Transforming Wounds: The Journey from Pain to Healing

 

Summary

In reflecting on the nature of wounds and healing, I shared a personal story from my childhood that illustrated how deep wounds can leave lasting scars. These scars, both physical and emotional, shape our lives and influence our actions. The story of Jesus appearing to His disciples after His resurrection, showing His wounds, serves as a powerful metaphor for how God can transform our wounds into passion marks. Jesus' wounds were not hidden; they were a testament to His suffering and His victory over death. Similarly, our wounds can become marks of passion, signifying not just our pain but also our healing and growth.

The disciples were initially fearful, hiding behind locked doors, but Jesus' presence and His peace transformed their fear into joy. This transformation is a reminder that God can turn our wounds into sources of strength and healing. The key to this transformation lies in processing our raw emotions, understanding the stories behind our wounds, and using our pain to heal ourselves and others. Jesus' example shows us that before we can truly heal, we must confront and process our feelings, allowing God to work through us.

Thomas, often labeled as "Doubting Thomas," represents the struggle many of us face in believing in the possibility of healing and resurrection. His story is not just about doubt but about disappointment and the challenge of changing the narrative from death to life. Our wounds, like those of Jesus, can serve as a testament to God's power to heal and transform. By sharing our stories and using our pain to empathize with others, we can turn our wounds into passion marks that inspire and heal.

Ultimately, the journey of healing is about allowing God to work through our brokenness, using our experiences to help others and to find our true selves. The Holy Spirit, our helper, empowers us to overcome our wounds and to live lives marked by healing and wholeness. As we embrace our wounds and allow God to transform them, we discover the true power of His love and grace in our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. Transforming Wounds into Passion Marks: Our wounds, like those of Jesus, can become marks of passion that signify healing and growth. By confronting and processing our emotions, we allow God to transform our pain into strength. This transformation requires us to be open about our wounds and to use them as a source of empathy and healing for others. [05:31]

2. The Power of Peace and Forgiveness: Jesus' first words to His disciples after His resurrection were "Peace be with you." This peace comes from processing raw emotions and forgiving those who have hurt us. By doing so, we can approach others with peace and not seek validation from them, but rather offer them what they need. [13:53]

3. Understanding Wound Stories: Behind every wound is a story that shapes our feelings and behaviors. Changing the narrative of our wounds from death to life allows us to change our feelings and ultimately our healing. This shift in perspective helps us to see our wounds as part of God's greater plan for our lives. [22:14]

4. Empathy Through Shared Pain: Jesus' open wounds allowed Thomas to believe in His resurrection. Similarly, our openness about our wounds can help others feel safe to share their own. By empathizing with others' struggles, we create a community of healing and support, reflecting the love of Christ. [27:29]

5. The Role of the Holy Spirit in Healing: The Holy Spirit, our helper, empowers us to overcome our wounds and live lives marked by healing and wholeness. By relying on the Spirit, we find true joy, peace, and self-control, allowing us to give and receive love in its fullest form. [33:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:05] - Childhood Wounds and Scars
- [04:56] - Jesus' Wounds and Resurrection
- [05:31] - Turning Wounds into Passion Marks
- [10:13] - The Challenge of Forgiveness
- [13:53] - Processing Raw Emotions
- [20:57] - Paying Attention to Wound Stories
- [22:14] - Thomas' Story of Disappointment
- [27:29] - Empathy Through Shared Pain
- [28:38] - The Importance of Feeling
- [31:47] - Healing Through Sharing
- [33:48] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [35:00] - Invitation to Healing

