I believe one of the reasons that tattoos have become so popular is because they provide an entry point for story telling. They become the evocative cover to our personal life magazines. While many of us are uncomfortable asking strangers to share their life stories, we find it much easier when they have already etched a symbolic welcome mat on their skin. Scars like tattoos are also emblems of memorable stories. The fact that Jesus retained His scars means that we will also retain ours. For those in Hell they will be painful reminders of how unfair life had been to them, but in heaven they will be glorious reminders of God’s power found in weakness. When we walk the streets of the New Jerusalem we will be able to see one another’s scars, they won’t, however, invoke pity, but rather epic tales of redeemed suffering. In heaven we won’t be spirits sitting on clouds strumming harps, but rather resurrected bodies sitting around campfires telling “scar”y stories.

*Title of a song by Search The City