"Walking Around Wounded"

Scripture: John 20:19-21

 "Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. And when He had so said, He showed unto them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." John 20:19-21

 From the time that He was crucified until this Sunday night scene in John 20, Jesus could have healed himself by now.  He had accomplished his assignment by dying on the cross and being raised from the dead.  The blood of redemption had already been shed. He had declared "it is finished."  But yet some forty-eight hours or more later He's walking around wounded. He could have bandaged His wounds or made some effort to conceal them.  He could have gone into hiding until His wounds healed and there was no evidence of the beating he had encountered. Instead, He is walking around wounded and He's showing them to people as if they were trophies won after a major competition.

 Jesus demonstrates that the victorious person is one who can walk wounded.  Too often we allow our wounds to become our reasons for isolation and resignation.  Many have been wounded and have allowed their wounds to usher them into a state of depression.  Follow the example of Jesus.  Learn to walk wounded and show them as trophies.  A poet once wrote "I am sore wounded but not slain. I will lay me down and bleed a while and then rise up to fight again."