BLESSINGS THROUGH HIS SCARS.

By John Varghese.

After the crucifixion, Mary recognized Jesus' familiar voice. The disciples at Emmaus recognized him in the breaking of the bread. The weary fishermen knew it was him because of the miraculous catch. We too can recognize the resurrected Jesus in all these ways, by his voice, at his table, by the miracles he still performs.

When Jesus wanted to be recognized the first thing the Bible says he did was show them his scars. He didn't point to his face and say, "Look, it's me" He showed them his hands and feet and side and gently said, "Look, it is me." Jesus is known by his scars....

At the far end of history, John, weeping because no one could open the special scroll, was told by an elder standing beside him in the heavenly crowd, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 5:5).

John looked up, expecting to see a lion. But what did he see? A Lamb. And he knew who that lamb was precisely because it was wounded.

Jesus is known by his scars. When we stand in his presence he won't point to his face but to his scars and say, "Look, it's me!"

Modern-day evangelists point to material wealth and say, "Look it is Jesus!" But true followers of all ages... will tell you, "This is Jesus, for I bear in my own body the marks of his death" (see Galatians 6:17). As Jesus' resurrected body was recognized by its scars, so his body, the church, should be known by its scars and tears and the unspeakable joy it knows in spite of, and indeed because of, it all.

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. (John 20:20)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

He had wounds for me and for my transgressions and iniquities that become a blessed scars for me. If there is deep wounds then only we will have scars. Yes, Jesus bless us with your wounded hands and heal us.

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ( I Peter 2: 21-24) I like to quote the comments for these verses from one of the commentaries... It is as follows...(Matthew Henrey's whole Bible Commentary):

Lest any should think, from what is said, v. 21-23, that Christ's death was designed merely for an example of patience under sufferings, the apostle here adds a more glorious design and effect of it: Who his own self, etc., where note, (1.) The person suffering-Jesus Christ: His own self-in his own body. The expression his own self is emphatic, and necessary to show that he verified all the ancient prophecies, to distinguish him from the Levitical priests (who offered the blood of others, but he by himself purged our sins, Heb. 1:3), and to exclude all others from participation with him in the work of man's redemption: it is added, in his body; not but that he suffered in his soul (Mt. 26:38), but the sufferings of the soul were inward and concealed, when those of the body were visible and more obvious to the consideration of these suffering servants, for whose sake this example is produced. (2.) The sufferings he underwent were stripes, wounds, and death, the death of the cross-servile and ignominious punishments! (3.) The reason of his sufferings: He bore our sins, which teaches, [1.] That Christ, in his sufferings, stood charged with our sins, as one who had undertaken to put them away by the sacrifice of himself, Isa. 53:6. [2.] That he bore the punishment of them, and thereby satisfied divine justice. [3.] That hereby he takes away our sins, and removes them away from us; as the scape-goat did typically bear the sins of the people on his head, and then carried them quite away, (Lev. 16:21, 22), so the Lamb of God does first bear our sins in his own body, and thereby take away the sins of the world, Jn. 1:29. (4.) The fruits of Christ's sufferings are, [1.] Our sanctification, consisting of the death, the mortification of sin, and a new holy life of righteousness, for both which we have an example, and powerful motives and abilities also, from the death and resurrection of Christ. [2.] Our justification. Christ was bruised and crucified as an expiatory sacrifice, and by his stripes we are healed. Learn, First, Jesus Christ bore the sins of all his people, and expiated them by his death upon the cross. Secondly, No man can depend safely upon Christ, as having borne his sin and expiated his guilt, till he dies unto sin and lives unto righteousness. Amen.