Put your fingers in my pierced hands
An encounter with Jesus and trauma
Written by Julia Brinkmann – Operation Blessing Coordinator Europa
When I was thinking about the theme of this issue, I asked myself whether Jesus experienced the symptoms and pain of trauma in the face of his profound suffering.
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brough us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5) How deeply were all our wounds inscribed on his body? And could they be the visible signs of trauma?
When we talk about trauma here in the western world, we often mean others – the refugees, the mentally ill, those at war, those with a difficult past. Many are doing well: they own a house, garden, car, and go on vacation. Many Christians go to great churches and attend appealing church services. Behind the smooth façade, however, things often look different. But Jesus looks behind facades and high walls, he sees the well-hidden wounds. When we see the suffering of traumatized people in war zones on television, for example, it may be that Jesus also wants to reach us through this. Even so, we often don’t want to let the pain of others affect us, as it triggers our own wounds and hurts that we would rather keep hidden deep within. Thus, wounded Christians also seek shelter in the darkness, although they are called to be the light.
In a certain sense, Jesus’ body was not perfect when he rose from the dead. He still bore all five stigmata on his resurrected body. He was not ashamed of them and showed us his wounded hands so that we could lay our fingers in them. Like Thomas, who is often portrayed as a doubter because he asked Jesus to do just that. He could feel for himself that Jesus had overcome pain, suffering and all traumas. I believe that the marks on his resurrected body are the signs of his struggle and, above all, of the victory he won for us.
Traumas are encounters with death
– Shelly Rambo
Traumas are encounters with death, according to theologian Shelly Rambo. But Jesus overcame death and thereby gives us healing and new life. We all have wounds and some of us also have traumas, but Jesus Christ took away their power on the cross of Golgotha. And so, we can confidently confess like Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
