5 minute read
That'll Leave a Mark
by Marvin Bublitz
“That’ll leave a mark.” That’s a phrase I often heard on the farm or working in the machine shop. Someone would drop something on their foot, bump their head on a low beam, or strike the wrong nail with the hammer—and then you would hear someone say: “That’ll leave a mark.” Usually it was meant in jest, but it was often true.
A trip to the hospital and a few stitches later, one was left wondering if there would be a mark left—a scar to remind you of the event. Some of you have such scars. No doubt you can recall the circumstance that led to the mark you bear. Over time they may fade, or you may try to cover them, but they remain. Some, like broken bones, are hidden, but every time it rains you are reminded.
One day as I was trying to pry up a log, the shovel handle slipped. I can still see the blood running down my brother’s lip. Mom ran him to the hospital. He needed a few stitches, but no lasting mark was left—at least not on him. Every time I hear someone say, “that’ll leave a mark,” I see my brother’s bloody lip. I guess you could say I am the one who bears that scar.
Not all the scars we bear are the result of a physical injury. Someone may have said or done something against you, and their words or deeds left a mark on you. You might try to ignore it or laugh it off. Yet, the pain remains. Others may not see the mark. You, however, carry it with you.
Sometimes we are the ones who leave a mark on others—with a careless word or one said in anger. Rather than a slip of a shovel handle, a slip of the tongue leaves its mark. Because we bear the mark and scar of sin, this happens far too often, even among godly church people. The struggle for control or to be the one in the right (as we see it) leaves its mark on many a congregation or convention meeting. We bear the scars inflicted upon us by others. They bear the scars we have inflicted upon them.
The only way to deal with these sinful scars is with more marks and scars. From the order of Holy Baptism: “The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life… Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.”
God has put His mark on us. We are reminded of that also at a committal: “May God the Father, who created this body; may God the Son, who by His blood redeemed this body; may God the Holy Spirit, who by Holy Baptism sanctified this body to be His temple, keep these remains to the day of the resurrection of all flesh” (LSB Agenda).
And Peter 2:24 reminds us that Jesus “Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus shows the marks of our redemption in His hands and side. He took that mark so that we might have forgiveness for the sinful marks and scars inflicted on others and ourselves. “Behold,” He tells us, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16).
Jesus put His mark and name on us in Holy Baptism and marked Himself with our name. Our loving God marks us as His own. He bore our sin on the cross, and the marks of our salvation will be seen by all in the judgement. Those who have rejected Him and pierced Him will see. And those who look to Him in faith for forgiveness and salvation will see. To those us of who believe, He promises to remove every tear from our eyes and every scar of our mind, body, and spirit for eternity.
Crown Him the Lord of love. Behold His hands and side,
Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky Can fully bear that sight,
But downward bend their wond’ring eyes At mysteries so bright.
Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save.
His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring And lives that death may die.
— LSB 525:3-4 —
