Thank you for this comment, Dane, and a small glimpse into your own story. Throughout the writing process I find myself praying for the one person these words might serve. It is a privilege to sometimes see how God has answered that. I'm encouraged by your honesty and resilient faith. Christ in you!
Forgive me for taking up more space with this! But I'm still ruminating on your essay as I walk in the woods this morning. It's by Christ's wounds that we are healed, Isaiah tells us. We know he was wounded for our transgressions. He was wounded for us. But it was more than that. Paul shows us that Christ was crucified not only for us but as us. We died with him.
And it occurred to me that as I allow my wounds to be absorbed into his, in his resurrection I get a wound free, scar-free eternity. And the story of my shame and failures and pain are totally lost in his. There's something really sweet about this thought.
Not only is he not ashamed to call me his beloved brother, but he's not ashamed to bear the marks of my shame removal throughout eternity.
Here's an additional thought: one of the reasons that the scars remain in the glorified body of Jesus is to remind us that he ultimately came not to replace us but to repair and restore us. Had Jesus been raised with a scarless body, it might suggest that he came to completely replace us. But as Scotty Smith said, " Jesus said he would make all things new, not all new things." The scars of Jesus testify of this throughout eternity. ❤️🔥
Indeed the timing was amazing for me. I was actually in the middle of interacting with a close Christian brother related to some wounds/scars that both of us are processing and wanting to learn from and grow in. Your insight was very powerful and prophetic for me
This is incredibly beautiful and so timely as I wrestle with the wounds I still carry, as I move forward trusting the One with the scars! ❤️🔥
Thank you for this comment, Dane, and a small glimpse into your own story. Throughout the writing process I find myself praying for the one person these words might serve. It is a privilege to sometimes see how God has answered that. I'm encouraged by your honesty and resilient faith. Christ in you!
Forgive me for taking up more space with this! But I'm still ruminating on your essay as I walk in the woods this morning. It's by Christ's wounds that we are healed, Isaiah tells us. We know he was wounded for our transgressions. He was wounded for us. But it was more than that. Paul shows us that Christ was crucified not only for us but as us. We died with him.
And it occurred to me that as I allow my wounds to be absorbed into his, in his resurrection I get a wound free, scar-free eternity. And the story of my shame and failures and pain are totally lost in his. There's something really sweet about this thought.
Not only is he not ashamed to call me his beloved brother, but he's not ashamed to bear the marks of my shame removal throughout eternity.
I love this insight. I'm so glad you shared it. Eternal proof that he's still not ashamed of me or what it cost him to have me. Incredible.
Here's an additional thought: one of the reasons that the scars remain in the glorified body of Jesus is to remind us that he ultimately came not to replace us but to repair and restore us. Had Jesus been raised with a scarless body, it might suggest that he came to completely replace us. But as Scotty Smith said, " Jesus said he would make all things new, not all new things." The scars of Jesus testify of this throughout eternity. ❤️🔥
You keep taking this deeper, Dane! I'm grateful. Perhaps you should write a part two.
Indeed the timing was amazing for me. I was actually in the middle of interacting with a close Christian brother related to some wounds/scars that both of us are processing and wanting to learn from and grow in. Your insight was very powerful and prophetic for me
❤️🔥