Scars: A Parable

“Jesus.  Help me.  I didn’t know who else to talk to, but I saw your scars and I knew you would understand.  You see, I am hurting too.  I have scars.  I know you understand how to help me because you fathom why I too have scars.”

Could you pick up the phone and make that call?  Or send an email or an instant message?  Would you if you had scars and didn’t know what to do?

What if you couldn’t see Jesus’ scars, or didn’t know that anyone wrote and spoke of seeing them?  How relevant would His suffering seem then?  Would you expect Him to understand your pain?

A scar is defined as “a mark left by a healed wound, sore, or burn; or, “a lasting aftereffect of trouble, especially a lasting psychological injury resulting from suffering or trauma.”

We all have scars.  We’re all pretty good at covering them up.  If they’re covered, we don’t have to look at our pain.  We don’t have to deal with it. We certainly don’t have to share it.  No one will call us, or email or send an instant message, or say, “I saw your scars and knew you would understand.  Please help me.”

The opening paragraph’s conversation really happened, except it was between two people on earth.  One who is brave enough to have visible scars, and willing to be open and help others, and one who is hurting badly and didn’t know where else to turn.  In fact, some version of that conversation has happened many times.  It could never have happened if the scars were hidden.

The Psalmist tells us that “He [Jesus] heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”  (Psalm 147:3)  How does He do that?  Does He do it all by himself?  He could.  After all, He is all-powerful!  But wait.  Aren’t we supposed to live the way He lived?  Perhaps we are meant to be part of His healing team, recruited here on earth, reaching out in His name and touching the hurting.  Like the Good Samaritan, we are challenged to clean and bandage wounds and provide care and a safe environment.  Since by definition a wound or scar includes psychological injury as well as physical injury, we do a disservice to those who are suffering emotionally when we cast them aside, minimize their problems as being inconsequential, fail to understand what has caused their intense heartache, and try to project our own ideals of recovery onto their unique situation.

We can all claim the promise that “’I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord.” (Isaiah 30:17)  Remember one thing.  Jesus will bear His scars for eternity, while ours will be healed.  If you are afraid to see scars on a friend here on earth, then how will it be possible for you to be in Jesus’ scarred presence in Heaven?

Copyright Susan Mercy
January 7, 2014