You know...the disciple that insisted on seeing Jesus wounds and even touching them with his own hands. Jesus not only obliged Thomas and showed him His scars, He even invited him to handle the wounds to make it REAL.
Why would Jesus, after defeating the enemy once and for all, leave such ugly reminders for all to see?
He was alive, fulfilling every prophecy that was given, proving He was the Messiah, the Christ, God's Son, the Savior of the world.
Yet there He stood with massive holes in His hands and feet, and who knows what the wound in His side looked like. Obvious, distinct scars.
I've had my 'Thomas moments'....when God is trying to show me He is alive and working in an area of my life and I just don't quite believe He is reeeeeallly going to come through. Maybe you haven't been there, but I have.
And that's when He shows me His scars.
"Mary, I know you think you are feeling the ultimate humiliation right now, but look...remember when I hung on the cross completely naked in front of all those people?"
My fingers lightly touch His Hands and my bruised ego is instantly healed. In His presence, man's opinion of me seems irrelevant.
"Mary, I know the sting, the gut-ache of betrayal. My heart was actually breaking on Golgotha because of it!"
I place my hand on His side gently, as if to attempt to soothe the pain He felt for the many times I
had betrayed Him.
His scars truly served a purpose for Thomas. And they have shown me many times God's perspective on the trials and self-imposed messes I've created.
As I have grown in my relationship with the Lord, I find it less and less necessary for Him to 'prove' to me Who He is. He has been faithful...generous...patient...over and over. I have experienced the Resurrected Lord in so many ways that it is getting harder and harder to doubt His love for me!
Now...what about my scars?
Recently my husband and I were given the opportunity to share our story of marriage restoration on an international television program. It was a process that took over 3 years in the making...all for a 5 minute segment. Yet we know that many have been encouraged to hope again, to make that second---maybe third or fourth attempt at saving their marriage, in spite of ominous circumstances.
But more importantly, we wanted to hopefully give freedom to those who hold in secret their scars of the past. We want them to be able to talk about, share and declare that because of what Jesus has done for them, their scars are NOT to be hidden but exposed to all as trophies of His grace and mercy.
Last, we pray our scars will be PROOF to a cynical, frightened world that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. When they see that we not only survived a fatal wounding to our marriage, but that we can thrive in life together--- physically, emotionally, and spiritually...they will HAVE to account it to only one reason.
Him. Jesus and His resurrecting, restoring love.
Are you hiding scars? Is there someone you could take the burden of shame off of by sharing your story of redemption? Your testimony is not just history...it's HIS-story.
As I recently read on a favorite website:
"The Lord loves us as is...and He is calling us to share accordingly."
Come on, roll up those sleeves! Pull back that collar!
Share your scars! Somebody needs to know about them.
