From now on let no person trouble me [by making it necessary for me to vindicate my apostolic authority and the divine truth of my Gospel], for I bear on my body the [brand] marks of the Lord Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me]!
Galatians 6:17 (AMPC)
Earlier this year I was looking for a new Bible. Well, sort of.
See, I was trying to find the Amplified Classic Bible. Not the “newer” editions, but as original as I could find. We have several different translations in our house – King James Version (2), New King James Version, Holman Christian Study Bible, Apologetics Study Bible, Dake’s Reference Bible (KJV), plus maybe one or two others.
Now, I do use my Bible app or various websites for all of the other versions, including the Amplified Classic. But, there’s something about holding a Bible in your hand.
It took a while, but I finally found one on Postmark. I’d never heard of the site before, but I found a genuine AMPC Bible at a reasonable price. As one would expect, it was a used Bible. The seller claimed it had some wear with some writing in it, so I was hesitant at first. A week or so – maybe a few – went by before I finally pulled the trigger.
I took a shot that it was as the seller stated – genuine AMPC – and I bought it.
*
The first Bible I ever owned was a King James Version. It was given to me the night that I got saved. The church gave it to me as a gift.
I still have it somewhere, but I don’t use it much. Way back when, I bought my very own Bible – the New International Version (NIV). It was a Study Bible with plenty of notes and commentary and references. It was easy to read and understand for a newbie like me.
That Bible stuck with me for a couple of years or so before I gave it away to someone who didn’t have one. Back then, I didn’t understand it much, but I believe the Lord told me to give it to a woman at church.
Now that I think about it, I can’t remember what I bought next. Then again, I was more concerned with raising kids at that time than I was with reading the Bible. What I do remember was during a group prayer time at another church, I was using my old King James Bible. One time, I remember reading that little book and the words just jumping off the page like I knew exactly what it all meant.
Go figure. The one that is hardest for me to read – words jumping off the page.
*
Last night, I opened my Amplified Classic Bible. I began thinking about the previous owner. She attended a Baptist church in Oklahoma. The Bible had a date of 1969 on the inside cover.
She must have been studious or a devout reader of the Word. She had all kinds of notes written on the pages. There were notes written on an old banking note – perhaps an old check from the McClain County Bank?
Looking at her notes, I find that the words on this piece of paper go quite well with that verse in Galatians 6. She wrote:
Luke 7:36-50 1. Forgiveness + Gratitude We cannot judge others or condemn them for their sins or make them continually feel guilty for past sins. We must show a gracious kind, forgiving spirit.
She continued,
Rather we must point them to Christ, who Loves a sinner in spite of his sins.
Going back to the Galatians 6 verse I started with, she wrote at the top of the page, “Glorifying in the cross vs, 11-18“. Below that she wrote, “Can we see or hear the picture that is written here“.
Reading that Galatians passage over and over again, I was struck by verse 17.
... for I bear on my body the [brand] marks of the Lord Jesus [the wounds, scars, and other outward evidence of persecutions—these testify to His ownership of me]!
*
I bear the marks.
They aren’t outward marks that one can easily see. There are no visible scars or outward evidences of persecutions. Nothing is quite to the level of Paul, or any of the other apostles. Nor are they to the level of modern day martyrs killed for their faith.
But, there are marks nonetheless.
Paul was unafraid, unashamed and unbothered by any one or any thing. He proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ knowing full well that persecution would come. After all, he himself persecuted members of “The Way” – followers of Christ.
He knew the wounds and scars would come. He knew death would come. And yet, he still proclaimed the truth of Jesus Christ. Anything that he suffered would “testify to His ownership of ” him.
Paul endured hardship, suffering, pain, and persecution at the hands of religion. Today, some would say he endured it at the hands of “the church”. To Paul, it didn’t matter who was doing it. Paul continued to tell others about God, and what He did for him.
But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ’s sake.” (Philippians 3:7, AMPC)
I’ve endured some things in my life. Some would call them awful. Some would be shocked. Some would say that some things I did to myself, and I probably deserved it. Others would scoff at the “church hurt” that I have endured, despite the fact that it nearly killed me. While others would say, “See! That’s why I won’t go to church. You can’t trust Christians.”
And I would say, “You’re right. You can’t trust them.” But, the Bible doesn’t tell you to trust people though does it? As my mentor would say, “Trust God. Love people.”
It is hard to love people when we dwell in the victimhood of our wounds. And, it’s really hard to pray for them.
Matthew 6:14-15, James 5:16, Matthew 5:43-44 all describe how we should pray for others. For me, 1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV) says it all:
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—
*
We all bear marks in some form or fashion, but they present us with a choice. Do the marks own us? Or, do the marks we bear testify that we are owned by Christ?
Seriously. Ask yourself –
- Does the “church hurt” prevent you from pursuing a relationship with God?
- Do you hate “the church” because of what a “few” did or said to you? Or what “they” did to others?
- Does the idea of God as Father make you cringe because of what your own father did to you?
If the marks own us, then chances are we will answer “yes” to at least one of those questions. If the marks tell the world that we belong to Jesus, then our answers will be “no” to all of those.
Truth be told, I used to wish I didn’t have the marks. But, as I become more assured of who I am in God’s eyes, the more comfortable I am with telling others of His restoration story in me.
I’ve been hurt, and I have hurt. I have been restored, and I am restoring. I am loved, and I am loving. My Amplified Classic friend wrote this in her notes regarding Ephesians 5:
Since you are God's dear children you must try to be like him. your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us + gave his life for us
And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.
Ephesians 2:5 (AMPC)
I choose Christ. I choose to love. I choose to pray for others. I choose to bear the marks.
No matter what has happened in my life, I am His.
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Sunny Cadwallader 
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