Or does it simply mean that the man did what he could do - stretched out his arm - and then Jesus did the rest?
Either way, it has implications for how we deal with our own limitations in life - in my case, for example, how I respond to ministry travel invitations when I'm painfully aware of my personal limitations caused by arthritis.
There's a simple truth in our preschool curriculum that we teach to small children: Father God will never ask me to do something that I am unable to do (with His help.) So whenever I step out into something that looks and feels impossible for me, I can be sure that Jesus will stretch out His hand to meet my need and enable me to do whatever He has asked of me.
It was this man's hand that got healed, but I'm guessing it made a huge impact on his whole life. If you've ever struggled with hands that don't work properly - perhaps because you have your arm in plaster, or because your painful joints mean that you can't lift, hold or open things - you'll know that the limitation affects you in all sorts of ways. When this man's hand was restored, it probably meant that many other areas of his life were affected too. Likewise, when we stretch out in obedience and allow Jesus to touch the places where we feel inadequate, many other aspects of our life will be changed too. We just need to be willing to stretch out our hand.