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 20:19-29

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#### Observation Questions
1. What were the disciples doing when Jesus first appeared to them after His resurrection, and how did they react? [02:05]
2. How did Jesus demonstrate His wounds to the disciples, and what was the significance of this action? [04:56]
3. What was Thomas's initial reaction to the news of Jesus' resurrection, and how did Jesus address his doubts? [22:14]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Jesus showing His wounds to the disciples illustrate the concept of transforming wounds into passion marks? [05:31]
2. In what ways does the peace that Jesus offers differ from the peace that the world offers, according to the sermon? [13:53]
3. How does the sermon suggest that understanding the story behind our wounds can lead to healing and transformation? [22:14]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a personal wound that has left a lasting impact on your life. How can you begin to transform this wound into a passion mark that signifies healing and growth? [05:31]
2. Jesus offered peace to His disciples despite their abandonment. How can you cultivate a similar peace in your relationships, especially with those who have hurt you? [13:53]
3. Consider a time when you doubted the possibility of healing or change in your life. How can Thomas's story encourage you to believe in transformation? [22:14]
4. How can you use your own experiences of pain to empathize with and support others in your community? What steps can you take to create a safe space for sharing and healing? [27:29]
5. The sermon emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in healing. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit to guide you through your journey of healing and wholeness? [33:48]
6. Identify a wound story in your life that you have not fully processed. What practical steps can you take this week to begin understanding and changing the narrative of this story? [20:57]
7. How can you actively participate in a community of healing and support, reflecting the love of Christ to those around you? [28:38]

Devotional

Day 1: Transforming Wounds into Passion Marks
Our wounds, like those of Jesus, can become marks of passion that signify healing and growth. By confronting and processing our emotions, we allow God to transform our pain into strength. This transformation requires us to be open about our wounds and to use them as a source of empathy and healing for others. [05:31]

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a wound in your life that you have been hiding. How can you begin to share this wound with someone you trust, allowing God to transform it into a source of strength and empathy?


Day 2: The Power of Peace and Forgiveness
Jesus' first words to His disciples after His resurrection were "Peace be with you." This peace comes from processing raw emotions and forgiving those who have hurt us. By doing so, we can approach others with peace and not seek validation from them, but rather offer them what they need. [13:53]

"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone you need to forgive. What steps can you take today to begin the process of forgiveness and extend peace to them?


Day 3: Understanding Wound Stories
Behind every wound is a story that shapes our feelings and behaviors. Changing the narrative of our wounds from death to life allows us to change our feelings and ultimately our healing. This shift in perspective helps us to see our wounds as part of God's greater plan for our lives. [22:14]

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a wound story in your life. How can you reframe this story to see it as part of God's greater plan for your growth and healing?


Day 4: Empathy Through Shared Pain
Jesus' open wounds allowed Thomas to believe in His resurrection. Similarly, our openness about our wounds can help others feel safe to share their own. By empathizing with others' struggles, we create a community of healing and support, reflecting the love of Christ. [27:29]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: Think of someone who is struggling with a similar wound as yours. How can you reach out to them today and offer empathy and support?


Day 5: The Role of the Holy Spirit in Healing
The Holy Spirit, our helper, empowers us to overcome our wounds and live lives marked by healing and wholeness. By relying on the Spirit, we find true joy, peace, and self-control, allowing us to give and receive love in its fullest form. [33:48]

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." (John 14:26, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need the Holy Spirit's help to overcome a wound? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to guide you in this area today?

Quotes

"scarred and they say that time heals all wounds but time does not erase all scars and my question to you is what do you do when you're wounded and so I'd like for those who are able if you would stand with me as I look for an answer that can help us deal with the wounds that have hurt us in John chapter 20 verse 19 says that Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were raid of the Jewish leaders and suddenly Jesus was standing there好不好 them and he said peace be with you as he spoke he showed them the what wounds and his hands on his side they were filled with joy when they saw the Lord and again he said peace be with you as the father has sent me so I am sending you to do what then he breathed on them and he said receive the help the Holy Spirit if you do what the Latin word forgive means to let go it doesn't just mean I'm sorry if you let go of anyone's sins and they are let go of verse 23 says but if you do not let go then they are not forgiven 24 one of the the 12 disciples Thomas nicknamed the twin was not with the others when Jesus came they told him we've seen the Lord but he replied cap all caps I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds at his hands and put my fingers into them and place my hand into the what wound in his side eight days later the disciples were together again and this time Thomas was with them the doors were locked again but suddenly as before Jesus was standing among them peace be with you he said then Thomas peace be with you as he spoke he said then Thomas be with you as the disciples" [00:02:40]

