Behind Every Scar Is A Full Story

I am fascinated by the story told by someone’s scars and amazed at what I can learn about them simply by one mark upon a body. Some of my scars are old and faded now as the years separate me from the pain. They are barely visible from the surface as they blend in with the rest of my life, but others are still fresh. They are obvious to anyone who knows me. They stand out and sometimes affect the way I dress to hide them. 

So why is it that people naturally describe scars as a negative thing? Or is it classified as a negative because it leads to negative feelings? You barely hear people describe scars as “good”, the reason being that sometimes we tend to stay in the place of pain and never focus on healing. Which brings me to this; how often have you heard a sermon about Good Friday being preached outside of the Easter weekend? So why is it that we tend only to mention it at the Easter weekend? Is it because all we see is pain on that Friday?

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. (John 19:1-3, NIV)

Not a pretty picture at all from those three verses. They certainly don’t project the word ‘Good.’

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty”. A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken, and the bodies were taken down. (John 19: 28-31, NIV)

“It is finished” He said, and as I reflected on this portion of Scripture over thanksgiving, I realised Good Friday is only as good as our understanding of the cross as God’s redemption plan.

Why is Good Friday good? And good for us?

Think of it, the blackest, darkest Friday of all time; Christ is hanging, suffering unbearably on a cross. Yet, this is the day labelled Good Friday by those who claim to love Him most. “Good” for whom? It might be a question that pops into the mind of many who question that Friday was good. Even adults who did not grow up hearing the whole story of Jesus might look at our suffering Saviour and weeping friends and ask the same question.

I certainly had questions at the age of 16. I was at a conference in county Clare at the time, and the pastor was speaking about Jesus hanging on the cross for my sins. I stopped for a moment and just stared into space as tears streamed down my face. My concerned sister asked why I was crying. I turned my little tear-stained face up to her and asked, “If He was so good, why did they want to kill Him?” It was a simple question from a teenager. Still, it hovers in the back of the minds of those who don’t fully understand the reason Jesus willingly came to our world.

If we look at the cross without understanding the birth and the resurrection, it stamps that day (Friday) as anything but good. Knowing the pain of Jesus on the cross, surrounded by the weeping women and John, as they grieve the loss of their family, dearest friend, and faithful teacher stirs sadness, not joy. As I continue to read the word and walk closer to Jesus, I have learned one thing; we serve a God of the most incredible comeback. Of course, spiritual things need revelation and interpretation to be fully understood. But, as I said earlier, behind every scar is a full story and behind every thorn and nail is love and a redemption plan.

I get it; it looked like Jesus had been taken captive by His enemies. It seemed that He had been killed by those who hated Him. It appeared as though He was sorrowful beyond belief. In one sense, all these things have truth in them. But Perspective is everything. It’s about looking at the whole story from beginning to end (Genesis – Revelation). Then, we can grasp why those who love Jesus the most would call such a devastating day good. The rest of the story gives us the ability to see past the sorrow and suffering. Why? Let me let you in on a wee secret to understand the joy and the victory that took place on that fateful Friday; He Won! Death, where is your sting?

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. (Matthew 28:6, NIV)

We Won! We Won! We Won! Sorry I get excited about the things of God. So as you think about the Christmas Message, let us be careful to include it all. To overlook the suffering and the sorrow felt and experienced by those who were there would diminish the truth and power of the life of Christ. Focusing only on their sorrow, grief and His horrendous suffering would also diminish the truth of Scripture that gives us the why and the how of our very salvation story.

Scripture tells us that He knew before He came that He was coming to suffer and die. Isaiah 53 is a prophecy about Jesus’ suffering. John 10:17-18 tells us that no one took His life from Him. Instead, He willingly gave it up to those who would mock Him and want to kill Him.  Yes, there was suffering, but the most significant victory was also there. 

As we celebrate Christmas, let’s reflect on the truth that the highest and holiest came down to one of the dirtiest places. The one who had created the animals was born as a man among the animals He created so that you and I could have a secure eternity. So let’s be sure to tell the whole story and the truth behind it, that He was born with a redemption plan at hand.

For to us a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, NIV)

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, NLT)

The good news of deliverance only makes sense once we see how we are enslaved. In the same way, Good Friday is “good” because as terrible as that day was, it had to happen for us to receive the joy of Salvation. So likewise, Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate when we realise why Christ came.

The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighbourhood (John 1:14, MSG)

When only love could make a way, He gives His life in a beautiful exchange. Behind every scar is a full story.

Photo credit: ©istockphoto/kevinschreiber

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