Very Special Scars

John 20:19-31

Many people have various scars on their bodies, perhaps from surgeries or maybe an accident.  I have several.  On my left arm I have a large scar from when I shattered that arm in several places two years ago and needed surgery to repair it.  I have a scar on my right wrist, a scar from a burn, and a scar from a deep cut on my leg.   When you look at your scars you are reminded of what occurred to make them.  Those scars can “speak” to you, telling what you have been through.  In today’s study from the Gospel of John we will look at some very special scars that we should always keep in our memory.

As our Scripture passage opens, Jesus comes and appears to the disciples that first evening after His resurrection (vs. 19-20).  In order to reassure them that they were not seeing a ghost, Jesus shows them His hands and side, those scars where the nails had been driven through, and where the centurion's spear had been thrust.  They saw and believed that He truly had risen, just as the women had reported.

There was one of the disciples missing that evening, the Apostle Thomas.  Perhaps he was afraid to be in a group with the others since the Jewish religious leaders were threatening them, or maybe he just wanted to be alone with his grief.  Whatever his reason, Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared to the others that Resurrection Day evening.  Later that week when the ten disciples told Thomas of Jesus’ appearance to them, he scoffed, telling them that he would not believe unless he stuck his fingers into those scars (vs. 24-25).  Perhaps Thomas had watched the crucifixion from a distance, seeing when those scars were made on the Savior’s body.  Obviously those scars were important to him, marring the body of the Teacher he had loved, and now was dead.  The next Sunday evening Thomas was with the disciples when they were gathered together, and Jesus appeared to them again.  Calling Thomas over, Jesus showed him His scars, offering him the chance to look and touch them, and gently chiding him for his unbelief (vs. 26-27).

The various scars I have on my body, and those you might have too, are permanent in this life.  They don’t fade away.  They won’t wash away.  They are there until I die.  In heaven, in the glorified body all believers will have, those scars will be gone.  The scars that Jesus has, though, are permanent for eternity.  Even in His glorified and heavenly Body, those scars remain.  They show for all eternity the price that was paid for our salvation.   Jesus’ scars prove Him to be the Messiah.  They tell the story of our salvation.  It is a story of pain, caused by our sin and endured for love of us.

As Isaiah the prophet said, we are engraved into the palms of God’s hands (Isaiah 49:16).  When God looks at those scars on His hands, He sees your name and my name in there.  He loves each one of us so much that He died for us, receiving those scars for love of you and me.

Both Thomas and the disciples had trouble believing others' testimonies of the resurrection.  The women, particularly Mary Magdalene, had returned giving testimony of Jesus’ resurrection, and the ten had been slow to believe until Jesus appeared.  Then Thomas wouldn’t believe their testimony, either.  Jesus told us that those who do not need visual evidence of God and His power are especially blessed (vs. 29).  Trusting God means looking beyond what we can see.  When we are faced with uncertainty, do we trust in God’s unseen sovereignty and care for us?  Will we believe, even if we cannot see right now?  Even when we don’t see God at work in our situation we need to still trust Him.

We have all the proof we need in the Word of God.  Let’s take up our Bible, believe what is written there, and seek the Lord in faith.