Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, April 28, 2019
It is Sunday evening of the resurrection. Jesus appears through the locked doors in his miraculous body. He greets them with the word shalom, “peace.” He shows them the scars in his hands and in his side. The marks are where he was nailed to the cross and where he was pierced in his side with a sword. It had only been a few days—Friday, Saturday, and now Sunday since his crucifixion and death. It is miraculous that he is raised from the dead. It is miraculous that scar tissue has grown to heal up the wound so quickly. But it is quite unexpected. Why wouldn’t there be complete healing with no scarring? His scars tell the story for all time. Even into eternity in the book of Revelation, Jesus appears as the Lamb who was slain in his glorious body (5:6). It is impossible to look at Jesus even in his glorified state without being reminded of his crucifixion and death on the cross.
Scars tell stories. They are souvenirs from falls, bike accidents, car accidents, sports injuries, surgeries, hands slipping with knives and saws. Depending on how visible they are—especially if they are on the face—we may feel compelled to tell the story of our scars for the rest of our lives. I have scars from bike accidents and falls on my face, scars on my hands from knife and saw accidents, a scar from a spectacular fall in the Grand Tetons, and pencil lead in my right palm from a girl who really wanted my attention in the third grade. But some scars cannot be seen. There can be scar tissue deep beneath the skin from surgeries and profound injuries. Some scars are emotional from traumatic experiences or abuse. Perhaps it is the lingering memory or heartbreak of rejection.
Jesus shows his scars to assure his disciples that he is his authentic self. He truly is the same one who was crucified, died, and was buried. Jesus actually did suffer bodily and now he has been raised from the dead. He is a survivor. And even more than that, he is miraculously healed. He truly has victory over sin and death. Jesus points out his wounds in order to build the Kingdom of God. He wants the disciples to see and touch the marks in his hands and side to strengthen our faith. He has truly conquered death, the devil, and our sin. Touch and see for yourselves. Jesus uses his wounds to establish a deeper connection with his followers. Their faith and trust in their Savior grows. The one who gave his life for the life of the world creates a bond of love through the marks of the nails and the spear. Jesus is our forerunner and example as to how God builds his Kingdom. He wants us to see the true humanity of his Son so that we will see his true divinity as the one who conquers death and evil.
As the Church—as the Body of Christ we also have wounds. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” So we are to share our wounds with the world. Our sisters and brothers in Sri Lanka were attacked and killed because of their faith in Jesus just a week ago. How do we respond? We can perpetuate the endless cycle of violence. Or we can show our wounds—teach the world the way of the Cross. “If you live by the sword you will die by the sword,” Jesus said. We can show the world what it means to be free of the tyranny of sin and death. And by the words and example of Jesus, we learn to pray for our enemies and love our enemies.
When people visit our community of faith, what do they see and what do they touch? Do they see us masquerading as those who have never been wounded in body and soul? Who are we deceiving by pretending that we have never been scarred by the evil in the world, our own poor choices, and harm we have done? When we have courage to share our wounds and scars, we are being our authentic selves. We share the story of the injury we have suffered. But even more importantly, how God has begun to heal us in soul, mind, and body.
There is power in sharing our scars. Some need to know they are not alone in their struggle. Some need hope that God will also bring healing and courage to their lives. Some need a friend who sticks closer than a sister or brother. We need to know that our fathers and mothers may forsake and fail us but the Lord will take us in. Some of us need to know that we are not invisible. That what we have experienced matters. That our mistakes can be forgiven. That God can bring good out of a tragic experience. That Jesus also greets us with Shalom—with peace. He will also breathe into us new life in the Holy Spirit. He makes all things new.
God has forgiven us for piercing his only begotten Son with nails and spear. He has forgiven us for all our sins and injury we have done to others and to ourselves. He has not rejected us or left us as orphans. He accepts and loves us scars and all. “He was pierced for our transgressions...and with his wounds we are healed.” Our scars remind us that we are survivors. We are willing to take risks and live life to its fullest. We fell down but we got back up again. We get back into the game again because, as Scripture says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is within you is greater than he who is in the world.” God will use our scars to build his Kingdom. Just as he used Jesus’ scars to bring wholeness, peace, forgiveness, salvation, and faith. Even this morning, we see, touch, and taste the tokens of Christ’s sufferings in the bread and the wine. We proclaim the Lord’s death. We preach his wounds to the world and ourselves when we eat and drink his Body and Blood. We look forward to his coming again. We celebrate the victory we have over our sin, the devil, and death itself. The wounds of Jesus tell us we are more than conquerors because of him who loves us.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
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