It's impossible to go throughout life without getting scars maybe your scar is a physical one
but perhaps yours is an emotional scar that you carry or a relational scar from a relationship or
maybe even a spiritual scar and we we we tend to be afraid or even ashamed of our scars but
Jesus is different after the cross when Jesus is resurrected he could have chosen any type
of resurrection body that he wanted and yet he chose to keep the scars now you might say well
wasn't that just then so he could show it to the disciples surely not now that he's ascended into
heaven no we're told in Revelation chapter 5 John's vision gives us a picture of the throne
room of God and there the Lamb of God which is a title for Jesus is seated on the throne
and it says looking like one who was slain the resurrected Jesus still bears the scars of the
Cross
why because they're not actually scars of failure they're scars of
victory Jesus's scars are proof of what he's done for you and for me they are
victory but death could not hold him that which brought him death
brings you and me life whatever has wounded you whatever you
hide whatever happened see when Jesus shows Thomas his scars I'm glad he kept his scars I'm glad he
kept that part I'm glad he didn't stay dead but I'm also glad that he came out scarred because
that gives me hope and I heard this saying one time never follow a general without scars and
thank God our general has scars don't don't ever don't ever follow some poser don't ever do that
I ask you a question what is the only man made thing in heaven the answer are the scars that we
made in the hands and the feet and the side of the Lord Jesus that he took back to heaven with
him he keeps those scars now don't get the idea that he no longer bears those scars for the Bible
tells us that when he comes again we will see those scars uh Zechariah 13 and verse 6 speaks
of the time when the Lord is going to come from the glory and one shall say unto him what are
those wounds in thine hands and he shall answer those with which I was wounded in the house of
my friends that's speaking of the time when Jesus comes again up there in heaven right now is a man
seated on the throne is the very Son of God with nail prints in his hand and a scar in his side
that the king of kings and Lord of Lords the one who came and conquered sin and death bears scars
but his scars tell the story of a victory that was won and his scars have not gone away why so
that he can appear to you and I in the midst of our wounds and our pain and say you're not
the only only one I've been there with you and I want to show you my scars and tell you that
healing and restoration is possible that being a victim is not the end of the road that you can
move from being victimized to being a victor because you serve a scarred Savior Jesus was
healed of his deadly wounds but he was not healed of his scars the scar became a testimony of God's
ability to heal when Jesus rose from the dead he was healed of his deadly wounds but God did not
take the scars away we want complete restoration where nobody knows we ever had an issue we want
such restoration that nobody knows that our perfect lives were not perfect we want everybody
to think that we have the picture perfect family the picture perfect marriage the picture perfect life
and there is nothing because of my great faith ever come to my home but scars are a testimony
of God's ability to heal deadly wounds scars mean this is what I overcame this is what how
bad it was and this is how good God has healed me and I'm not ashamed of my scars and Jesus
walked into the upper room after he rose from the dead and he said some people need to see my scars
like Thomas or they'll never believe what amazes me is when Jesus rose from the dead when he came
up out of the grave you would think he would be completely healed he still had scars this
is significant because God could have taken them away maybe in part it was to show us that it's
okay to have scars you can be at peace with your scars knowing that we are worshiping a savior who
has scars but you know what a scar is a scar is a wound that is healed did you know what
you need to do you need to let Jesus heal your wounds and then use that as a testimony for him
bring your wounds to Jesus use your scars for
Jesus you know when you think about it scars are the healed wounds of
yesterday but they leave behind a story of trial and of healing that forms you as a person you know
we all suffer wounds most of which are not visible to anybody but God and us yet wounds
only become scars when they heal God is the agent of healing in our lives God can redeem
the most painful situations and bring healing to the deepest wounds if we let him every every
scar you see is a testimony of what God has brought me through see how many know there's
a big difference between a wound and a scar a wound says I've been hurt but a scar says I've
been healed a wound says that something happened to me someone did something to me somebody said
something to me uh or about me uh but a scar says that God was able to take what somebody did uh
God was able to take what happened to me and oh I should be wounded it should have destroyed me
uh but God did something he spoke a better word over me uh he touched my body uh he healed my
mind and that's what happens when we're no longer trying to hide our scars it's where
we're able to say yes this happened to me oh but God see often when we when our scar show
we're embarrassed of them we're embarrassed really of the things that we've gone through
well rather than going you know what the enemy tried to take me out but God brought
me through oh let me tell you about this let me testify about this see society and the devil has
tried to convince us that our scars mar our perfection they taint our beauty but listen
there is something distinctly beautiful about the scars they tell the story of how you did make it
how God how it could have been worse it could have been uh a tragedy but the reason they're
called beautiful scars is because you're here with them and you're alive to tell the
story proof that we can heal listen church I am glad that Jesus rose from the grave but I
am also really glad that he kept his scars because those scars give us hope they give
us hope those scars in Jesus's hands that day they had to be the most beautiful scars the
disciples have ever seen so often we try to hide our scars we don't see anything positive
about it reminds us of the hurt the sickness the betrayal we wish they'd go away but we need to
see our scars in a new light God did not allow that scar to discourage you he allowed it to
remind you of what he brought you through when you see the scar don't think of the pain think
of the grace of God the scar means the wound is healed the scar means the pain is over and
you're moving forward the scar means what kept you awake at night is now behind you
have a new perspective the enemy tried to stop you but God healed you how do you know you have
a scar to prove it you're not ashamed of it you're not depressed over it you're at peace
with your scars you know it was the hand of God protecting you not letting that opposition defeat
you the scars are your testimony that's your story you don't have to hide them everyone has
scars I just need to thank God for the scars this morning cuz some of us want to hide the
scars but scars are a reminder not just of the place of pain but of the victory
that was won I'm saying to you quit covering up your scars they remind you of
what you've been healed of wear them as a badge of honor the scar proves how bad it
was at one point hallelujah I'd be a fool to walk around and act like I've never had
marriage problems I've never had family problems I've never wanted to quit but
what you do is you look at the devil and you say you see these scars they're proof
that you tried your best with mortal wounds to destroy me to wipe me out to destroy my family
but no weapon formed against us could prosper because I serve a God who heals deadly wounds