19 Mar
Tattoos of Grace
“If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!” (John 20:25)
Why did Jesus keep His scars? After all, if He had the power to raise Himself from death, He certainly could have erased the terrible marks that our sin had left on His body. But, He didn’t. He didn’t even try to cover them up. In fact, when He first appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, “He showed them His hands and side” so that they would know who He was. He used His scars to draw the disciples to Him, and when they realized who He was, they “rejoiced.”
So why is it that the people of His church try so hard to cover up the scars of our pasts? To begin with, I guess it is because we feel less righteous with them showing. Unlike Jesus, we feel responsible for the ugly marks that sin has left in our lives. He was sinless and earned His scars in a selfless act of grace. Our wounds are often self-inflicted, and, therefore, nothing we want others to see. We cover them like old tattoos with make-up or long sleeves and only reveal them in the privacy of our closets. We shun those “who knew us when” and do our best to appear flawless.
Why not let Jesus redeem your scars just as He has your soul? Jesus’ wounds reminded His disciples of the terrible price He had paid for them and His amazing power to restore life to what was dead. Being open about our struggles and scars can also point to the resurrection power that is at work in us. Those who are suffering as you have suffered will be encouraged to see that God has not rejected them after all. If He could love and use you—someone who was where they are—then there is hope for them, too. There is no sin that cannot be redeemed by the scars of Christ. Nothing too terrible to be washed away by the blood of the Lamb. Never exalt or flaunt the sins of your past, but don’t deny them either. They may be the very thing that God will use to draw unbelievers to His side. Like Thomas, then they will see and believe.
“Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” (John 20:27)
Lord Jesus, your wounds brought peace to those who had locked themselves away in fear, and they do the same for us today. Thank you for being a compassionate and comforting God. Please, help me to be willing to comfort others as I myself have been comforted (2 Cor.1:3-4). Unlock the doors that fear has closed, and use me as a witness of your Grace. In your name, I pray. Amen.
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Filed in: Cross, Fear, Forgiveness
