The Scars

 “Jesus of the Scars” by Edward Shillito

If we have never sought, we seek Thee now;
Thine eyes burn through the dark, our only stars;
We must have sight of thorn-pricks on Thy brow,
We must have Thee, O Jesus of the Scars.

The heavens frighten us; they are too calm;
In all the universe we have no place.
Our wounds are hurting us; where is the balm?
Lord Jesus, by Thy Scars, we claim Thy grace.

If, when the doors are shut, Thou drawest near,
Only reveal those hands, that side of Thine;
We know to-day what wounds are, have no fear,
Show us Thy Scars, we know the countersign.

The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.

    This poem was written by a minister during World War I.  His words remind us that in the darkness, Jesus is our source of light.  When we are hurting, we look to the scars of Jesus and remember His grace.  In the midst of our suffering, we know that Jesus himself suffered.  

    The other gods were strong, but Jesus- being fully divine and fully human- made himself weak.  The other gods sat high on the backs of horses and rode into battle, but Jesus stumbled all the way to the throne. 

    When we are suffering, we are comforted by those who have been through similar situations.  When we are hurting, we want to surround ourselves with people who have felt the pain that we feel.  The only One who can speak to our suffering, our hurting, and our wounds, is the One who has been wounded.  The only One who truly knows our suffering more than anyone else is God alone.  

We find comfort in the suffering of Christ.  

We find healing in the grace freely given to us from the Father.  

We find hope in the power of the cross.  

We find true peace in the One True God.

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