A few years ago, my wife had major surgery. Fortunately, it was laparoscopic surgery. Rather than one massive incision, the surgeon made four small incisions an inch or two long to insert scopes and tubes into the interior of her body. This approach is less invasive and leads to faster healing. After about twelve days, a doctor removed the two dozen staples and assorted stitches holding these incisions closed. When the supports were removed, the cuts bled a little. When the stitches were removed from the largest hole, from which the last drainage tube had been removed, a channel about an inch long and half an inch deep opened up. A month after surgery, two of the wounds still had scabs over them and were still weeping a little. My wife was still in considerable pain and relying on pain medication to make the pain bearable.

We somehow have the idea that, after the resurrection, Jesus’ wounds would have been healed completely. But the crucifixion had been only a few days before, and, as John 20:19-31 reveals, His wounds were much larger and deeper than my wife’s. They might have been scabbed over, but they were still there. There were nail holes in Jesus’ hands large enough for Thomas to put his finger into and a gaping hole in Jesus’ side large enough for Thomas to put his hand into. We should not underestimate the bodily and spiritual harm caused by human sin and the tremendous cost Jesus paid to overcome it.

The recent surgery was not the only one my wife has endured. Our eldest daughter was born by emergency caesarean. Because of the urgency, the surgeon made a vertical incision rather than the more cosmetic bikini cut. The result was what might be considered an ugly scar. But, other than doctors, I am the only one who will see it, and I think it is beautiful. You see, the vertical incision was faster, and my wife accepted it in order to save our daughter’s life. I know that that scar is a love mark, a sign of love.

The same is true in the story in John’s Gospel. It is only the eyes of faith that are allowed to clearly see Christ’s wounds, and to such eyes those hideous scars are lovely, the marks of a tremendous self-sacrificing love that have brought life.