Cartoonology

Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons.

My parents bought a BB rifle for me when I was a young child. I was probably too young. My mother, bless her heart, told me I could shoot it in the house. She just didn’t know how dangerous it was. I ended up shooting one of my five sisters, and, yes, it was an accident – I think. She recently reminded me of that incident and the scar it left. Sorry, Rayetta.

Most of us do not want people to see our scars, whether they are physical, emotional or spiritual, but sometimes they just can’t be hidden. Scars are constant reminders of painful times. I have one on my left forearm that I got from running in the church fellowship hall. That is another story for another time. Sometimes people ask me about it, because it is so obvious.

Jesus showed His scars to the doubting Thomas.

John 20:24-29 (NKJV)
24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"
27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

We can’t see the physical scars of Jesus today, but it is not necessary. In some way, I think Jesus was reprimanding Thomas for not believing the testimony of his fellow disciples, who had already seen Jesus after His resurrection. Faith is the essential lesson for Thomas and for you and me. “Do not be unbelieving”, Jesus said to him. If you are unbelieving, Jesus can still show Himself to you. He is risen from the grave, and He is still alive. In addition, we have much more testimony to rely upon today than Thomas did then. The eternal, living, inerrant Word of God, the Bible, reveals Him clearly. His Holy Spirit speaks of Him, and the testimony of changed lives still speaks down through the ages.

Perhaps, you have wounds and scars of your own. Let Christ heal them for you, even the wounds that doubt and despair can bring. His hand is still outstretched. Take heart. Take hold. 02-19-09

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