Scars

Scars. We all have them, both physical and emotional. We collect them from the first playground we visit. The spot on our knee from when we fell. The spot on our emotions from the first time we were not included in the game.

According to the Cambridge American English Dictionary (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/american-english/scar)
the definition of a scar is: “A mark left on the skin by a cut or burn that has healed.”

The focus of this month’s topic is not so much about the physical scars we all try to camouflage but rather the point that Jesus too has scars and what does that mean for us?

Pause and think about that. … Jesus has scars! Jesus has wounds that have healed. They are an eternal reminder of the price He paid for us to be saved and healed. Jesus has scars. He has experienced pain. He knows what it feels like to be wounded. The physical wounds of Jesus are obvious but do we stop to think of what it felt like to have His beard plucked out, to be spit upon, to be mocked and jeered at. He suffered. Jesus knows firsthand how it feels to be rejected. How it feels to be embarrassed.

Jesus experienced all the same things we experience in a lifetime, even more. He went to the Cross and took the punishment for our sins. Because of His scars, our wounds can be healed.

Putting our scars in perspective, they are proof that what was once painful, is now as a badge of victory, a wound that no longer bleeds. They are reminders that this too shall pass. Our wounds will heal.

Have you ever watched a wound heal? It is remarkable. Our Creator has so designed our bodies that once injured it is amazing how our body begins to go to work to repair the wound. The Holy Spirit is ever our Comforter, our emotions can heal too.

“…, We have seen the Lord. But he (Thomas) said unto them, Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  … “Then said He (Jesus) to Thomas, Reach hither your finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not faithless, but believing.” (John 20:25 KJV … John 20:27 KJV)

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 KJV)

“I gave My back to the smiters, and My cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not My face from shame and spitting.”  (Isaiah 50:6 KJV)

“So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. ” (Mark 16:19 KJV)

“And the people, when they knew it, followed Him: and He received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.” (Luke 9:11 KJV)