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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!” After He said this, He showed them His hands and side. John 20:19-20
While playing a game as a child, I locked my brother out of the house. Trying to shove his way in, his arm went through the window. Shards of glass sliced deep into his arm. The doctor said if it gone a hair deeper, he would have lost the use of his fingers. It required 28 stitches and it left a scar in the shape of a “U,” nearly one inch all around. Every time I looked at his stitches I got sick, thinking of how I had hurt him. After the cut healed, the scar reminded me—and still does—of the terrible day.
Most of us have scars to show and stories to tell. Scars tell of hard times and bad choices, of how life changes in a split second. And scars tell stories of victory and miraculous healing, how glass cuts through the skin but just misses tendons. Scars—visible physical marks—tell the stories of God’s healing power.
The scars of Jesus show the greatest healing power of all. Jesus wears His love for us in the nail prints. His scars show our sin, His suffering and death for that sin, and His victorious resurrection.
Scars tell us that from adversity comes strength; from injury comes healing. Jesus’ scars tell us that we are forgiven and given life eternal. His scars tell the greatest story in the world.
Prayer: Grant Lord Jesus that my healing in Your holy wounds I find. Cleanse my spirit, will, and feeling, heal my body, soul, and mind. Amen.
Response: Share your scar stories.
(Devotions from "Cross of Ashes" by Christine Weerts, a Lenten devotional provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries. Copyright 2005, Int'l LLL. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time emailing of this link to a friend.)
Today's Bible Readings: Numbers 34-36 Luke 1:57-80
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