Fifth Tuesday in Lent Devotion

By His Wounds                                                   Fifth Tuesday in Lent - March 23, 2021

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.” (John 20:27)

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

LSB 425 – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

(Verse 3 of this week’s hymn served as inspiration for today’s devotion.)

During a devotion I heard on KFUO radio, I heard a Pastor say a deep and profound thing: “The only man-made things in heaven are the wounds in Jesus hands, feet, and side.”  Before this, I had not really thought about this.  And even though we weren’t actually present 2000 years ago, we are the one’s who gave Him those wounds.  I was told once that when filming the “Passion of the Christ,” director Mel Gibson (a veteran actor) did actually film part of himself in the movie. Apparently, the arm and hand holding the hammer that pounds the spikes into Jesus’ hands and feet belong to Mel Gibson himself.  The director in a simple way was confessing that he too put Jesus on the cross.

Our sins – every one of them, great or small – put Jesus on the cross.  He died on the cross in our place, paying for those sins.  And as it says in our Isaiah passage above, it is by His wounds, that we are healed.  His wounds are there because of our sins, but because of those wounds, we have forgiveness, life, and salvation!  Therefore, even though they certainly weren’t given to Him out of love (as they pounded spikes right into His hands and feet), the wounds have become emblems of His incredible love for us.

Prayer

Good and Gracious Heavenly Father, your son Jesus allowed Himself to be tortured and put to death out of His love for us.  Help us to see the wounds in His hands, feet, and side as emblems of your love for us – that you gave up everything so that we might be saved.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Rev. Matthew D. Roeglin – Blessed Savior Lutheran Church