When I was six years old, my brother and I were playing farmer and horse. Rich was the farmer and I was the run-a-way horse. I was neighing and racing around with farmer Rich close behind. Finally he lunged for me and in the process knocked me to the ground into the gravel at the edge of the driveway. I ended up with a very bloody, scuffed up knee. After the knee healed, mother realized I had a tiny gravel under the skin by the scar close to my kneecap. You could see and feel it with your finger. The “show and tell” made a fun story. It never bothered me but when I had my knee replacement surgery sixty-one years later I asked the doctor to take it out. That accident was my first scar.
I had other scars through the years. Each has a memory. Each has a story. Seemingly insignificant events can became unforgetable memories. Some time during my adolescent years, I was riding my bike and went sailing down the hill through the yard. Just as I reached the road, the chain came off my bike and I was unable to stop. Fortunately, no cars were coming as I careened onto the road. I had on flip flops and in the process of trying to stop I stripped the skin and meat off my left big toe, down to the bone. I went limping and screaming back to the house. The commotion made our neighbors come see what had happened. Another time I was doing acrobatics exercises on my bed and flipped over backwards off the bed busting my knee, requiring stitches. Later in life there were several surgeries; a hysterectomy and a double knee replacement. Both left nice long 6-8 inch scars on my abdomen and legs.
Scars are what is left after a wound has healed. Nasty wounds or injuries can be replaced by a barely noticeable scars. Sometimes the injuries are much more devastating with long-term affects; loss of a limb, burns, crippling diseases, a broken neck, cancer, etc. Some wounds are more insidious and the scars less visible. Sexual and physical abuse, bullying, deformities, lies, broken homes, addictions, tragedies, rejection, broken hearts, war, terrorist attacks, kidnapping and suicide can leave emotional or mental wounds whose roots go much deeper than the surface of the skin and are much harder to heal. We suffer the wounds and bear the scars of a broken and sinful world
I thought about Jesus scars. Isaiah 53:2 gives us a glimpse into Jesus personal appearance. “He had no form or comeliness that when we see him there is no beauty that we should desire him.” He would probably had been that child in school that everyone avoided, make fun of and bullied. He would not be the darling, handsome, well-built hunk of a high school quarterback.
But later in life, Jesus also had physical scars; horrific, deep, bloody, and permanent. They were caused by a crown of thorns pressed into his head, 40 lashes with a leaded whip, slaps across the face, his beard being pulled out, and nails hammered into his hands and feet as he was nailed to the cross. Isaiah 53 says he was sticken, smitten, aflicted , oppressed, chastised, wounded, bruised, and killed. He suffered mental abuse from insults, lies, ridicule, being spit on, humiliation and desertion by his closest circle of friends. He was despised and rejected by men and felt forsaken by God himself.
Why? Why did this have to happen? Because of our sins. He took them all onto himself so that we could be saved.
It usually takes weeks for injuries and surgeries to heal. Jesus died and when he rose from the dead three days later he was completely healed. BUT Jesus also had a “show and tell” story with scars. Late Sunday night after Jesus rose from the dead, two men were walking the seven miles from Jersualem to Emmaus when Jesus appeared and walked and talked with them. They didn’t recognize him until they arrived at Emmaus and sat down to eat; Jesus took bread and broke it and gave it to them to eat. Suddenly their eyes were opened and they recognized him. He immediately vanished from their sight. Even though it was dark, they hurried back to Jerusalem, found the disciples and those who had gathered with them, and told them about all the things that had just happened. Suddenly Jesus stood in their midst. They were terrified and frighten and Jesus greeted them with “Peace to you”. Jesus said, “Why are you troubled and why do you doubt? Look at my hands and feet. See my scars. Touch me and, feel them. I am real. Ghost do not have flesh and bones as I have.” (Paraphased Luke 24:39).
Thomas, one of the disciples was not with them at the time and when they told him about Jesus appearing to them he doubted and said, “Unless I see his hands and the holes of the nails and touch them with my finger and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, Jesus appeared to the disciples again and specifically addressed doubting Thomas. “Thomas, look at my hands. Reach out your finger and touch the scars on my hands and side. Feel them and believe.” And Thomas responded with “My Lord and my God.” (Paraphased John 20:20)
In Revelations there is a vision of a future scene in heaven when Jesus appears as the Lamb who was slain to open the scroll. (Revelations 5:1-7). He had the appearance of a sacrificed lamb. That tells me that Jesus’ scars are permanent. When we get to heaven, we will recognize him with his scars. We will be able to tenderly rub our fingers over his scars and fully understand his story. We will join in heartfelt worship with the gazillion other “redeemed by the blood of the lamb” saints praising and worshipping.
There is so much we do not know about heaven, but we do know we will be healed; all our wounds, emotional trauma, broken hearts, diseases, physical pain, sorrow and grief will be made whole. There will be no more tears. But a new wonder crossed my mind. Will we have still have our scars as a testimony and eternal reminder of the healing power of Jesus from the troubles we endured and the brokeness of this sinful world? Will I be able to rub my finger over your scar and say, “Tell me, tell me your story. Tell me what Jesus did for you?”
By his stripes (scars) we are healed. Thank you Jesus.
