Sermon: Eternal Scars (Isaiah 53): Pastor Sanny Olojan

This sermon was preached on Feburary 5, 2012 at Folsom Community Church by Pastor Sanny Olojan

ETERNAL SCARS

INTRODUCTION

Scars tell a story. Our physical scars have a story behind it. We share to our close friends our emotional scars.

Many texts in scriptures suggest that when Jesus comes, there will be no more scars. We will have a glorifed body when Jesus comes (1 Corinthians 15).

Revelations 21 suggests a healing of our emotional wounds.
Jesus' scars are unique:

1. It was foretold that He would be wounded - Isaiah 53 is one of those texts
2. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) talk about His death
3. The Gospels in post-resurrection stories mention Jesus showing His scars to the disciples (Luke 24:39, John 20:19-29) and...
4. After the ascension, John sees Jesus he calls as Lamb appearing to have been slain (with scars still) (Revelation 5:6)

Note: John 1:29 mentions how John the Baptist has pointed to his disciples (which included John the author of the gospel and Revelation) that Jesus was the Lamb of God. John did not see an animal lamb but the ascended Jesus still with bad scars.

We see Jesus' scars right now through the eyes of faith. There are indications that we will see them physically.

The scars tell of a story of the wounds that healed us.

WHY WOULD GOD THE SON STILL WEAR THE SCARS?

It can be debatable if Jesus will still have the scars in the New Heaven and New Earth. There are scriptural indications that He would.

Let me suggest reasons why:

The scars would remind us

1. of His eternal love - The agape love of God (John 3:16) was shown when the Son sent to mankind died for our sins. In eternity, when we look at the scars, we have a vivid manifestation of the magnitude of God's love for us.
2. of His sufficient and finished work -   He cried, "It is finished" at the cross. The Epistles remind us of the sufficient and finished work of Christ for our salvation and sanctification. The scars tell that truth.
3. of forgiveness - The provision so that we can have a relationship with God is reconciliation through justification by faith. Also, God paid for the sins of those who injured us, wounding us giving us the scars. We are to let go of asking for retribution to that which Jesus paid for. His scars show the proof of that payment.
4. of His power - There is the power of resurrection after a brutal death and sacrifice. It shows that He was the One who had the power over death: the scars.
5. that we are healed - Even if we are still healing, the promise is we are already healed.

APPLICATION