Treasure in the Scars

Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. (John 20:27)

As long as we live we will be hurt (physically, emotionally and maybe even spiritually) and we will need healing. Healing often will take time and will leave scars…

When Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, He showed them His scars. He didn’t hide them or pretend that they didn’t exist. He knew that His scars were a part of His story, and He wanted His disciples to see them. 

We might assume the Father would have chosen to remove the scars from his Son’s eternal glorified flesh, but scars were God’s idea to begin with. He made human skin to heal like this from significant injury. He also had the power to take them away before Jesus appeared to the disciples. However HE CHOSE TO SHOW HIS SCARS…

Some of our scars carry little meaning, but some have a lot to say…Recently a friend of mine shed some light in this bible verse by posing this question: “What if by choosing to show His scars for Thomas to believe, He was inviting us to show ours to others to testify of HIM so more people would believe?”

Jesus showed his scars to Thomas so that he would believe that he was truly risen from the dead. But Jesus’ scars are more than just proof of his resurrection. They are also a reminder of his sacrifice and his love for us.

When Jesus shows his scars to Thomas, he is saying, “Look, I have been through what you are going through. I have experienced pain and suffering. But I have overcome it. And I can help you overcome your pain and suffering too.”

Jesus’ scars are also a reminder of his mission. He came to earth to save us from our sins. He was willing to suffer and die for us. And he is still with us today, helping us to live through our own pain and suffering.

Because he chose to suffer for us, Jesus’s scars also tell us of his love, and his Father’s. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” 

Finally, Jesus’s scars — as healed wounds — forever tell us of our final victory in him. 

We will worship him forever with the beauty of his scars in view. They are no defect to eyes of the redeemed but a glory for saved sinners beyond compare.

We can all learn from Jesus’ example and accept His invitation to see our scars as an opportunity to witness to others…To see our scars as a treasure! We can show our scars to others as a way of giving testimony and glorifying God. We can share our stories of pain and suffering in order to help others who are going through the same thing. And we can use our experiences to help others overcome their own challenges. 

Here are some ways that we can missionally and disciple others by showing our scars:

• Be honest and transparent about your past. Don’t be afraid to share your struggles and failures. People are more likely to connect with you on a deeper level if they know that you are real and that you have been through tough times.
• Be vulnerable. It takes courage to share your scars with others. But when you are vulnerable, you open yourself up to the possibility of connecting with others on a deeper level. And you also give others permission to be vulnerable with you.
• Be authentic. Don’t try to sugarcoat your past or make it sound better than it was. People can tell when you are being fake. Be honest and genuine, and people will be more likely to trust you and open up to you.
• Be hopeful. Even though you have experienced pain and suffering, don’t let it define you. Share your story of hope and redemption. Let others know that it is possible to overcome pain and suffering and to live a fulfilling life.

When we show our scars to others, we are not just sharing our own stories. We are also sharing the story of Jesus. We are showing others that God loves them and that he is with them, even in their pain and suffering.

DO NOT BE ASHAMED OF YOUR SCARS!

YOUR SCARS ARE A TREASURE!

Invitation to Reflect:

• How can you use your past hurts and scars to give testimony and glorify God?
• Who is someone in your life that you can show your scars to?
• How can you be a missionary disciple to others by sharing your story of hope and redemption?