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‘Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth.’
Mat_12:13
I. Christ’s method.—This is the man to whom Christ said, ‘Stretch forth thine hand.’ It was the very thing which the man could not do. It was the very last thing the world would have expected the man to do; but it was the first thing which Jesus Christ bade him do. How different is Christ’s method from the world’s. Where the world despairs, Jesus Christ acts. Where the world is silent, Jesus Christ speaks. The world abuses the failures; Jesus Christ quietly helps them. Where the world turns its back upon the withered and helpless, Jesus Christ speaks the word of encouraging command, ‘Stretch forth thine hand.’
II. Help for the helpless.—The one thing which those who are persuaded of their powerlessness need to learn in this—viz., that there is much more within their power than they think. It is so hard to help those who will not help themselves. The world is very full of these helpless folk—the people with withered hands. ‘Stretch forth thine hand’ was the word spoken by Christ. It is the fitting word for the feeble, effortless folk we have in view. It is not argument that such people want, but help; it is not expostulation, but co-operation—the co-operative sympathy, or, better still, the sympathetic co-operation of the strong will with the weak; the kind, firm, strong, subduing, and persuasive voice, ‘Stretch forth thine hand.’
III. Christ which strengtheneth.—The man who finds no strength in himself may find it in another. He is not able, but the other is strong. He cannot achieve, but with the Strong One at his side the situation changes. What seemed beyond his power begins to seem simple and natural. This is what St. Paul found. Here is his view of himself: ‘I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing.’ Here is His view when he realises Christ at his side. ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.’
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Bishop W. Boyd Carpenter.