Life is full of situations that can cause scarring — physically, emotionally, spiritually. You may have experienced all of these and each scar has its own back-story. All represent something that went wrong, which was accompanied by pain. Some scars will heal and become nothing more than a reminder or lesson learned. Others remain painful or become debilitating, inhibiting our physical or emotional freedom in some way. Jesus retained the scars of the crucifixion in His resurrected body. His scars tell the story of a world gone wrong, and the pain He endured so we could be united with Him in His resurrection and live in anticipation of an eternity that begins now.

Read:  Luke 24:36-49

Discuss

1. Briefly discuss the difference between wounds that heal and those that go on to cause emotional and spiritual damage.
2. How and why do physical wounds become spiritual wounds?  What are some other spiritual wounds that are predominantly caused by metaphysical wounds (identity, philosophy, ethics, beliefs, etc)? Consider how this effect is multiplied throughout the population of this broken world.
3. Jesus suffered many wounds on His body, yet the only ones on His resurrected body that were shown to the disciples were those on his hands, feet and side. He also showed them He could eat food. Why were these signs important as the resurrected Christ revealed himself to the disciples? How did the encounter validate them as primary witnesses of His resurrection and, therefore, the redemptive work of the cross?

   The Bible does not explain whether Jesus retained only the five wounds mentioned in Luke 24 and John 20, or all the wounds inflicted by the scourging, the striking, and the crown of thorns. From scripture, we know the following:
   Christ had not yet ascended to His Father.
   Christ was wearing different clothes to those he had previously and many of his wounds could have been covered.
   People did not recognise him instantly, in part, because it was prevented.
   He did not appear to be in pain in His resurrected body, which probably indicates all wounds had been healed. The minor cuts and bruising were gone, but scars of the more significant wounds remained.
   His hair may have covered the scars from the crown of thorns and his facial features could have been altered (speculation only).

4. Why does John 20:29b say, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”?  Why is it essential for future believers to be convinced of His resurrection and to understand the purpose of His wounds and scars? Read Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:21-25.
5. In addition to physical wounds, Jesus also suffered much deeper wounds. Consider what they might be (expressions of hatred from those He loved, public shame, the massive weight of the world’s sin, separation from God the Father). Pastor Mark said in his sermon, “Jesus felt all our wounds and every incidence of pain.” What does this mean for you personally? Does it make a difference to your relationship with God the Father and/or the nature of your prayers?
6. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “He bore our sins on the cross… that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” Verse 23 states, “He entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” What ongoing steps can we take to entrust ourselves to Christ?

Respond

Part of the healing process is to ask for and accept His forgiveness.

Belonging to Christ necessitates that we accept His forgiveness and forgive others as He forgives us. This changes our identity — we properly understand who we are when we know Who we belong to. It should govern how we define ourselves and our purpose in life.

What is one change you could make (as a faith step) to the way you define yourself, that will help the healing of scars in your life and alter the way you treat others?