While this inquiry may strike some as a mere piece of skeptical theology, it is actually an important question. Does the Lord Jesus still bear the scars he received during his suffering and death? In this article I will argue, “Yes”: Jesus will forever bear the scars from his redemptive work.
Jesus On Earth After the Resurrection
The first piece of evidence that leads us in to an affirmative answer is the fact that Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection bearing his scars. Indeed, Jesus appealed to the spear wound in his side and the nail marks in his hands to help convince Thomas that he had really died and been raised from the dead.
Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:26-29).
These wounds apparently did not disable Jesus from physical activity, for John tells us that after he spoke to Thomas, Jesus again revealed himself to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, even making them a breakfast of fish and bread (John 21:4-14). Luke reports that after his resurrection, Jesus was found walking with two of his disciples along the road to Emmaus, eventually joining them for a meal (Luke 24:13-30) and then preparing them for the coming Holy Spirit and their subsequent mission (Acts 1:8).
Jesus in Glory
What about Jesus after his ascension? The book of Revelation gives us some insight into the nature of Jesus’ glorified body in the first chapter. John describes his vision of the glorified Jesus with words that emphasize his deity, authority, and power.
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands, one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength (Rev 1:12-16).
John uses several similes in his attempt to describe this nearly inexpressible vision. The glorified Son is clothed with a long robe and golden sash, demonstrating both his kingly and high priestly authority. His hair matches the description of the Ancient of Days in Daniel 7:9, thus underscoring the Son’s equality with his Father. His eyes were like a flame of fire, for they are a blaze of holiness, able to penetrate the human heart and lay bare every thought, feeling, and motive. His feet were like “burnished bronze,” bright with glory and representing his authority to render judgement. Even his voice declares that he is the God of all creation, for it is like the “roar of many waters.” The Lord Jesus oversees the church, represented by the seven stars (see Rev 2-3), and by his word, he judges his enemies and purifies his people. Through his face shines the brightness of divine glory like it did at the transfiguration John witnessed sixty years prior (see Matt 17:2).
One might argue that this description of Jesus does not mention any of his scars and thus should lead us to conclude that Jesus no longer bears the marks of his scourging and execution. But this would be to argue from silence and to assume that by not mentioning Jesus’ scars, John means to tell us that Jesus no longer has them. But is this a legitimate assumption?
We must remember that John also wrote the account of Jesus’ appearance to Thomas (John 20:26-29). If his intention in Revelation 1:12-16 was to teach his readers that Jesus no longer bears his scars, it makes more sense, rather than remaining silent, to address what his readers would have learned from John 20:26-29—namely, that prior to his ascension, Jesus still had his scars. If Jesus no longer had his scars in Revelation 1:12-16, it seems more likely that John would address this issue directly rather than remain silent, for this scenario would be remarkably different than his post-resurrection appearances to his disciples.
At the very least, we see that nothing in the description of Jesus in glory defeats the claim that Jesus still bears his scars in heaven. But we can say more than this: John’s description of Jesus in Revelation 5:6-14 makes it clear that John does not intend to communicate that Jesus’ scars have been removed in his glorified state.
“The Lamb who Was Slain”
In Revelation 5, John describes a situation in heaven where God the Father is holding a scroll with seven unbroken seals (Rev 5:1). When a nearby angel asks who is worthy to open this scroll, John begins to weep because he cannot locate anyone to fulfill this duty. The angel, however, exhorts John to stop weeping because “The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll with its seven seals” (Rev 5:5). In the following verses, John describes the Lord Jesus as a Lamb standing as though it was slain (5:6). Now, this description contains metaphorical elements, for this Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. Nevertheless, the Lamb in the vision appears to John as though it had been slain—that is, his appearance indicates that he has suffered death by way of execution.
The Lamb nevertheless takes the scroll—an action which causes the twenty-four elders to fall down and worship him, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev 5:9). According to the worship of these twenty-four elders, the Lamb’s worthiness is rooted in the reality that his bloody death accomplished the redemption of people from all over the world.
But the worship doesn’t stop there. Immediately after John witnessed the elders praising the Lamb, he sees the living creatures from 5:6 and a massive group of angels join in the chorus, saying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Rev 5:12). Again, the worship rendered to the Son is offered precisely because he was the “Lamb who was slain” (5:11). It seems odd for these creatures to ground Christ’s worthiness to be worshipped in his identify as the slain Lamb if he no longer bears the marks of his death.
Therefore, I think we have solid warrant to believe that Jesus still bears the scars of his execution and death, and that he will always bear these scars. Why? So that we will be reminded for all eternity of his great love for his Father’s glory and his great love for sinners and thus worship him for what he has done.
But What About My Glorified Body?
One reason Christians might hesitate to affirm that Jesus will bear his scars for all eternity is that they are looking forward to a new body when they are resurrected, and they are afraid that Christ retaining his scars means that their resurrection bodies will also bear the scars of this life. “If Jesus still bears the wounds of his crucifixion, how can I know that I won’t bear the physical wounds and abnormalities I endured in this life?” I can understand why this may cause a Christian a little spiritual consternation. Nevertheless, as we will see, this is an unjustified concern.
First, Jesus’ scars are unique. Although we may suffer forChrist in this life, our suffering is never redemptive in the way that Christ’s suffering was. Only Christ’s death pays the penalty of sin (1 Cor 15:3-4). Only Jesus’ death bears the wrath of God (Rom 3:21-26). Only Jesus’ death purchased men and women from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9). Our suffering and death do not add to Christ’s work of redemption. For this reason, we should expect that Jesus’ glorified body will forever bear the scars of his redemptive work precisely because he is the Savior and we are not.
Our resurrected bodies, therefore, will be like Jesus’ in that they are renewed, immortal, and incorruptible (1 Cor 15:35-49), but they will be unlike Jesus’ body because they never bore the wrath of God in the place of sinners. Jesus will be worshipped for all eternity precisely because he is the Lamb slain for sinners. We will never hold such an exalted title.
Second, Jesus’ earthly miracles inform us of what the future holds for his disciples. Specifically, Jesus’ healings were miracles of restoration—repairing what had been broken by the fall and curse. Jesus gave sight to the blind and enabled paralyzed men to walk again. He healed lifelong illnesses and debilitating ailments. Yes, these miracles were meant to underscore Jesus’ divine identity and mission (John 5:36), but they also gave people a taste of the kingdom and showing how God would someday overcome the fall and curse through Jesus the King.
This fits well with how the rest of the New Testament prepares Christians for our eternal future. We will be resurrected in glorified bodies (1 Cor 15:35-49) to dwell on a new earth (Rev 21:1) in which the curse will be erased: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). Christians can eagerly look forward to the day when they will receive a new body that will no longer bear the effects of the curse (Rom 8:23). Jesus, however, will forever have the scars of redemption, precisely because he bore the curse for us (Gal 3:10-13). These scars are a particular and unique glory for Christ, and we will forever worship him for what these wounds accomplished.
