Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." Then he showed them his hands and side.
The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you."
Thursday night, we told the story of the Passover, and talked to Ryan about the cross, the grave and the empty tomb. Ryan is getting older, so we did not hold back from expressing how brutal the cross was. Ryan, being the sensitive guy he is, started getting very- very disturbed. Frankly, I don't see that as a bad thing. He was particularly alarmed at the picture of Jesus after the resurrection. Jesus still had the holes in His hands, and Ryan asked me if He would still have them when we see Him in heaven. I said "yes."
Afterward, when going to bed, Ryan asked me "Why did Jesus still have those holes in His hands? Couldn't God just fix those?"
Well, good question.
Later that evening Robert and I watched the Passion movie. I cried all the way through...but kept thinking about those scars in Jesus' hands. Why DID He keep those?
Maybe it was to show that He was alive and flesh. Maybe to show that He was not an impostor, so more people would believe.
Or maybe it was to show us that scars are the human condition, we commune with each other through them. Most of us have them, either on our body or hands or face, or more commonly on our hearts, minds and souls. We are damaged goods. We are broken and we are healed over, but the wound site remains. I have a C section scar I will keep forever. It allowed my son to be born. Without it, he and I would have died.
I don't know why Jesus kept the nail marks. But those scars healed me. They heal still. Without those scars, you and me and the rest of the world-we are dead in every way. Jesus understands our hurt and shares it. Scars are a testimony of how we have been healed.
Whatever the reasoning, I am so so grateful and have spent time in grateful prayer,...thanking God for Jesus. For what He did on the cross. How He healed me and heals me still. He makes beautiful things out of dust and ashes and blood and scars. I am thankful for my own scars. And thankful there is evidence of healing.
Friday was sad. But Sunday, Sunday is almost here. I plan to be up early in grateful prayer.
Thank You, God. Thank You for Jesus. Thank You for the simple and profound salvation You have provided to anyone that will accept.
Thank You.
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