Scars

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds (scars) you have been healed. I Peter 2:24

In early 1973 about 8 months after Randy and I married, a doctor found a lump on my thyroid gland. Testing was limited at that time, so the decision was made to surgically remove the nodule or part of the gland. It involved a hospital stay, and the whole situation had me very upset. The crowning blow; however, came when the doctor came in for a pre-op check and with a black marker drew a line all the way across my throat. He made the mistake of handing me a mirror so I could see where the incision was planned. I dissolved into tears, and it so unnerved him, that he apologized and tried to explain that the line was only so the scar would be straight!! (That was not helpful.)

My fear wasn’t the surgery itself (although that was scary), but rather my fear was the scar that was left behind. I kept thinking that scar would change my appearance, make a negative impact on my students, my co workers, my husband, and maybe even change me. Although the surgery would save me, was it worth the scar left behind?

Everyone of us have scars and stories of our scars. Sometimes our stories are filled with pain, sometimes they can be funny, sometimes prideful, sometimes sacrificial, or perhaps life changing. Nevertheless, each scar represents a wound whether physical or emotional.

As we remember the scars that Jesus had to show the disciples after his resurrection, I know that scars can be evidence of hope and grace. It was the scars on his hands, his feet, his sides that identified his sacrifice for each of us.

Jesus tells us through these scars that although the crown of thorns wasn’t the easy thing, it was the best thing. Although the cross wasn’t the easy way, it was the best way. Although grace doesn’t always do the easy thing, it always does the best thing.

Jesus took our suffering, shame, guilt and sins, and nailed all of it to the cross to kill it. He has the scars to prove it!

In this act of selflessness, He offers us courage to face the scars that we acquire during our life. We should take the courage.

He offers us a chance to obediently serve Him. We should take the offer and be obedient.

He offers us grace to meet each challenge. We should take His grace and meet every challenge.

On this Good Friday, may we all remember the scars of our lives and have the courage, obedience and grace to handle each one. The good news is that His scars are evidence of our salvation.

When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died; My richest gain, I count but loss; and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God ; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts