The story of Elizabeth Blackwell, the first American woman to receive a degree in medicine, after being rejected by twenty-nine medical schools, inspired me wen I was a schoolgirl. In the biography that I read, Elizabeth was appalled when she was presented with a human hand to dissect and analyze. At first she was afraid that she would faint and sat staring at the object on her desk. Gradually she came to believe that the hand in front of her was a marvel, and her curiosity woke her up to try to understand all she could about it. Her natural revulsion disappeared, and she came to see the severed hand as “beautiful.”

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil?

To save life, or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger, and deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was completely restored. (Mark 3:3-5)

No one questions the need for healthy hands, yet for many, our focus is on ourselves, and not on the One who designs our hands: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you. . . Do not fear, for I myself will help you”, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 41:14)

Elizabeth’s attitude changed as she realized that the “hand” was the beginning of a way for her to heal other hands and bodies of patients as a doctor. She confronted her own fears and was helped by a sense of the beauty in an otherwise distressing object. Jesus made the man with the withered hand to stand up publicly so that others could see the miracle clearly and know that something very good had occurred. Nevertheless, it was possible for observers to deny the goodness in the healing, and reject the one who performed it. Isaiah’s words from God are a preview of Jesus’ words to us as believers: “Do Not be afraid, little flock, for it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

Elizabeth graduated at the head of her class, and had a long career as a doctor. Her achievement opened the door for her sister Emily to become a doctor also, and eventually many more women, both in the United States and in England.

This very day Jesus’ words are bringing eternal life to all who are willing to hold his hand.

Love in Him,

Prue