Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre

Rev. 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

John 20:27 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.”

It is clear from the accounts of the resurrected Messiah that He has retained the wounds of His crucifixion.

What is the meaning of this? What do these wounds speak of to us?

First, they speak of the incarnation. It will take perhaps eternity to grasp the incarnation. To begin to comprehend the depth of that love that drove Him to such humiliation.

Phil. 2:6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.

Phil. 2:7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

Phil. 2:8 When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

And Having been exalted (see Phil 2:9), He retains the emblems of His humiliation. Forever His wounds will speak of this in the new heavens and the new earth. God humbled Himself to become a man, God the Son gave Himself to die on a cross! That is the light that will shine in the New City.

Secondly, His wounds speak of His victory on the cross. Forever His wounds will point to Golgotha, where Yeshua won the victory over sin and death, where He took our place, where He drank the cup of the wrath of God, where He bore our sins and secured our redemption. There He satisfied not only God’s justice and holiness but also God’s love and desire to unite us to Himself. Forever His wounds will remind us of our need for Him. Forever they will make us glad in such a love as His.

Thirdly, His wounds remind us of His call, “follow me.”

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

John 13:16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

John 13:17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

If we lose sight of our resurrected Messiah’s wounds, we will also lose our way. It is blessed to know and then live in that light.

“Handle me,” said Yeshua to His disciples.

Will you?

Blessings in Yeshua,

Ofer

Touches: Small Thoughts on a Very Big God.

Author: Ofer Amitai, Messianic pastor Jerusalem and Director of Israel Prayer Centre

7th April 2021.