A Mystery We Never Thought About - Episode XVIII - The Last Lament

Why Do The Scars Remain on the Risen Christ?

The Scars Remain

“For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.” —Psalm 22:16

The 3000-year-old Psalm of David speaks with pinpoint accuracy about the gruesome practice of Roman crucifixion: nails, timber, a mallet, and the pounding. Pound. Pound. Pound.

How could King David have written this? What might have been going on in the life of the King of Israel that he would say of himself—they have pierced my hands and feet?

Do you see this mystery? It is unanswerable, except by the work of God.¹

But now, I want to tell you about another mystery—one that you have likely NEVER thought about.

Why are the scars of Christ visible on His Resurrected body?

So many depictions of the Risen Christ show the wounds from His Crucifixion.

The Gospels of Luke and John and many classic depictions of our Lord at His Resurrection show the tell-tale signs of his torture and death.² Why?

The wounds and marks on his side and his hands are not just a memory. Not just in the story. But on His body—His risen, glorified, perfected, and eternal body.

The wounds that pinned Him to the cross are not erased in Resurrection. His hands and feet still show where the nails tore through. His side still carries the place where the spear broke skin and bone.

Why?