Almost everywhere I go these days there are containers dispensing hand sanitizer. I see them in schools and offices and this weekend I noticed one in the lobby of my church. It’s a good idea considering how often we shake hands with others. It really is surprising how healthy most of us are considering that people cough and sneeze into their hands and then shake our hands.
Shaking hands is a very old custom crossings many cultures. Last evening I noticed the following in Galatians 2:9, “James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship.” Martin Luther once refused to shake hands with Zwingli because Zwingli believed the Lord’s Supper was only a memorial. And John Wesley refused to shake hands with George Whitefield because they disagreed over the doctrine of election. It is interesting how passionate we can be over our beliefs. I won’t mention politics other than to say I know a Republican who won’t shake hands with a Democrat. Ouch.
If you want an interesting topic to occupy your time look up variations of the word “shake” in a concordance. You will find hands shaking, heads being shaken, the heavens and the earth shaking, fruit trees shaken, knees shaking, minds shaken and of course the whole room was shaken when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost. Jesus even told His disciples to shake the dust off their feet if they were not welcomed where and when they tried to share the Good News.
I have often thought about shaking Jesus’ nail scared hands. I do think He will extend them to us, but I think the sight will be too overwhelming for me to reach out and touch them.
Written by Roger Bothwell on April 20, 2010
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org