7 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

1 Chronicles 18:1-21:8
John 20:11-31

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

John 20:19-20 (CSB): “When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

There are so many things that come to mind when we think of Heaven. The first and foremost is that we get to be with Jesus, our beloved Lord and Savior, forever! That thought alone is the greatest and most joyous for every true believer.

Another thought that comes to mind is our desire for a place that is perfect. This world is broken and we are reminded each day of this truth. But in Heaven, there will be no sin or consequences of sin. There will be no sickness, sorrow, pain, or death, and the problems we have with our physical bodies will be over. We will have perfected bodies to enjoy our heavenly, eternal home!

But there is one thing in Heaven that seems as if it will not be “perfect.”

That previous sentence may have caught you by surprise. It may have caused you to scratch your head in bewilderment, wondering if my theology is a bit flawed. But I assure you that I am correct. The verses that I chose for today bear me out.

When we go back and look at John 20:19-20, we read that Jesus showed up to be with His disciples on Sunday, the day He rose from the dead. In those two brief verses, we read that Jesus showed them His hands and His side.

Why would He do that?

Because He was showing them the scars made by the spikes in His hands (wrists) and the place in His side where the spear penetrated His torso. Jesus was in His resurrection body, the one He would take to Heaven with Him in Acts 1. And yet we realize that His resurrection body still had the crucifixion’s scars.

In fact, when we get to the following Sunday, the one where Thomas showed up to church, Jesus speaks again of the scars His body bore. Thomas had previously said that he wouldn’t believe Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw the scars.

John 20:25 (CSB): “… ‘If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.'”

So, when Jesus appeared in their midst the next Sunday, He gave Thomas the proof that Thomas desired.

John 20:26-28 (CSB): “A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even 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 and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.’ Thomas responded to him, ‘My Lord and my God!'”

Obviously, Jesus still had the scars on His body from the barbaric treatment He received on the cross. Again, this is the body that Jesus would take to Heaven with Him when He ascended in Acts 1:9.

That begs the question: “Will Jesus have the marks of the cross forever even as the rest of us enjoy “perfect” bodies?”

To answer that question, let’s fast-forward to a passage of Scripture that talks about a yet future event. In Revelation 5, we read about what John saw as he was granted a vision of future events. He was in Heaven as the Tribulation Period was about to begin. But before the scroll was opened, which would initiate the seven-year judgment upon earth, all of Heaven waited for anyone worthy to open the scroll. Listen to what John wrote next. Listen particularly to how he described Jesus.

Revelation 5:4-6 (CSB): “I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’ Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth.” (emphasis mine)

Obviously, as we read about the “seven horns and seven eyes,” we realize we are to take this language figuratively. That particular language speaks of His power and omniscience. So, what does it mean that Jesus was “one like a slaughtered lamb?” While He is the perfect God/man and not literally a lamb, John described Jesus as the one who was slaughtered (as the Old Testament lambs were) so that the worshipper might go free. Among all of those in Heaven, Jesus is the One who looked like He had been “slaughtered.” He still had some (or all?) of the marks He received from His abuse on the cross.

Friend, as I read this, I wish for nothing else but that Jesus would have no remaining consequences of His time on the cross. While all the saints will be eternally grateful for His sacrifice on our behalf, we won’t want Him to wear those scars forever. But it appears that He might.

Friends, that is love! Jesus, who has always existed as the perfect Son of God in the Trinity, just might be the only One in eternity that won’t have a “perfect” body. And He did this for us. Might this be so that we never, ever forget in eternity what He did for us that we might be with Him?

John 15:13 (CSB): “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.”

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you realize just how much He loves you even as He satisifed His justice on your behalf so that you can enjoy Him today and forever.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into whether or not Jesus retains His scars in Heaven, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Will Jesus still have the scars of crucifixion in heaven?”

Sharing

If this post has been helpful to you or if you think it could help others, please consider tapping one of the social media buttons below to share it on your favorite platform.

____________________

Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)