Let them see your scars

John 20:28

²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Why does Thomas need to see the scars? He has been with Jesus for three years. Surely, just seeing Jesus face-to-face would be enough. But Thomas goes further, saying, “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 (v. 25).”

Jesus has been doing many miracles. And after His death, Thomas feels disillusioned. He feels like a fool to follow someone that he believed was the Messiah, the one chosen by God to defeat every form of wickedness, only to see Him crucified at the hands of the most corrupt priesthood and the most corrupt Roman empire. He is not about to be fooled again. 

We live in a world of facade. No one is who they say they are. People paint a picture of their life on social media that has nothing to do with reality. Truth has been inverted. At one time, people could trust their government, their church, their pastors, their boss, their company, their parents, and their friends. Now, deceit and hidden agendas are the norm. Ours is a culture of thespians wearing masks designed by AI that mimics reality but just misses. And those who have been hurt by two-faced people have had enough. They need to know that someone is real. They need to see the scars. They need to hear the testimony. They need to see the evidence of a life changed. 

Scars only appear after we have been truly healed. A testimony is true only after we have done what it takes to receive the true healing of deep emotional wounds. But as we dare to journey through the pain of healing, we know God will use our pain and healing so others will uncover the truth in a way they can trust it. And their healing will surely follow. Let them see your scars.