24One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. 25So thel other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” Thomas said to them, “Unless I see the scars of the nails in his hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands; then reach out your hand and put it in my side. Stop your doubting, and believe!” John 20:24-27 (GNT)
Scars are bruises and wounds that healed. They are pain that once was but is now no more. They look ugly but looking at and through them we see the beauty of healing and wholeness that triumphs over all harm and hurt.
Jesus was bruised for our sins, He was wounded for our healing, and because of the pain He went through we have peace. Isaiah 53:5.
Jesus in His resurrected glorified body still has the scars of His suffering for our healing and wholeness. They forever tell of His Self-sacrificial Love for us. They remind us that He went through our entire human and fallen experience but behold He now lives triumphant and glorious. It took scars for one of Jesus’ disciples to believe that He had indeed risen from the dead. Thomas only believed after he saw and touched the scars of Jesus’ crucifixion wounds. There are people who will only believe by seeing the marks from what we have gone through and overcome. So don’t be ashamed of or regret what you’ve suffered and gone through because the scars of it are a testimony of God’s faithfulness, power, and glory in and upon your Life.
The scars of the hurtful and painful experiences we’ve gone through are a testimony for us and others declaring that we all can go through it, go over it, come out of it, and live above it triumphantly and victoriously.
The hardships and hurts we have gone through we shouldn’t live in regret about them but rather rejoice over them in Christ who got us through them. Then we can testify and encourage others that they can go through and overcome anything.
