From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 6:17
There were pagan temples in Galatia where the people worshipped a so-called god named Cylebe. In those temples served a class of slaves who were devoted to the service of their deity. Everywhere those slaves went, people would recognize them because of a special brand, or tattoo, that they had received. Those indelible marks in their flesh were their proof of their devotion and commitment. And it is that image of those marks – the Greek word is ‘stigmata’ – that Paul uses in today’s text. Throughout the epistle to the Galatians, Paul defends his apostolic authority. As a final argument, he points to the marks on his body as the ultimate proof of his devotion to Christ. Every Christian devoted to our Lord will have some marks also.
There is no doubt that Paul’s body would bear many scars inflicted on him during his years of service. He describes some of events that would have produced such scars in 2 Corinthians 11:24-27: ‘Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.’ Paul is not complaining about his life; rather, he rejoices in the honour that he has been given to suffer such things for his Lord. But he points out that those same scars give him the credibility as a faithful witness, and they entitle him to the respect of other Christians who may or may not have suffered as he did.
Some of us have seen missionaries who bear the marks of enemies of the Gospel. Some of us have known Christians who have lost possessions, position, and homes because of their testimony. But what about us? How much has our testimony had an impact on our safety and comfort? No, we have not been stoned and left for dead in Lystra like Paul was (Acts 14:19), or flogged like he was in Philippi (Acts 16:22), but we have been scorned and mocked by some, if we have been truly faithful. The marks of the Lord Jesus will be all the more evident the greater our devotion to Him and to His service.
It’s OK for our bodies to be branded by scars received in the service of our Lord. These bodies are only temporary. But the reward for those scars is eternal. – Jim MacIntosh