Show Your Scars

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Pastor Michael Todd (in his "Who is the Minister Here" series) pointed out "church" is most searched around Easter time. He discussed how "open" people are to going to church during this time of the year.

This year, I think it will be searched even more.

More people are probably "attending" church more from home than they usually do in person. The barriers are gone. I can only imagine the stress and anxiety; being a first-time attendee, going to a service where your attendance (or normally lack thereof) is mentioned as a conversation topic. That awkward "Welcome" message from the pulpit, where someone mentions how "happy we are" to have you - and can't resist pointing out this maybe the only time, outside of Christmas, when most visitors come into the House of God. It's embarrassing enough for visiting Christians (when we visit a new church), let alone those who still struggle to identify with whether they truly believe in Christ or not.

Then there is the overly-dramatic altar call, where the ones who invited the first timer or rare-attendant can't help but peek through their should-be-closed eyes, to see if the Spirit moved their loved one to raise a hand to The Call.

This is all normally really well-intended, and isn't meant to be rude at all. It's unfortunately part of that love we show when someone comes as they are. We are soo excited to see new-comers that our expressed love comes across a little too strong. And if you can relate to this and have any experience in mind, please accept my apology for this.

We really do mean well and we are happy.... sooo happy.... to have you.

But, if you are anything like me (even as a Believer progressing to grow in Him daily), going to a new church (or sometimes church in general) comes with the desire to be invisible.

"Just lemme get what I came here for." Peace. Forgiveness. Answers.

But Easter... I think Easter is different.

I feel like Easter is the one time, in all of Jesus' life that everyone - saved or not - people can relate to the life of Christ, because of His death. Whether the story in a person's mind is accurate in detail or not, everyone can reflect on a time when they were/felt unjustly treated by one person or a group of people.

Betrayed - Thrown to the wolves, when they could have been saved (as pilot could have done in Matthew 27:24). Stabbed in the back; like Judas did (Matthew 26:50 and Luke 22:48). A time when they begged God for another outcome, when nothing actually changed after that prayer. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane; when He begged His Father to "let this cup pass" from Him (Matthew 26:39).

But the story of Christ's death, as brutal as it was, is also a story of Hope.

He rose again (full scriptures are found in multiple places in the Bible. Check out Luke 24). When any regular man would have been dead, with no return.

Then he walked the earth for a little over a month sharing His Good News. Walking with others. Letting friends and strangers, alike, see and touch His scars. A level of transparency and recovery that many of us pray for and pursue in our own healing.

A part of our lives we, as Christians, could all do... All year round. But instead, we let the those who are broken feel most-complete or understood by the Church through the retelling of Christ's death.

But there are so many opportunities we miss, as we neglect to be walking examples. We neglect being vulnerable and allow others to approach us, feeling safe enough, to inquire about our stories... Our scars. With that in mind... Here are some key things Jesus did after His death that we could all use a little practice and application with in our own lives. More than I can discuss with the given attention span we're all able to give when reading.

And hey.. by the way... I'm happy if you made it this far. :)

After Jesus rose from the dead He:

Walked, Listened, Shared

Talked about His Purpose, not His Pain

Showed His Scars

Jesus, after His resurrection, joined two individuals as they walked seven miles back to their hometown of Emmaus. In this journey, he came upon them as they were distraught and sad. The Man they believed in was murdered. In His days on earth, He spoke of "coming back," but where was He? And Jesus let them talk about their disappointment, their sadness, and their perspective. Mind you, this was a seven mile walk. That's a lot of listening. And no once did Jesus interrupt them to become the center of the conversation.

And let's be real... He was the center of conversation!!

He was the truth to their inaccurate perceptions.

But He let them talk and He listened with empathy. Now, I'd be remiss if I ignored that He also called them, "foolish." (I love when I can relate to "Savage Jesus" - shameless plug to Steven Furtick's sermon series... Hey, Pastor Steve!) Even as He challenged their faith, He gave no spoilers. And... well... He was a walking spoiler alert. :)

Jesus walked with them until they reached their home. They invited Him in, and He broke bread with them. And as Jesus served them their portion, their "eyes were opened and they recognized Him" (Luke 24:31)

That right there is a Word in a Word. But I'll try to stay focused on the topic at hand.

Think about it...When was the last time you gave someone the time to just talk out their feelings? Allowed someone to feel validated in how they felt, without making the conversation about you. And it's easy to do. In our minds, that's just the art of conversation. They talk. We talk. The talk again. But in a moment when someone really feels broken and nervous about their future, as the two who journeyed with Jesus did, do you know how to let the individual talk?

And I once again love Jesus for challenging them, not with his opinion. But by reminding them of what they knew and previously believed. He questioned why half of a story would be true? Why would you only believe half of the glory of God?

(Like I said... "A Word in a Word", right?)

But even in His challenges, He didn't leave them. He didn't get frustrated with their perception (knowing the real story), and walk away. Even more than that, when they invited Him in, He entered. They already spent seven miles walking and venting, and Jesus wasn't tired of them yet. We need to be able to separate what people need from us from what we want from them. Jesus wasn't "too busy" to invest the time they needed from Him.

What if Jesus stopped halfway through the walk and said, out of understandable frustration, "Aite, y'all.. It's been real.. Enjoy the rest of your trip." And let them continue to grumble among themselves. But where would they "see Christ" if He hadn't came in.

What opportunities for others to see God were missed, because you didn't show up?

Keep in mind, Jesus - a man who was crucified just days before. Whipped and stabbed. Nailed to a cross. And with all that, not once did He try to make it about Him.

