Wounds Yet Visible

I grow weary of noticing those with forms of pseudo-christianese-toxic-positivity “faith” misappropriate not only scriptures but otherwise generally true statements. Generally we know what we see, but often the nature of twisting things and true gaslighting can render us unable to tersely articulate what we just witnessed.

We may ask ourselves what the goal is of someone who does such things. And that is likely both clear and cloudy–both obvious and hidden. Which only exasperates the confounding of such seemingly weaponized verbal machinations.

Sometimes it may be clear what agenda/ideology the person is advocating. Other times there are tacit implications of statements and underlying menacing threats and forms of relational control.

Today, I reflect on the statement many of us have heard before:

Hurt people hurt. Healed people heal.

There is quite a lot of truth in this statement. How often do we respond back to someone who has genuinely/validly hurt us with something hurtful. And those who are healed-and-healing typically are empathetic to others on some point of their healing journey.

But just as we often see scripture used/abused to say whatever we might want it to say or mean in some set situation (not simply re-contextualizing some true principle but violating the original intent and spirit of the text), any secular proverb or platitude can present the same opportunity.

With these thoughts in mind I think of Jesus. I think any Christ-follower would say that of all humans, He was hurt, wounded and suffered more than any other.

So let’s just turn that maxim on its head for a moment:

Hurt People Heal

and more importantly,

A Hurt God Heals

• Scripture tells us that His wounds are yet visible outside of time.
• Scripture tells us that it is because of His woundings and experiences (which have been recorded for all humans to remember) that we are healed. We are given communion as a sign and symbol of eternal remembrance. Jesus said at the last meal He shared with His friends that He would not drink of that cup/fruit of the vine until He drank it again with them in His kingdom.
• Scripture tells us that it is because of His sufferings He is able to empathize and sympathize with our human sins and weaknesses and to comfort, understand and bear with us like no other.
• Scripture tells us that if they persecuted Him and we intentionally follow Him, we too can expect to be hurt and wounded at times in the same manner.
• Scripture tell us that He left us an example, that we might follow in His steps.

While I could specifically reference scriptures which support the above five points I will not, but rather invite those who follow Jesus to contemplate and access the Word hidden in their hearts already and their own recollection–and beyond–of the words of Life that cleanse, direct and purify our minds and pathway.

I will mention just one of my favorite texts from my favorite gospel, the book of John.

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,  and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

John 6:68-69 (ESV)

Below I share a well-known, well-loved hymn that came into my mind today on this matter and the particular words penned, “Those wounds yet visible above in beauty glorified…downward bends his burning eye…”

Crown Him With Many Crowns

(Matthew Bridges and Godfrey Thring, 1851)

Crown him with many crowns,
  The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
  All music but its own:
Awake, my soul, and sing
  Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless king
  Through all eternity.

Crown him the Virgin’s Son!
  The God Incarnate born,–
Whose arm those crimson trophies won
  Which now his brow adorn!
Fruit of the mystic Rose
  As of that Rose the Stem:
The Root, whence mercy ever flows,–
  The Babe of Bethlehem!

Crown him the Lord of love!
  Behold his hands and side,–
Rich wounds, yet visible above,
  In beauty glorified:
No angel in the sky
  Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bends his burning eye
  At mysteries so bright!

Crown him the Lord of peace!
  Whose power a scepter sways,
From pole to pole,–that wars may cease,
  Absorbed in prayer and praise:
his reign shall know no end,
  And round his pierced feet
Fair flowers of paradise extend
  Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years!
  The Potentate of time,–
Creator of the rolling spheres,
  Ineffably sublime!
Glassed in a sea of light,
  Where everlasting waves
Reflect his throne,–the Infinite!
  Who lives,–and loves–and saves.

Crown him the Lord of heaven!
  One with the Father known,–
And the blest Spirit, through him given
  From yonder triune throne!
All hail! Redeemer,–Hail!
  For Thou hast died for me;
Thy praise shall never, never fail
  Throughout eternity!

Crown him with crowns of gold,
  All nations great and small,
Crown him, ye martyred saints of old,
  The Lamb once slain for all;
The Lamb once slain for them
  Who bring their praises now,
As jewels for the diadem
  That girds his sacred brow.

Crown him the Son of God
  Before the worlds began,
And ye, who tread where He hath trod,
  Crown him the Son of Man;
Who every grief hath known
  That wrings the human breast,
And takes and bears them for His own,
  That all in him may rest.

Crown him the Lord of light,
  Who o’er a darkened world
In robes of glory infinite
  His fiery flag unfurled.
And bore it raised on high,
  In heaven–in earth–beneath,
To all the sign of victory
  O’er Satan, sin, and death.

Crown him the Lord of life
  Who triumphed o’er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
  For those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
  Who died, and rose on high.
Who died, eternal life to bring
  And lives that death may die.

Crown him of lords the Lord,
  Who over all doth reign
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word,
  For ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light,
  Where saints with angels sing
Their songs before him day and night,
  Their God, Redeemer, king.

Crown him the Lord of heaven,
  Enthroned in worlds above;
Crown him the king, to whom is given
  The wondrous name of Love,
Crown him with many crowns,
  As thrones before him fall.
Crown him, ye kings, with many crowns,
  For He is King of all.

Amen!

Below I also share a more contemporary musical expression that I find worthy and relatable at times. There’s a lot of good communication through language/lyrics in this piece originally written by Julie Miller but being covered by many artists in recent times (I think the original popularization was by Emmylou Harris), but the line coming to mind today is:
“The wounds left on my soul

Will all be healed, and I’ll be whole.”

All My Tears

When I die, don’t cry for me

In my father’s arms I’ll be

The wounds this world left on my soul

Will all be healed, and I’ll be whole

Sun and moon will be replaced with the light of Jesus’ face

And I will not be ashamed, for my savior knows my name

It don’t matter where you bury me

I’ll be home and I’ll be free

It don’t matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away

Gold and silver blind the eye, temporary riches lie

So come and eat from Heaven’s store

Come and drink, and thirst no more

So weep not for me, my friend

When my time below does end

For my life belongs to him

Who will raise from the dead again

It don’t matter where you bury me

I’ll be home and I’ll be free

It don’t matter where I lay

All my tears be washed away