The Scars of the Great

Call to Prayer 

Title: The Scars of the Great

By: Daniel Peter

Date: 12.02.2024

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From now on, let no one give me trouble, for I carry the scars of the Lord Jesus in my body  Galatians 6:17 LSV

When Jesus Christ was approached by James and John, they desired of Him that they should sit at his right and His left in His glory (See Mark 10:35-45). In every kingdom, those who sit closest to the king are His most important officials. Invariably, James and John were asking to be the greatest among Jesus’ disciples. The response of Jesus to them revealed the price of that which they desired.

Though greatness is a gift of grace, there is a price for it. After James and John made their request, Jesus Christ answered and said “… Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?... (Matt 20:22 )”. The cup Jesus drank from and the baptism he was baptized with is the suffering of the cross that He had to endure. The price for greatness is suffering (the suffering of the cross).

Apostle Paul who became the greatest among the Apostles had His fair share of suffering, through persecution he endured and the afflictions in his flesh ( See 2 Cor. 11:23 – 33, 2 Cor. 12: 7 -9). In one of his letters, Apostle Paul said “… I bear the marks (scars) of Christ…” (Gal. 6:17). The scars were the evidence that he had shared in the sufferings of Christ, for only when we share in His suffering can we share in His glory (See Rom. 8:17).

The reason suffering is the price for greatness is that suffering makes us conform to the image of the least (the last), and the last shall become first (the greatest). So when we go through difficult seasons of life, let’s set our eyes on the glory ahead; the exaltation to the first position that awaits us. And His glory far outweighs the suffering we may need to endure.

Prayer Point

Let’s thank God for His word today. Let us ask Him to help us see Him in our situation.