"Because before God can fully use you, he has to wound you. So that when he wounds you and he heals you, he'll give you power to heal others. He can take your seat. He will have your seat. And before he can use you, he has to wound you so he can heal you and you will have power to heal." [00:05:23] (27 seconds)

"But I'm not talking about those kind of passion marks. I'm talking about the ones where you were hit. You were hurt. It has wounded you. You're not better. You've turned better. You want to forgive, but you cannot forget. I'm talking about those kind of passion marks because all of us have either been wounded, will be wounded or in a relationship with someone who has been wounded. And there's something about the nature of wounds that makes it hard to heal." [00:06:19] (28 seconds)

"do I get better if on the hard drive of my soul is what they did to me, and I keep bringing it up every time they see me. I try to act like I forgot, but I cannot forget what you did to me, and so, Lord, I want to feel better. All I can say is I forgive you, but in my heart, I still hold it against you, but if I hold it against you and I don't let it go, then I hold myself back, so, Lord, how do I forget what's been singed in my heart?" [00:12:21] (29 seconds)

"Let me tell you something. Here's what you got to do to deal with your wounds, because that's what God wants for Christmas. If you can deal with this, it can save you some money, because some of us are buying and spending and overeating and overdrinking and oversmoking and oversexing, because we got a blunt. The pain that hurt us from years ago, I got to do something to deal with what's in my head, and, Lord, if you don't help me, I will smoke my mind out to feel better about what's hurting, but, boy, if you can get this up, you can be freed up and save you some money on trees." [00:13:03] (38 seconds)

"The second move or action you have to take is you have to pay attention to your wound story. Behind every wound, there is a what? A story. And the third thing you have to do is you have to use your pain to feel and heal. Use your pain to feel and heal. Use your pain to do what? Yeah. Well, what do you mean by process my raw emotions? Or my raw feelings?" [00:13:53] (31 seconds)

"your behavior you have to change your feelings and in order to change your feelings you have to change the story behind how you feel I'm the only one that felt that the story is that he's dead so how I feel is disappointed and as a result of my disappointment I behave like I don't believe even though I know you walk with him even though I know the people who are giving me the testimony can be trusted I don't believe it because you should have never survived what you went through so I got to change the story from death to life in order to believe which is why he had to show his wounds to prove that although it looked dead I'm still alive all y 'all gonna get this in a few moments I am looking at some people in this place who were wounded but still look good I'm looking at some people who are hard to believe that if anybody ever knew that the bullet had its name had your name on it that you should not have survived that car crash two times it should have took you out and I'm looking at you and you're looking at me and I'm looking at you and you're looking at me and I'm telling you when I look at how you were raised when I look at what people accomplished that came from your family background you should not be sitting in the church with your right mind looking at me while I'm looking at you I have a hard time believing when I look at it the kind of job you have in the house you live in when I look at where you came from it's hard to believe that you actually survived the abuse you took but I'm here to tell you the reason why God had to wound you is to turn doubters into believers so that people don't have to read about what happened to Jesus 2 ,000 years ago the same spirit that brought Jesus up out of the grave he says I put in my children so when my children get knocked down it looked like they shouldn't have survived it but when they rise up and they stand people got to have the testimony of God like Thomas did my Lord and my God the only way you could have got through what you got through is that God had his hand on you what's the story it looked like you were dead but the new story" [00:22:50] (128 seconds)

"to prove you that his power ain't just in the bible his power is marked in your life and he's marked you for a reason you because there's often times you forget what god has done because you got to learn how to use your pain to feel and to what that's that's what we said you got to do to turn your wounds into passion marks and what do you mean how does this even work when jesus shows up he shows his wounds to thomas his wounds and the hands were made by spikes that are five to seven inches long and about half an inch thick so the wounds are pretty large and he says i need you to put your hand into the womb that's on my side so it tells me something about the nature of his wounds that his wounds were not covered they were open" [00:26:19] (65 seconds)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?