Jesus kept His scars

Isaiah 53:5 AMPC

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.

John 20:25-27 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Oh! How we need a God who knows our deepest pain and darkest night.

That's why Jesus came as God's Suffering Servant, described so eloquently by the prophet Isaiah.

So often we go through situations that we think no one can understand. Hurts can be so deep that they pierce our inmost being.

Then we need to hear Jesus' voice from the cross echo our own desperate cry:

My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?

When Jesus rose from the dead with His glorified body, He could have chosen to have eradicated any trace of His sufferings.

Yet He chose to retain those scars and they will be eternal - a "forever reminder" that He paid our sin-debt in full, drank our sorrow to the very dregs of brokenness.

He is our Wounded Healer.

Tragedy, bereavement, sadness and fears can make us "lock the door" to our heart and imprison us in solitary confinement.

Jesus comes through the locked door to pronounce peace and show us His scars.

So we know that He identifies with what we're going through.

He shows, via His scars, that there is resurrection and hope beyond the cross of suffering.

We too may go through our own times of pain and inexplicable wounds.

Let those scars be a living testimony that Jesus can bring others through into the dawn of a new life.

I'm so glad that Jesus kept His scars.

When we see Him face to face, that's how we'll recognise Him and love Him eternally.