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Did you know that slave owners in the first century would often brand their slaves like cattle to show ownership? Obviously, our Lord doesn’t do that with us, but did you know that Paul referred to the scars on his body as the brand of Christ! In fact Paul had stockpiled at least 195 ugly scar producing lashes all over his body in the service for Christ (cf. 2 Cor 11:23-28)!
Whips used for scourging back then were usually comprised of a handle having several cords with pieces of bone, shards of pottery, metal, or other pain producing material attached to the end of each cord. To Paul these scars indicated that he was God’s personal property – “I bear in my body the marks [Gk, stigma] of the Lord Jesus.” His scars alone proved that he was no superficial saint; he was the real deal!
In contrast to Paul were the popular Galatian legalizers who were pushing circumcision as a symbol of “belonging to God” according to the law of Moses, a law no longer in effect by the completed work of Christ on the cross (Rom 2:28-29; 10:4). This group of people was more interested in the letter of the law by the outward sign of circumcision than the inward reality of the spirit of the law or another way of saying it is that they had an interest in the “rite without righteousness” (Gal 6:12-13).
People back then are no different than today. Many people are more than willing and eager to gather and go through the motions of the religiosity of rituals and ceremonies or to flock, sing, and listen to popular theology-light messages that stroke the self-esteem and make them feel good about themselves but make no demand for a change in lifestyle toward Christ-likeness or that which cost them anything. If you wanted a picture of easy believism that is it!
Paul, on the other hand, demonstrated that not only did his scars identify him as belonging to Jesus Christ; his allegiance to Christ was unquestionable. He was branded as a slave of Christ and referred to himself as much (Php 1:1, HCSB; Titus 1:1, HCSB), and he had plenty of scars to prove it!
Does this mean that Paul is setting forth an example of being branded for Christ as a way of identifying the true from the false? Thankfully, no; but he was weary of "the scarring of circumcision as proof of belonging to God" message. I can imagine Paul saying, “You want to see some scars? I’ll show you some scars, not scars from a rite [which by the way he did have] but scars from righteousness!”
We should not be naïve about any romantic or adventurous notion in following Christ; it comes with a price tag that many may not be willing to pay when push comes to shove. Suffering of some kind is associated with being Christ-like! Paul was especially called to suffer in his ministry (Acts 9:16), but we all have been called to take up our cross daily and follow Jesus which would suggest some form of suffering connected to following Christ (Lk 9:23). We live in a world that hates righteousness! We are outnumbered! We are in the minority! The cross people hang around their necks as jewelry could easily turn into a noose one day. This brings to mind the words of the Apostle Peter,
“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Pet 2:21).
It is an inescapable conclusion that suffering is an integral part of Christ-likeness and something to be anticipated and expected in service (living) for Christ (2 Tim 3:12). Now there’s a radical concept alien to post modern Christianity! The notion today is if we are not blessed by health and wealth, we are stressed, lacking faith! Suffering is baffling and usually related erroneously to some undermining sin in the life of a believer. There is nowhere on this planet we can go and live where spiritual warfare is not raging, nowhere (1 Pet 5:8-9). We are commanded to engage not escape (Eph 6:11).
Since we are not physically tortured for our faith in our country (yet), what identifies us as belonging to Christ? What distinguishes us from the non-believers? Some will point to things like circumcision, baptism, or going to church but these things are not proof that we bear any resemblance or association to Christ because the world can do these things as well. I like Guzik’s simple analogy,
“Circumcision and baptism do about the same thing that a label on a can does. If the outer label doesn’t match with what is on the inside, something is wrong! If there are carrots inside the can, you can put a label [that] says, ‘Peas’ but it doesn’t change what is inside the can. Being born again changes what is inside the can, and then you can put the appropriate label on the outside” (Commentary on Romans 2:28-29).
Guzik alluded to being born again, salvation! But that takes place in the heart and cannot be seen by man (Jn 3:8). Some believers do have the distinct honor of physically bearing the “marks” for the cause of Christ, but all born again believers are expected to manifest the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23; Mt 3:8; Php 1:11), the outward expression of an inward reality (the Holy Spirit resides in the heart) that only comes from a Spirit controlled life of being submitted and committed.
Jesus was brutally disfigured even before being crucified on the cross for our redemption. Between the beatings, bleeding, and the bruising from the scourging,
“Many people were shocked when they saw him; he was so disfigured that he hardly looked human (Isa 52:14, GNT).
But Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). Glory!
Someone had remarked that the scars on Jesus’ body are the only man-made thing in heaven. But do you recall another verse that goes something like this,
“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet 2:24).
Those marks brought healing to us. We are to take that salvation and “live for righteousness.” This is what got Paul all scarred up over. Paul was well aware of being the target for "shooting the messenger" syndrome, but he did not shrink from his duties.
This is our sign that we belong to Him - that we "live for righteousness," no matter what. And in the process of our obedience should we suffer persecution, may the Lord strengthen our resolve to stay the course for we are, indeed, called to share in His suffering; how could we do any less? If we claim to be an apple tree, we need to show the world our apples. If the world is allowed to make cider of us, may we be an oblation to a lost and dying world that is well pleasing to Him.
This is our sign that we belong to Him - that we "live for righteousness," no matter what. And in the process of our obedience should we suffer persecution, may the Lord strengthen our resolve to stay the course for we are, indeed, called to share in His suffering; how could we do any less? If we claim to be an apple tree, we need to show the world our apples. If the world is allowed to make cider of us, may we be an oblation to a lost and dying world that is well pleasing to Him.
Many of our dear brothers and sisters in other countries are being persecuted for their faith even now and consider it an honor that God would consider them worthy to suffer or to even to die for Him (Mt 5:10-12). It makes my struggles seem so small and shameful in comparison. What stigma or sign of the Lord Jesus do we have that testifies to the world that we belong to God, that we are the real deal and not some superficial saint?
“You will know them by their fruits,” Jesus said (Mt 7:16). <><
“You will know them by their fruits,” Jesus said (Mt 7:16). <><
