Every scar has a story

My nephew recently fell and busted open his lower lip requiring two stitches.  He was scared as much as he was in pain.  I showed him my own scars to show him that there was healing even though he was in pain now.  I showed him the scars on my shoulder from surgery to repair a torn labrum when a man irresponsibly ran a red light going fifty-five miles an hour.  I showed him my right forefinger where I closed a knife on my hand trying to remove a spike from a pair of golf shoes that required six stitches.  I was not denying his pain but consoling him in the healing that would come from his experience.  There is always a story behind the scar.

We shift the attention this week to the torturing and killing of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the glory that is a Risen Savior who conquered the sting of death, sin, and the grave.  Every scar tells a story.  Isaiah 53:5 by his wounds we are healed.  I love the Word of God.  I find healing for my sin and sin nature in the cross of Jesus Christ as the redemptive act of God alone to ransom my soul to Himself.

I have to be truthful in the story about the scars. Jesus gave Himself as the sacrifice to pay the sin debt for all creation once and for all.  Humans were unable and still are unable to make atonement for our transgressions against Holy God.  We only find redemption in the cross of Jesus Christ and the shedding of His blood.  Have you ever made up a story to make the wounding seem more heroic or adventurous?  I have.  Who wants to say they slipped and fell on a wet floor to dislocate their elbow?  That comes across as aloof or clumsy.  It sounds more interesting and live saying that this old lady was walking along, tripped, and in trying to catch her you landed awkwardly dislocating the elbow.  Owning my own wounding and the scars I have inflicted on others is a good step in making amends and God providing healing.  There is no way to paint my lying, deception, theft, manipulation and attempt at control any other way than ugly and wounding of many people.  Only God can provide healing for the pain my sin has caused.  Only God could redeem humanity to Himself by accepting the perfect sinless sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  There is healing to be found from your wounding and the wounding of others.  You have to believe the story of God’s only Son.  You have to tell the story of the scars.  By his wounds we are healed, that is God’s promise based on His covenant to us.

Being crushed

Isaiah 53:10 It was the Lord’s will to crush him.

I don’t think that I stop and truly ponder and treasure this verse.  Easter is coming up next week.  I see crosses placed outside churches along the road.  Not one looks rugged or has blood on it.  The crosses are all neat, very decorative, and placed just so.  That is not how Jesus suffered and died.

I love to watch college football and this time of year, college basketball.  My interest is always peaked when the score is close and a victor is made in the last drive or the last drawn up play.  It makes for great highlights.  People leave the stadium or venue hoarse from all the screaming and emotions.  In the end, it is just a game but somehow it resonates within  us.

Imagine with me, a preacher standing before his church on Sunday and bringing up a lamb to illustrate what happens next week.  People politely nod in acknowledgment of the symbol and some even give that holy grunt of affirmation.  The pastor then begins to kick the lamb with focus and intent.  The senses and the emotions of the people are now fully awake.  Any daydreams of what was for lunch, did I turn my phone off, or what time do the colts play has scurried out of their mind and they are trying to rationalize what they are seeing.  The pastor then brings out a large stick and hits the lamb.  People gasp.  The Lamb never makes a sound.  Blood has begun to run off the stage.  Mothers hide their children’s eyes in horror.  Men are paralyzed with what to do.  There is blood on the pastor’s shirt now.  This goes on for the entire sermon.  Almost forty-five minutes of agony and sorrow played out before their very eyes.  The lamb looks like road kill and is completely mutilated and red.   This would make the news.  PETA would sue the church and boycotts would be planned immediately. All this over a lamb (NOTE:  I in no way condone cruelty to animals but am trying to shock your senses and stir your heart.)

The soldiers strip Jesus and surround Him; It was the Lord’s will to crush Him.    They placed a hood over his head and struck him wanting Him to prophecy who hit him, It was the Lord’s will to crush Him.  Soldiers spit in His face; it was the Lord’s will to crush Him.  Soldiers took a staff and struck him on the head while the company jeered lusting for His blood, it was the Lord’s will to crush Him.  His flesh is torn from his ribs and back by metal and bone, it was the Lord’s will to crush Him.  He hung unrecognizable between two thieves; it was the Lord’s will to crush Him.  He cried out “My God, My God why have you forsaken me,” it was the Lord’s will to crush Him.  Sinless and without blemish, It was the Lord’s will to crush Him.

I begin to glimpse what my sin caused my Savior.  My heart is overwhelmed that he was crushed for my sin and the punishment that brought us peace was placed on Him.  Don’t sanitize the gospel and saving power of Jesus Christ.  The cross was grotesque.  The jeering and insatiable appetite of the soldiers was fierce.  The wood was soaked with the guilt offering blood of Jesus.  You will have to fight the images you see to bear the sorrow within your soul of that moment in time.  It’s not pretty.  His grace and love are beautiful.  Thank you Jesus that you alone paid the price for my broken and busted life so I could be brought into a right relationship with Almighty God.