Steven A. Bush - April 12, 2020
Our Jesus Has Wounds
On the Sunday of Jesus' resurrection, John 20:19-20 records the following: "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." (ESV) Luke 24:39-40 adds: "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet." (ESV) What is clear is that Jesus' resurrected, glorified, body retained the wounds inflicted upon it. Jesus could suddenly appear behind locked doors as well as eat fish! Amazing! So after Jesus ascension, did His wounds disappear? In the book of Revelation, John observes: "...in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain" (Rev. 5:6). How could John tell that the Lamb had been slain? Wounds! Is their good reason Jesus kept those wounds visible? Yes! Among other things, His wounds will forever remind us that our restoration to God came at an enormous cost. And what's behind paying such a price to make us His? One word: LOVE!