Praying Hands – by Greg Albrecht
Friend and Partner Letter from July 2026:
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).
While I have been captivated by fine art and classical music most of my adult life, my interest is not due to any remarkable creative talents or gifts I have been given. My mother insisted I take piano lessons at a young age, but after several years we both realized I had no desire or aptitude in becoming a pianist. I do not claim an extensive knowledge of or expertise in art or music, but merely an appreciation of the major European composers and artists.
Decades ago, I became fascinated by Albrecht Durer, perhaps initially in large part because his given/forename is the same as my last/surname. Albrecht Durer (1471-1528) is considered one of the greatest painters and engravers in history, often honored by the accolade “the Leonardo Da Vinci of the North.” Da Vinci the Italian lived south of Durer the German, was about 20 years older and to this day is regarded as the greatest fine artist of all time. To be mentioned in the same context as Da Vinci is, of course, high praise.
Many who have never heard the name Albrecht Durer are familiar with his most renowned pen and ink drawing – “Praying Hands” (1508). We have included a color photo of this artwork on the back cover of the July 2026 Plain Truth. “Praying Hands” places its focus on the two hands of a man placed together, upward in prayer. Albrecht Durer seems to have drawn the fingers as a testimony of long, arduous and demanding work that left these particular hands somewhat crooked and distorted.
Albrecht Durer grew up in a small town near Nuremberg, Germany, one of eighteen children! Albrecht and his brother Albert both had a dream of pursuing the artistic talent they discovered at a young age. They knew their parents could not afford to send both of them, perhaps not even one of them, to study at the academy (art school) in Nuremberg, so after many long discussions the two boys decided on a solemn pact.
They agreed to toss a coin. The loser of the coin toss would go to work in the coal mines nearby their home, and with his earnings enable the other brother to attend an academy to study art. Then four years later, they agreed to reverse roles, so that the brother who was hopefully now, through his education and training, financially successful, would then return the favor, and finance the education of the brother who had supported him.
Albrecht won the toss, and his brother Albert went down into the dangerous mines. Meanwhile, Albrecht started his studies and his etchings, oils and woodcuts resulted in him becoming an almost immediate sensation. Albrecht quickly achieved popularity, fame and considerable financial success – because his brother Albert sacrificed his own hopes and dreams so that Albrecht could pursue his.
When the now-famous, widely acclaimed artist Albrecht Durer returned to his hometown, he hosted a family dinner. As the story is told, the meal concluded and Albrecht rose from his position of honor at the head of the table and toasted his beloved brother Albert. Albert had worked to enable Albrecht to fulfill his ambitions, and Albrecht thanked him for his years of sacrifice, saying, “And now Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream and I will take care of you.”
When the eyes of the family turned toward Albert, waiting for his response, they could only see tears streaming down his face. He sobbed, shaking his head from side to side and repeatedly said “No… no… no.”
When he composed himself and was able to speak, Albert rose, wiped his tears away, and said, “No brother, I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look… [holding up his hands] look what four years in the mines have done to my hands. The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and I have arthritis so badly that I can barely hold a glass to return your toast, much less do the delicate work of an artist. No brother, for me it is too late.”
The significance of his brother’s hands (the selfless sacrifice they symbolized) so moved Albrecht that he asked Albert to model his hands in prayer for an altarpiece he had been commissioned to create. Albrecht created a simple drawing which in time was recognized as an enduring work of art, a silent story of tribute and honor for generosity and self-sacrificial love.
“Praying Hands” has been a favorite reproduction in homes of Christ-followers for many generations, as it testifies about the hidden, behind-the-scenes sacrifices willingly given, sacrificial suffering on the behalf of another. “Praying Hands” reminds us of mothers and fathers, of brothers and sisters both physical and spiritual, of friends and neighbors… of those who have willingly blazed trails for us, of those upon whose shoulders we stand.
One sacrifices when one gives up something for something. One self-sacrifices themselves giving for another, placing as great or greater value in them as one does oneself (Philippians 2:3). We might say self-sacrifice is someone for someone. Of course, the greatest self-sacrifice ever was Someone for the entire world.
Jesus himself, God in the flesh, modeled the ultimate and perfect sacrificial life by coming “down here” to become one of us, his creation, and pouring the love of God out on his cross. Someone for the entire world – as in “God so loved the world that he gave…” (John 3:16).
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down his life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).
Jesus says his followers come after him, and deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me (Luke 9:23). Sacrificial living goes against the grain of our self-gratifying existence and is in complete opposition to the self-absorbed me-first narcissism in this 21st century western world. Yet, consider this absolute truth: As much as anyone can ever love themselves, God loves them more. As much as anyone can be completely self-absorbed, the Cross of Christ is proof that God loves us all far more than we can ever love ourselves!
Picking up our individual cross and following Jesus, denying ourselves and serving others in his name, is impossible unless and until Christ in us, the hope of glory, lives his risen life in us. He empowers us to love. He empowers us to give of ourselves, in a self-sacrificial way, because by the grace of God, we are enabled to value others as much as we do ourselves.
Self-sacrifice, as empowered by the love, mercy and grace of God, doesn’t expect a return on investment. Self-sacrifice is a free gift, ultimately given because the giver accepts the freely given love of God first given to them, enabling them to sacrifice themselves for others.
Self-sacrifice on our part is yet another outgrowth and product of God’s grace, and his gift of the Jesus Way wherein we live our lives because of faith alone, grace alone and Christ alone. God’s love, mercy and grace enable us to transform the lives of other people, being Jesus for/to them.
God’s love does not demand that we deny the enjoyment of family, friends or material blessings. Godly self-denial and self-sacrificing involves loving others because God first loved us, and then we, yielding to Jesus, take up our own cross, follow him and serve others in his name. It has nothing to do with warped thinking that God is pleased with our suffering and his desire to see us in pain before he blesses us.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).
“Praying Hands” not only reminds me of Albert’s love for his brother Albrecht, but for the love of God passed on by Christ-followers to people all over this world. God’s love surely is the most beautiful reality anyone can realize, experience and in which we might, by his grace, pass on.
Because of Jesus,
Greg Albrecht
President, Plain Truth Ministries
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