Luke 23:32-43 CSB
32 Two others ​– ​criminals ​– ​were also led away to be executed with him. 33 When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes and cast lots. 35 The people stood watching, and even the leaders were scoffing: “He saved others; let him save himself if this is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One! ” 36 The soldiers also mocked him. They came offering him sour wine 37 and said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself! ” 38 An inscription was above him: This Is the King of the Jews. 39 Then one of the criminals hanging there began to yell insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us! ” 40 But the other answered, rebuking him: “Don’t you even fear God, since you are undergoing the same punishment? 41 “We are punished justly, because we’re getting back what we deserve for the things we did, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

John 20:25, 27 CSB
25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord! ” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” … 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”

Sermon Notes

1. Jesus’ Hands Free
2. Jesus’ Hands Tied
3. Jesus’ Hands Pierced

Group or Individual Reflection

• One thing that resonated with me:
• One thing that challenged me:
• One thing I want to learn more about:
• One thing I will do:

Deeper Study
Today’s sermon focused on the hands of Jesus. What do you know about God’s hands? Here are some searches to get you started.

• God’s hand
• God’s hands
• hand of God

What, if anything, did you find?
Reflect

• Worship: Write down one attribute of God and worship God.
• Prayer: Pray for someone cut off from their family, society and/or God.
• Remembrance: Think of a time when you were on the outside of a group and someone brought you in. Write about how it impacted your life.
• Self-Examination: Through the pandemic, have you felt lonely? Have you reached out to alleviate someone else’s loneliness?

A Kind Act
Reach out to someone who is alone.