These Scars!
The wounds of Jesus are a display of His love, purity, and power, and are a precious balm that heals the scars of sin.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the significance of Christ's wounds in heaven, portraying them as His glories and sacred ornaments that reflect His love and sacrifice. He describes Jesus as both pure and crimson, highlighting the beauty found in His suffering and the redemptive power of His scars. Spurgeon argues that these wounds are more precious than any earthly splendor, serving as trophies of His victory and reminders of His love for humanity. The preacher encourages believers to cherish the wounds of Christ, as they symbolize healing and grace, ultimately leading to eternal bliss. The sermon calls for a deeper appreciation of the scars that signify Christ's atonement and the love He has for His people.
Text
"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne!" Revelation 5:6
Why should our exalted Lord appear in heaven--with His wounds? The wounds of Jesus are--His glories, His jewels, His sacred ornaments. To the eye of the believer, Jesus is lovely, because He is "white and ruddy"; white with innocence, and ruddy with His own blood. We see Him as the Lily of matchless purity--and as the Rose crimsoned with His own gore. Christ is lovely in His life and His teaching--but oh! there never was such a matchless Christ as He who hung upon the cross! There we behold all His beauties in perfection, all His attributes developed, all His love drawn out, all His character expressed!
Beloved, the wounds of Jesus are far more lovely in our eyes--than all the splendor and pomp of kings! The thorny crown is more attractive than any imperial diadem. Jesus wears the appearance of a slain Lamb--as His court dress in which He wooed our souls, and redeemed them by His complete atonement.
Nor are these only the ornaments of Christ--they are the trophies of His love and of His victory! He has redeemed for Himself a great multitude whom no man can number--and these scars are the memorials of the fight! Ah! if Christ delights to retain the thought of His sufferings for His people--how precious should His wounds be to us!
"Behold how every wound of His,
A precious balm distills,
Which heals the scars that sin had made,
And cures all mortal ills.
Those wounds are mouths that preach His grace;
The ensigns of His love;
The seals of our expected bliss,
In paradise above!"
Sermon Outline
- The Wounds of Jesus as Ornaments
- The Wounds as Trophies of Christ's Victory
- The Significance of Christ's Wounds
- The Wounds as a Precious Balm
- The Wounds as a Seal of Our Expected Bliss
Key Quotes
“The wounds of Jesus are far more lovely in our eyes--than all the splendor and pomp of kings!” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Behold how every wound of His, A precious balm distills, Which heals the scars that sin had made, And cures all mortal ills.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Those wounds are mouths that preach His grace; The ensigns of His love; The seals of our expected bliss, In paradise above!” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- We should view the wounds of Jesus as lovely and attractive, and as a display of His love and character.
- The wounds of Jesus are a reminder of His power and love, and should be cherished and revered.
- The wounds of Jesus are a precious balm that heals the scars of sin, and should be a source of hope and comfort for us.