Scars of Testimony

Marked By the Encounter.

The man with the mute demon possessed boy, he was told to leave Jesus alone but persevered in his disbelief he cries out to Jesus and “I Believe, Help my unbelief” He is left marked by this encounter that in his belief he turns not to the people who are rebuking him but to Jesus.

Peter, denies being associated with Jesus 3 times… in a follow up encounter has seen the risen Christ and is now fishing. The other apostles tell him Jesus is on the shore… He waits to see for Himself and then bolts from the boat to meet with Him… He was left marked by his encounter with Jesus.

Paul on the road to Damascus has an encounter with Jesus and is left blind for three days… In His pursuit he does not rely on the account of others, but the account of Jesus Himself. He questions himself after 14 years of ministry and then submits what he has been teaching to ensure he was doing right. He was left Marked by his encounter with Jesus.

You are marked with the Scars of the Savior and your scars will testify

John 20:24–25 ESV

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Thomas gets a bad rap on his doubt… But is he any different than those before and after him

Thomas being accustomed to Judaic traditions is used to hearing or witnessing visitations of divine nature.

Maybe doubt, or perhaps a refusal of allowing others to define his encounter with the Lord

He is asking to see the nail pierced hands, and the spear pierced side… everyone else had seen it.

Today if you hear the sound of His voice do not harden your heart Heb 3:14-15

Each of you has heard the voice of our Lord and Savior

He has revealed Himself to you and has marked you

No account from anyone will suffice for His scars.

Living on Another’s Encounter

John 20:19–23 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

The gathered apostles were terrified… they running from the Religious sects

they had already been told Jesus was risen…

Jesus had to show them His hands and side for them to know that what had been proclaimed to them by Mary was true

Situation

they were told He would raise to life

the woman Mary preached to them Jesus was alive

Still had to see for themselves

Only after believing are they empowered by the Holy Spirit

In the middle of our crisis no amount of people telling us will satisfy what Jesus alone can will impart on us

Personalizing the Encounter

John 20:25 ESV

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

You saw His hands I want to see His hands… Those nails left behind a marking

The marred body from a distance would not have been enough

The crown of thorns surely would have left a scar but that was too distant

The nails through his hands would be good

Not enough to see

I want to put my hand in His side.

I want to see the ugliest part

Each person has experienced situations that have left you scarred

There is a cost in serving the risen King… each of the Apostles paid with their lives… Thomas was martyred in India by a Jealous Hindi leader

in ministry you will bear the very marks Jesus carried and they will speak a testimony

Intimate Encounter

John 20:26–27 ESV

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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 see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

The others had experienced Jesus and are still terrified gathering behind closed doors… how intimate was their encounter?

Luke 24:36–39 ESV

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Greater insight…

they had heard

they had seen

standing before Him they still did not believe…

Jesus instructs them… it’s not enough to just see or hear… draw close and touch for yourself

Jesus goes straight to Thomas

touch my hands… not just touch but put your finger here

put your hand in my side… not just touch the scar… put your hand inside

Having pressed intimately into Jesus

My Lord and my God

ownership of the relationship

Today you hear the voice of the Lord calling you out do not harden your heart…

Your deep wounds that cry out for healing today cannot be resolved by another’s encounter… you have been marked by Him… as your wounds are healed it is these scars that will testify of the living Christ.