His Scars

Hi there, and welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread. Today's reading, titled His Scars, was written by Arthur Jackson. After my conversation with Grady, it occurred to me why his preferred greeting was a fist bump, not a handshake. A handshake would have exposed the scars on his wrist, the result of his attempts to do himself harm. It's not uncommon for us to hide our wounds, external or internal, caused by others or self-inflicted. In the wake of my interaction with Grady, I thought about Jesus' physical scars, the wounds caused by nails pounded into his hands and feet and a spear thrust into his side. Rather than hiding his scars, Christ called attention to them. After Thomas initially doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, Jesus said to him in John chapter 20 verse 27, Put your finger here. See my hands?

Reach out your hand and put it into my sight. Stop doubting and believe. When Thomas saw those scars for himself and heard Christ's amazing words, he was convinced that it was Jesus. He exclaimed in belief, My Lord and my God. Jesus then pronounced a special blessing for those who haven't seen him or his physical wounds but still believe in him. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. The best news ever is that his scars were for our sins, our sins against others or ourselves. The death of Jesus is for the forgiveness of the sins of all who believe in him and confess with Thomas, My Lord and my God.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from John chapter 20 verse 24 through 25. Now Thomas, also known as Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. A week later his disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them.

Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here. See my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe. Thomas said to him, My Lord and my God. Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. Now let's pray. Dear Lord, we're grateful that you lavish upon us your grace and patience with our own struggles with our faith and help us to know that when we seek after that which is unseen, we take just another step closer in our relationship with you. And it's in Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen.