In the last ten years or so, between all the wars and political unrest that have occurred, I’ve heard of a number a cases of torture. Some of it’s been only hinted at, whereas some has appeared in major magazines or even been leaked onto YouTube.

It got me thinking about what my life would be like if I were ever subjected to torture. It’s difficult to imagine, but one thought that my mind kept returning to, over and over again, is that I would not like people to know about it. If I gained my freedom, I would be very slow to tell anyone about what happened, short of my physician. If photos of the horrible events emerged somewhere, I would move Heaven and Earth to keep them away from the press. No one is going to publicly post pictures that traumatize me, that show me only partially dressed, that show me at my weakest.

And yet Jesus does nothing whatsoever to cover up these events in His own life. Had His ministry occurred more recently in history, there would be a page in His photo album of His torture, and He would not flip quickly past it to get to the better pictures.

Jesus would do anything to get an invitation into our heart. It is not easy to allow anyone to touch old wounds and ask difficult questions. If someone with an easy life tried to ask me about the most painful moments of my past, I would be downright offended. But when Jesus asks me, and I see Him before me, vulnerable, naked, and hurting, and not wishing me to avert my eyes from Him…then something breaks, and He can ask me the really painful questions, and I will answer Him truthfully. I cannot say “no” to that man. The extent to which He will go, allowing Himself to be humiliated and made vulnerable, cannot help but leave me humbled and vulnerable to Him in return.

I think this poet said it best:

From “Jesus of the Scars” by Edward Shillito:
“The other gods were strong; but Thou wast weak;
They rode, but Thou didst stumble to a throne;
But to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak,
And not a god has wounds, but Thou alone.”

Friends, thank you so much for reading this entry.

Scripture verses: Micah 6:8, Isaiah 53:2b, Isaiah 53:3-5.