6th Oct - St AP. THOMAS

KNOWN BY THE SCARS.

 After the crucifixion, when Jesus wanted to be recognized, the first thing the Bible says He did, was  to show them His scars - "Thomas, put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side" (John 20:27). He did not point to His face and say, "Look, it's me". He showed them His hands and feet and side and gently said, "Look, it's Me." Jesus is known by His scars...

At the far end of history, John, weeping because no one could open the special scroll, was told by an elder standing beside him in the heavenly crowd, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Juda"( Revelation 5:5). John looked up, expecting to see a lion. But what did he see? A Lamb.  And he knew who that Lamb was precisely because it was wounded. Jesus is known  by His scars. When we stand in His presence He won't point to His face but to His scars and say, "Look, it's Me"!

Christians of modern-day point to material wealth and say, "Look, it's Jesus!". But the true followers of all ages... will tell you, like Paul said:  "This is Jesus, for I bare in my own body the marks of His death"( Galatians 6:17). As Jesus' resurrected body was recognized by its scars, so his body, the church, should be known by its scars and tears and the unspeakable joy it knows in spite of, and indeed because of, it all. (Michael Card)

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