“God could have resurrected Jesus without the scars, but He intentionally left them!”
Do you ever sit there and just let your imagination run with something you've read in God's Word? Most likely, the answer is "no"! It seems that our devotional times are often like everything else in our lives: hurried, packaged, and convenient. Sometimes, we're just too task-oriented for our own good! We're either answering questions, seeking applications, or keeping up with a program in our latest devotional book. All of that kind of study is fine, and often very profitable, but sometimes it's nice just to pick up a plain Bible, without any study notes, and read a bit and think a bit — read a bit more and think a bit more. Some of the best devotional times I've ever had came from letting my imagination run with a familiar passage. Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.
When God raised Jesus from the dead, why didn't He fix Him up? Have you ever wondered about that? Why did Jesus' transformed body continue to carry the scars from the cross and the soldiers spear? God certainly could have done a little cosmetic surgery along with the miracle of the resurrection. It wouldn't have been a big deal for Him, that's for sure--but that's not what we read. John 20:19-20 says, "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."
God's Word suggests that Jesus' Body was different after the resurrection. He was most likely able to change His appearance because both Mary Magdalene and the disciples on the road to Emmaus clearly saw Jesus, but they didn't recognize Him. He was also able to get around a little easier after the resurrection. He just appeared before the disciples in the upper room while the door was locked, and then disappeared right before their eyes. His resurrected body obviously had some new qualities. At the same time, His body continued to be physical, He was able to cook and start a fire, He was able to eat, and be touched. So, while Jesus' body was the same, He was also different. His body had been transformed, but He continued to carry the scars of the crucifixion.
Not only did He still carry the scars, He seemed to make a point of showing them to His disciples. He displayed them on that initial meeting in the upper room, and then again, later on, for Thomas' benefit. It's when Jesus sat and broke the bread, that the disciples on the road to Emmaus finally recognized Him. Could it be that with the breaking of the bread, they saw the scars and their eyes were opened to the strangers' true identity?
I think we can say that God could have resurrected Jesus without the scars, but He intentionally left them, to identify Jesus for us. The bottom line is that you can't truly see Jesus unless you see His scars. Many people try to see Jesus without His scars, but they really aren't seeing the true Jesus. Oh, they may be looking at Jesus the good teacher, Jesus, the rebel, Jesus the founder of a religion, but they aren't seeing the true Jesus. The true Jesus is the scarred Jesus, the Saviour Jesus. You can't really see Jesus unless you also see His scars. And you really don't see Jesus clearly until you see that the scars are there for YOUR benefit. Jesus carries them for you and me.
Do you see the true Jesus? The SCARRED Jesus who bled and died for you? Take some time this week and look at His scars. Within those painful wounds are life and love and forgiveness.
Lord, God, thank you for the gift of salvation through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Your One and Only Son! Thank You that You saw our need and didn't just send a prophet, or a teacher, or someone who would gives us a new list of does and don'ts. Instead. you sent Your Son who was willing to pay for OUR sins and receive OUR scars! Let us never forget the scars! Let us never forget that they should have been ours! In Jesus Name, Amen!