As a follower of Jesus, I often look at how Jesus lived before the resurrection and miss the significance of his actions after the resurrection. However, given the transformation of Jesus through the resurrection, I must believe his actions bore more significance that ever before following his conquering the grave. His appearances are rife with meaning and eternal resonance.
Thomas initially doubted Christ. He said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Jesus, on week later, appears and says, “(NRSV) Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas then believes.
I used to look on the wounds of my past with shame and fear of rejection. But, Jesus reveals through his appearance that the scars of our sins are His greatest testimony. When I have shown doubters my wounds, I have not only received acceptance, but affirmation and respect on account of God’s grace and triumph over my past. It is through these wounds, that others see the greatness of Christ’s work in me and he is most glorified. By repeating this process of showing my wounds and confessing the truths of God’s resurrection power in my life, I have began to see the world for what it is – one side on the door of death.
Christ is a such a precious gift because he allows me to die to my ego before I have to die in this body. I may now enter through the door of death early, embrace Christ’s resurrection power, and start living eternally today.
I’ve began to understand the gain of this loss.
I am realizing the the values of this world no longer hold the same relevance because this world is temporary. And this recognition has been the key to my journey towards oneness with the resurrection.
As I take this journey, inching closer toward oneness with the resurrection and prioritizing the kingdom, I am not only losing my relevance to the world, but, like Christ, my only remaining connection to the world is becoming my scars and the impact I have on others by stewarding the gifts he has given me for his glory!.
This is why my scars, through the process of the resurrection, are become my greatest asset to bring the Kingdom to this fallen world. My scars are the greatest treasure and source of intimacy I have, because it is in them that I found Christ. And that gives me hope for the future in the midst of the trials I have faced 🙂
