Scars

 April 9, 2020

Scars

“God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas but for scars.”
― Elbert Hubbard

 

 

Poor Jesus. Today was a day of betrayal, a day of abandonment, a day of mockery, a day of torture. In our church we share communion usually once a month on the first Sunday. We tell today’s story each communion, over and over again because today’s events are the central set up to the meaning of Jesus’ miraculous spirit.

 

Our quote above accurately portrays Jesus. He has been taken against his will into the courtyard of the local Roman authority not because they are there to award him or to count his awards, neither are they there to show their admiration for his advanced and upper-level educational achievements. Instead they are there to dole out punishment, derision, pain. They are there to scar him, and to do so with extreme prejudice.

 

This was the Roman way of “justice”- An accused was sometimes asked to defend themselves but most often, even if they were found to have not insulted the rule of law, they were beaten and scarred. It was the way they sent a message to the people which had been conquered. The message? “See? Forget about your sense of dignity- how about instead, we leave you with many physical reminders of who’s in charge?”

 

And scarred him they did. Again and again Jesus was cut and he was bruised and he was left no doubt with broken bones; kept from resting, he also got no food or water and was subject to extreme humiliation, the likes you have never imagined. And more was yet to come.

 

I congratulate everyone who has worked hard through their life, dedicating themselves to hard work and achievement. You are to be admired. And yet, the story of Jesus is the story of scars. He received scars along the path to arrest as authorities and sometimes even his disciples scoffed at his Pollyannaish approached to life. He believed that love was the most powerful force and the highest achievement above any award or diploma.

 

His heavenly parent in heaven had taught him this lesson and he attempted to teach us that very same lesson, right up to the end and his last breath.

 

Love. I’m sorry to say that it won’t always protect you. You may not even be admired for it. Nor will you be assured worldly reward. But we should consider the alternative. How will we feel when we reach God in heaven and are asked why we turned to something other than Love at times when we were most challenged?

 

May you be known for your scars.

 

Rev. Ken        (Click ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgToUjKy68Y  (Click)