Cut off your hand; how far you must go to be saved.

Cut off your hand.

  Mark 9:43 says, "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off. It is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched."
   In my bid to explain this scripture I was faced with two important questions, the first is, does this scripture literally mean what it says? And secondly, what does this scripture really mean? Answering these questions, I believe, will give an elaborate explanation of the topic: "Cut off your hand; how far you must go to be saved."
    First question, does this scripture literally mean what it says? If it does, it means that if your hand causes you to sin- in whatever way imaginable- in order not to go to hell you should go to the doctor to amputate your hand or if you think that could be expensive you could meet one of the sharia law activist to help you, for free. If this scripture literally mean what it says I know of a man who was born without limbs- no arms, no legs- his name is Nicholas James Vujicic, if this scripture literally mean what it says it will have no use to Mr Nicholas and 2Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." If these scripture literally mean what it says, to Mr Nicholas and others born without limbs how will it be profitable for doctrine, correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness?
   Also, if these scripture literally mean what it says then Jesus Christ shouldn't have healed the man spoken about in Matthew 12:10 whose hand was maimed, this man was free from the offence his hand could cause him in his journey away from hell, yet Jesus Christ saw a need to restore his maimed hand. Not forgetting that it is Jesus Christ who spoke the words we are seeking to understand, leads me to the next question: what does this scripture really mean?
   The hand is an attachment to the body which explains why it's point of attachment is a ball and "socket" joint, this means that you can detach the hand and the body will still be full of life. In outlining the functions of the hand, the hand can be used for movement, feeling, giving, receiving, helping, serving etc. All of this functions of the hand and more can be summed up and  can be found in "works", the works of man; by works I mean the activities of man. The hand in this context of discussions is, "works". So if I am to rephrase Marks 9:43 It will be, "if your works offend thee, cut it off, it is better to enter into life suspended from your works, than having the full measure of your works to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched."
    Reminiscing, on the literally meaning of the text of study and seeing it through the eye of this revelation, both are painful. I need not explain the former for we are humans, but on the latter it must be said that the works of a man is his pride, cut it off and you'll see men full of pain seeking for where to hid their shame, like a teacher who is told that his or her services are no longer needed, like a father who lost his job and has no means to feed his family, or like Naaman a military general who is made to take a bath to be healed of his leprosy. Jesus Christ told Peter in John 21:18, verily, verily I say unto you, when you were younger, you dressed yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you where you do not wish". Verse 19 went further to say, "This spake he, signifying by what death he should glory God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, "follow me."
   In conclusion, hebrew 4: 9-11 says, There remainth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works; as God did from his. Let us Labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief".
    God ceased from his works because he trusted and believed in his word, whom without him was not anything made that was made; in whom was life and that life was the light of men and that light shineth in darkness and darkness comprehended it not. Let's follow the example of our father which exhibits godliness: a sure path to greatness".
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