Scars

Have you ever thought about your scars? I believe most people have at least one noticeable mark. Scars leave a spot where something has happened to our skin. These defects can result from a burn, surgery, an accident, or something else. Each of my scars tells a little of my story; I have two memorable scars from my childhood. I got one on my chin because I insisted on wearing pants my mother told me were too long, and I tripped and fell on cement steps. The other one is on the bottom of my foot. I distinctly remember how I got these two scars and most of my other imperfections. Whether it be scars from my childhood accidents or surgeries, each one has played a part in making me the person I am today.  

Other scars that have played into my development are emotional. I think these may be the harder ones to process. These are personal wounds that may have occurred either by my poor choices, someone’s actions or words, or a combination of the two. The trauma will start to clot, then move to scabbing and eventually scar. The scar shows that the injury is closed and healed. Sometimes PTSD kicks in, and one thing will bring me back to what caused the wound in the first place. The scar will tear, the laceration will reopen, and the heartache will be genuine to me again. Recently, I had an emotional wound ripped wide open. The injury was broad, bleeding profusely, and open to infection. I needed my body’s quick response system to kick in to protect my wound. The way I found to do this was to turn to God. I had to lean in and trust and hope in Him. I must admit this was not my first instinct. My first reaction was to complain, cry and journal about how I felt. During this process, I felt the reminder that I needed to give God thanks and praise instead of behaving as I was. Once I started doing this, I wrote several pages in my journal. I felt better and had a more positive attitude. I was honest about how I felt and prayed that God alone would comfort me, cover my wound and heal it.

Have you ever stopped to really think about Jesus’ scars? I read a devotional in The Daily Bread about Jesus’ scares and how we can see Jesus’ humanness and divinity in His scars. After His resurrection, he appeared to the disciples twice in a closed room. The disciples were hiding in fear of the Jewish leaders. The first time Thomas was not present. So, when the other disciples told Thomas that they had seen the Lord, he did not believe them. The second time Jesus appeared to the disciples, Thomas was there, but he needed proof of what he thought he was seeing. Jesus used the nail scars and his pierced side to prove to Thomas that He is indeed the risen Savior of the World (John 20:24-29).

Jesus did not hide His scars but used them to prove His identity to Thomas. A writer of The Daily Bread, Arthur Jackson, said it is not uncommon for us to hide our wounds, external or internal, caused by others or self-inflicted. I started thinking about my inner wounds. These wounds may haunt me days or years after their occurrence. Many times, these wounds hold me back in some way. I am afraid to let go and let them heal truly. The thought that “what if people knew…. about me” plagues me some days. Whether the damage is self-inflicted or from someone else’s hands, the pain and the memory may control me years later. In some way, these memories hold me back from really reaching out and embracing life.

I seem to find fault with my life. It isn’t living up to what I envisioned for myself – but then the thought of why should it? Look at what I have done, the decisions I have made in my past. These scars are not for healing – these are reminders, and condemnation, keeping me from experiencing joy, peace, and hope, feeding the negative side of life.

I started thinking about Jesus’ scars. Nail pierced hands and feet. A gash on His side from a sword thrust into His perfect flesh. Thorn scars on His head from a crown of thorns. Jesus had to suffer and receive lashes and beatings so that He could fulfill God’s plan of redemption. I need to reflect on His scars and see the guilt that He took so that I can have abundant life. My scars can if allowed, bring about despair and hopelessness; Jesus’ scars give me hope and life.

His scars are not self-inflicted but rather from an intense love for humanity. Jesus suffered anguish at being mocked and humiliated, beaten, dying, buried, suffering, and separated from God the Father, pointing to an indescribable love that I do not deserve. Praise God, Jesus rose from the dead in victory; so that I may live. Because of Jesus’ scars, I can let mine go. I can trust in His love, mercy, and forgiveness. I don’t have to wrap myself up in my scars and keep looking at them and reminding myself of past hurts and failures. I can choose to look at them and remember that God is good and faithful. Through the strength of God, I am still standing. I may feel broken a little, tilting to one side some days, but I don’t have to live in darkness & despair even though I am scared. I can choose to live in the hope that God sustained me in the past and will continue to sustain me today faithfully and in the future.

Jesus’ scars offer proof that the perfect Passover lamb redeems me. Once Jesus was resurrected, he lived in His immortal body. I will also receive an eternal body one day, and all wounds and scars will no longer leave their mark on me. Until then, I can lean on my Savior to walk this journey with me and heal me along the way. I want to remember Jesus’ scars, not just at Easter, but on any day, I am tempted to dwell on my scars. I have often thought of Jesus’ sacrifice and how I can have eternal life through him. I have not thought about how His scars prove that He does indeed know how I feel. He knows the heartache of betrayal, grief, sorrow, and anguish. He knows how to comfort me when I am suffering to bring about healing and not more scars. I have no idea what scars are in my future. But I know that I will not face mine alone because of Jesus’ sacrifice and scars. My Lord bled, died, and rose from death in victory for humanity. Jesus bore the wounds of proof that He was who He said He was. His scars give me life, hope, and strength. My scars have made me who I am, but maybe it is time to put a healing balm on them and let them fade into the background. I can stop looking at my scars and look at Jesus’ scars that bring healing and life.