Scars.
Lots of people have them. I have two or three myself.
Scars tell stories and young boys especailly love to tell the stories related to thier scars.
All the accidents, risks and daring episodes that make those scars are great stories.
I have two scars from stichs I got when I was three. My aunt was whizzing us around on a merry-go-round and daring lil’ Priscilla decided to go no hands and I flew off, breaking my arm.
I relish telling the story including all the ice cream, balloons and goodies that came with an emergency room visit.
Oh and the story about how I sang “When I Am Afraid I Will Trust In You” by Steve Green right before my surgery is a good one.
I have another scar on my wrist that I got when a dog scratched me because I wasn’t petting him enough. 🙂
Whether it be a bicycle accident, broken arm, or running into a brick wall every scar has a story, a unique, fun-to-brag-on kind of story.
The greatest scars of all are the ones Jesus has though. Now thats a story.
God (the God who created heaven and earth and everything else..yep that God) sent His only son down to earth because after Adam sinned we all lived in sin and were not worthy of eternal life with Him.
So this son incarnated and became a human, was brougt into the world through a young teen virgin, Mary and grew up as a poor carpenters son.
He then calls petty fishermen to be His disciples teaching them about the kingdom of God and proclaiming Himself as the son of God. He worked miracles and was absolutely perfect!
Well, the Pharisees didn’t like that one bit so they plotted to destroy Him and they finally got their chance after the Passover thanks to Judas Iscariot- one of Jesus’ disciples who betrayed Him.
Jesus was unfairly accused (remember He is perfect), beaten, mocked and scorned. Pontius Pilate was scared of the people even though he thought Jesus was innocent so he delivered him to be crucified.
The Son of God crucified? How could this happen? Well actually, His death was the reason Christ came into the world. He paid the perfect sacrifice so that now we can be called children of God if we trust in His perfect name.
Wow, thats a story. And Jesus got some scars to prove it.
He had scars from the nails pierced in His hands.
He had scars in His side from when the soldiers stabbed Him to make sure He was dead.
Best. Story. Ever. Oh.. and its real.
But it doesn’t end there.
Jesus was placed in a grave and three days later some women came to put incense on his body. Surprise, surprise, he wasn’t there.
Jesus had risen from the dead, defeating death forever.
But not all the disciples believed when Mary Magdalene, the young witness told the story.
Thomas- one of the disciples- didn’t believe it. He said….
” Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
John 20:25b
Then Jesus showed up.
He told Thomas this:
“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
Those scars saved the world.
Those scars saved you.
Those scars saved me.
All of a sudden my epic-fly-off-the-merry-go-round scars don’t seem so cool anymore.
“He himself bore our sins on his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 3:24
So next time you start boasting about your scrapes, bumps and scars remember His scars.
Boast in his scars….. because they saved the world.
Thanks be to the scars of Christ,
Priscilla