“Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.” John 20:27
Dear Ones:
One wonders what it will be like to see the glorified Lamb of God in heaven. In the book of Revelation, John describes the moment when he is called upon to behold the “…Lion of the tribe of Juda,” but also, the “Lamb as it had been slain.” (5:5,6) There is no doubt that beholding Him, the redeemed of all ages will see the scars in His hands, feet, and side. There might even be the means by which the believer will be able to touch them. The reason for this will not be in order for faith to come to grips with the reality of the resurrected Christ, this Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, for the faith of earth would have become sight. It will be rather the subject for worship, thanksgiving, and praise. Those five wounds, eternal scars, will proclaim the extent to which the love of God did reach down, and descend into the depths of human depravity, to save man, redeem his soul, and give to him life everlasting. Charles Wesley, in his great hymn, “Arise, My Soul, Arise,” wrote this: ”
“Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary; They pour effectual prayers, They strongly plead for me: ‘Forgive him O forgive, ‘ they cry, ‘Nor let the ransomed sinner die,’ ‘Nor let the ransomed sinner die.'” What other response in heaven could there be to such a revelation, magnified by the sinless, brightness of heaven, but to “fall down before the Lamb,” declaring the worthiness of the Savior? Christ Jesus is declared to be the only One in heaven and earth, with a name that is above every other name, who possesses the wealth of worthiness to redeem mankind. His wounds declare His worthiness, that of a finished work, accomplished at such a great price to both the Father and the Son. Indeed, His wounds do plead for us daily, as they are the testimony of a perfect, acceptable sacrifice of this Lamb of God, to deal with the sins of the world, and our own personal sin.
After the resurrection of Christ, Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples,”…when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear for of the Jews.” (Jn. 20:19) One of the disciples, Thomas, was not present. After seeing the wounds in Christ’s hands and side, the other disciples later told Thomas that they had seen the Lord. He did not believe them. The reaction of Thomas is both remarkable, and illogical. He had come to know the other disciples, and knew that they would not lie. So, he is faced with the problem of the declared word of God concerning the resurrection, as opposed to what he “thought” or felt. However, Thomas was an honest soul and very straightforward. He would declare that for him to believe that Christ was raised up from the dead, he would need to not only hear the news from the other disciples, but actually see and touch Christ’s scars, his healed wounds. That which is quite remarkable is that the Lord Jesus would grant to Thomas the possibility to do this. His words to Thomas are so very simple, and yet, absolutely poignant in meaning and quiet power: “…be not faithless, but believing.” (20:27) Does He not tell us to do the same thing? Are we any different than Thomas at times? We know from Scripture that the Lord gives visions, that perception of the truth of Himself and His works, in order to bring us to faith. The vision for Thomas had its perfect work, in that he would declare in response: “My Lord and my God.” (v.28)
To Martha, in the face of believing Christ as the Resurrection and the Life, the Lord Jesus would ask: “Said I not unto thee, that if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (Jn.11:40) Is it possible to see the glory of God in answer to faith, and prayer?
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see Thy glory, and believe. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad