] hand” (John 10:28)
From his side, when pierced opened, “blood and water flowed out” (John 19:34). The water brings us back to Jesus telling the Samaritan woman at the well that he would give “living water” of new birth [1] . The blood is the Eucharist, the food of divine life.
The Risen Christ shares his life with us. As when God created Adam, now Jesus breathes on the his disciples. And with divine life comes the gift of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness of our sins as well as the power to forgive sins.
He truly is risen. Alleluia.
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[1] John Petty, www.progressiveinvolvement.com
Image source: www.agnusday.org
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