Easter Sunday, we considered how the stories of the women at the
tomb and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus applied to our own
relationship with the Lord. We saw that often times, like the
women, we bring spices to Jesus-things that are good in and of
themselves-because we aren't expecting anything more than death. We
attempt to cover up the stench of a dead religiosity instead of
expecting to see the Lord of Life. Like the disciples on the road
to Emmaus we hope and pray that Jesus would redeem us-but that
redemption amounts to little more than wanting to see Him remove
the problems in our lives. We were challenged to pursue the risen
Savior-a meeting with Him would cause a radical transformation of
who we are. We were challenged to pray that we would be like
Jesus-willing, like Him, to suffer and then enter glory.
The third story in
Luke 24 that we didn't get to is the final
appearance of Jesus to the disciples. He comes to them and in an
attempt to get them to believe that they aren't seeing a ghost, He
holds out His hands and feet. Look at them! They still have the
nail holes in them! A resurrected body-a body that elsewhere in
scripture we are told foreshadows what our own resurrected body
will be like-bearing the marks of a sinful world.
Will we carry our marks of suffering into eternity? The scars
that we try so hard to cover over-will they be badges of glory in
eternity? Not our own glory, of course. We didn't transform them
from ugly wounds into an emblem of glory-no, God did that. But will
the wounds of this life-the scars from years of paying the high
toll of our own sins, the sins of others, and the sins of living in
a broken world-will they all coalesce one day into a wonderful
physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual testimony to the
wonderful love and grace and mercy and compassion and sovereignty
and power of God?
We fear our suffering...perhaps every suffering becomes an
opportunity for God to receive glory-not only for eternity but
starting today.