Wounds

John 20:27 NIV:  He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Poor Thomas, his claim to fame as a disciple stems from this encounter. He just happened to be the one disciple who wasn’t there when Jesus appeared to the others after His resurrection. It was probably his turn to get groceries that week. Naturally, Thomas doubted when they all excitedly talked about seeing Jesus. Because of this, he has been known as “Doubting Thomas” ever since. 

However, if it weren’t for Thomas and his skepticism, we wouldn’t have experienced this tender and revelatory moment that ultimately revealed a beautiful truth about the resurrection. 

As a reminder, this story takes place one week after Christ died and was raised from the dead. This important period, from Easter Sunday until his ascension 40 days later, was marked by both documented and undocumented instances where Jesus appeared and interacted with people. Scripture mentions that over 500 people saw and spoke with Jesus. 

Why is this interesting? Jesus, being the first to be resurrected into immortality, sets the stage for the rest of us to follow. To me, it’s fascinating to consider what this concept of a resurrected body might entail.  

Some of you might ask, what about Lazarus or all the other people who were raised from the dead in the Bible? Those stories involve people who are brought back from death to eventually die again. The term for that is resuscitation or revivification, not resurrection. However, Jesus was the first to be raised into a new life—a different, transformed body that will never die again. 

We learn from all these encounters that a resurrected body is indeed a physical body. Jesus isn’t a ghost, wispy and translucent. He breaks bread, cooks breakfast, and can be touched. Yet, there is something quite different about this physical body; it has been transformed. Jesus also appears and disappears at will. In the Thomas account, it begins by saying that all the doors were locked when Jesus suddenly appeared before them. This is, of course, baffling to our understanding of possibilities, but so is the idea of resurrection itself.  

Here, we receive the gift of Thomas’s doubt, and we learn that a glorified, incorruptible, resurrected body bears wounds. Clearly, the wounds weren’t necessary for people to recognize Jesus, so why were they there? Because, despite what we might think, healing doesn’t mean perfection or that trauma must be erased. Our wounds are part of our identity; they tell a story, not of defeat but of victory. 

Jesus set an example by recognizing that showing others his scars strengthened their faith. There is no shame in our wounds, as they are a testament to the complexity of our lives and proof that growth and healing are possible. Maybe it’s time to roll up your sleeve and encourage someone you know today.