God's Hand Holds Us

Daily devotion from Acts 2:14, 22-32.


Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
Acts 2:14a, 22-32


When we were children and we were scared, wasn’t it good to have somebody’s hand to hold?  I can remember as a child once being lost in the grocery store.  In a panic, my mother nowhere in sight, I began to cry.  A nice lady rounded the corner of the aisle, hearing my sobs, and extended her hand.  She offered to help me find my mother.  I no longer felt alone.

Peter’s words to the crowd on Pentecost echo some of these thoughts.  He begins with the guilt of sin.  Sin caused Christ’s horrible, painful death.  And the horrible truth of his death is that it was our fault.  “You…put him to death by nailing him to the cross,” Peter says.  Though none of us were actually there, we did nail Jesus to the cross.  It is the guilt of our sins that demanded his death.  And by God’s plan, Jesus died instead of us.

As Christians we rejoice in this fact.  Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins so that God’s anger over our sin would be removed.  But Peter goes even further.  Our joy is that “it was impossible for death to keep its hold on [Jesus].”  Quoting one of King David’s psalms, Peter gives us a beautiful way to think about that truth.  The Savior speaks through David’s words.  He describes his strength and confidence even in death because God was at his right hand.  Picture God the Father holding Jesus’ hand as if to remind him that God had not abandoned the Savior to death, but that life was just around the corner.

The Christian’s greatest joy is that Jesus not only died but was raised to life again.  By the disciples’ firsthand witness we are able to testify about these facts in our lives.  We know sins’ guilt was paid when Jesus died.  We know he wasn’t conquered by death.  He rose again.  Together, these facts bring comfort.  We know the payment for sin is made.  We live free from guilt and fear.  Because of Jesus’ power over death, the death we face someday won’t be able to hold us either.  We can walk through life and even enter the grave with the confidence that God’s hand is firmly wrapped around ours.  In Jesus our Savior, we are safe with God forever.

Prayer: 

Lord, in your Son’s death and resurrection you assure me that I’m your dear child.  As I study your Word, lead me by the hand, guide, and care for me today and every day.  Amen.

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