He didn't leave until they knew they were around Him.

His purpose outweighed His pain.

Something I noticed in reading and listening to stories about Christ, after the Resurrection. He didn't walk around feeling sorry for Himself. He spent His time walking in His purpose and showing Himself to people. Jesus' narration of His story was that of a promise kept, not a victim walking. He was a conqueror; not living in the physical defeat from days prior.

Of all the people He encountered in those 40 days, no one had more right to talk about what they'd "been through" more than Jesus. I think of all the times I run into people, even years after a difficult life event. I couldn't resist the opportunity to walk them through the pain I went through, just to catch them up. By the time I get to the "good" in my life... I've already recreated the sadness. I've outweighed my own good news, and let it become overshadowed by my previous situation. Yet Jesus spent that time doing the opposite. Yes He acknowledged what happened, but focused on the purpose of it all. He used what He'd been through as proof of God. Not an avenue to complain. Not seeking vengeance against those who wronged Him. I haven't found any scriptures where Jesus said, "Lemme tell you what happened from my side of the story." Those scriptures don't exist.

If Jesus, once again, doesn't need to bring attention to "His side" of the story. Why are so many of us obsessed with the need of telling people who 1 - had nothing to do with the story and 2 - have even less to do with the results the details of our situations? If our details aren't bringing glory to God and giving an intentional testimony of His Will and Works in our lives, are we serving our purpose or our ego?

Remember.. This is called, "Show your Scars" - not your wounds.

Steven Furtick pointed that out in a beautiful, verbal illustration. When Jesus showed people His scars, "not his wounds." He went into detail about the difference between wounds and scars. And... oh my God. It was deeeeeep!

I keep mentioning Steven Furtick because his revelation in the sermon, "No More Nails" spoke to me on another level. His message kept me up until 3am this morning, taking notes on for this message to you. I'll put the link to that sermon at the bottom of this message. :)

Scars aren't wounds. Wounds are often still fresh. They are sensitive to the touch. It's an obvious observation of pain that was inflicted. Sometimes, when a wound is touched and it isn't fully-healed, blood can still appear. But when you see a scar... It's different. A scar is a physical showing of what was. You can show someone a scar without bleeding on them.

I have a scar in the middle of my forehead from an accident that happened years ago. What I can attest to is, in that moment, the wound at that time looked so much worse than what the actual injury was. If you would have see it in that moment, or a few days later when the stitches were still in, you would have been surprised how I even made it. Now you barely notice it. If you did notice, it wouldn't even trigger the need to ask, "What happened?"

But Jesus... He was a walking, talking - "What happened to you" scenario.

When He rejoined His apostles, He was in the presence of Thomas. Thomas was previously told about when Jesus first came to them eight days prior, and He did not believe them.

"We call him 'Doubting Thomas', but Thomas was just honest." - (yup... you guessed it) Steven Furtick :)

Jesus answered Thomas' questions with the proof in His scars.

Y'all, this is where we miss the witness. We gotta.. we have to... stop living life like we don't have any scars. Or showing our scars, but not telling our story. Even worse, telling our story and showing our scars without letting people in. Jesus, literally, let Thomas in to His scars. And He's the Word in the Word (again), letting Thomas touch His scars (because remember, they aren't wounds) didn't affect Jesus. It didn't change that the crucifixion happened. It didn't make Jesus go on a rant about what caused them. The scars were His testimony.

"You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen." - (nope, not Pastor Steve this time) Jesus Christ (John 20:29)

We should all seek Christ for our healing, so we can seek people to show our scars to. And do this without judgement. Once again, we aren't spotless.

And I'd like to take this moment to share with all of you... Get over the story behind your scars and look for the truth in your "why." There are so many people God created to see you, because your scars are designed for their healing. Why walk around embarrassed by the story, when your purpose is outside of you. If God got you through it, it was so you could help someone else pull though.

This next part doesn't exactly "flow" with this message, but it's on my spirit to share:

God is omnipresent.... Meaning He is everywhere at once. He transcends time and space. Meaning at the same time you were at your lowest... Doing God knows what... Doing God knows who... Where ever you shouldn't have been, but you were. At those exact moments in your past.. He was presently getting nailed to the cross. As you committed every sin, He was with you.. Comforting you... Interceding for you... And simultaneously getting a nail through his hands or his feet... Getting pierced in His side. As He did all this for you... He is with you.

And all He wants you to do, is share your story so He can live through it.

No one should have to wait for the anniversary of the death of Christ to feel Jesus.

I think about today... The Thursday before Easter, and my spirit is overwhelmed with awe. According to the timeline, with tomorrow being Good Friday.. Then on this day today, this evening (over 2000 years ago) Jesus cried in the Garden of Gethsemane..

Alone. Sweating so hard, He bled.

When He should have been the subject of the intercession of His friends.. And they were asleep. When the reality of His situation truly hit him... Hours before Judas betrayed him.

Don't you dare pretend like this story... This Life, Death, and Resurrection is a story people should only be able to relate to one Sunday a year.

When we could simply let them experience in person, in our own lives. You want people to believe in an "invisible God," while you act like your own scars don't exist. It's easier to talk about the brutality and beatings, the cat of nine tales, the piercing of the side, the death on the Cross. And don't get me wrong, this is part of the Foundation of our Faith. But how selfish and (I'll be honest)... how sickening is it that we'd rather talk about that then share our own lives with another person. A life we can tell better than anyone else, because we lived it.

As promised... "No More Nails" - Elevation Church, Pastor Steven Furtick :)