By JOHN OKWII
The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not without visible proof. When He rose from the dead, He did not return with a flawless body devoid of scars; rather, He came back bearing the marks of the nails in His hands and the wound in His side. He did not erase the wounds—He kept them.
This truth carries profound meaning, especially in a nation like Nigeria where many are deeply wounded by killings, banditry, terrorism, Fulani militia attacks, ethnic cleansing, Christian persecution, injustice and silence.
Across the land, countless individuals have lost fathers, mothers, children, homes, churches, farms and even hope. Yet, the message remains clear: if Christ kept His wounds, then the wounds of His people are not useless.In John 20:27, Jesus invites Thomas to see and touch His wounds, saying, “Reach here your finger, and behold My hands… and reach here your hand and thrust it into My side.”
He did not dismiss the pain or ask that it be forgotten; instead, He presented it openly. This demonstrates that resurrection does not mean the denial of suffering. Faith is not about pretending that nothing happened; Christianity is truth anchored in hope.
The meaning of the wounds
Within African communities, a person who survives an attack or conflict often carries visible scars or even a lasting limp. These marks are not signs of shame but testimonies of survival—they declare that though attacked, the individual endured.In the same way, Nigeria may be bleeding, but Christ calls His Church not to conceal its pain but to bring it before Him.
Wounds are not evidence of abandonment by God; rather, they testify that His people have passed through fire and are still standing. As Psalm 34:18 affirms, the Lord is near to those who are broken-hearted.
Power, purpose of the wounds
The wounds of Jesus, as revealed in Isaiah 53:5, are not ordinary wounds. “He was wounded for our transgressions… and with His stripes we are healed.” The nails were not merely instruments of torture; they were instruments of payment.
The spear was not merely an act of violence; it was an act of sacrifice.In moments when communities are attacked and believers are slaughtered, the troubling question arises: “Where is God?” The answer is found in the cross—God is not distant; He is wounded too. Christianity stands uniquely as the faith in which God enters human suffering and carries scars.
Therefore, when tragedies unfold across Plateau, Benue, Southern Kaduna, Borno, Zamfara and other parts of Nigeria, heaven is not silent. The cries of the martyrs, as seen in Revelation 6:9–10, rise before God, and He responds.
Tears are not wasted, and blood is not forgotten.The wounds of Christ also became undeniable proof of His victory. When Thomas encountered the risen Christ, he declared, “My Lord and my God!” The scars convinced him. In the same way, human pain often becomes the strongest sermon a believer can preach.
A widow who continues to worship after losing her husband in a violent attack becomes living evidence of faith. Her life answers the question many silently ask: “How can she still believe?”Sometimes, God allows the scar to remain because it will convince others that He is alive.
Purpose beyond pain, assurance of glory
The wounds did not halt the mission of Christ. In Luke 24:46–47, even after His resurrection, He commissioned His disciples to preach repentance and the remission of sins. This reveals that wounds are not an excuse to abandon purpose.
The Church in Nigeria may be wounded, but it must continue to preach, to pray and to shine. Though churches may be burnt and believers killed, the Gospel cannot be destroyed. As Romans 8:36–37 declares, in all these things, believers are more than conquerors.
In Revelation 5:6, Jesus is revealed in heaven as a Lamb that appears slain, still bearing marks. This signifies that suffering is not erased in eternity; it is preserved as testimony.
The world may forget afflicted communities, the media may ignore their pain, and authorities may deny their reality, but heaven keeps record.Justice, as assured in 2 Thessalonians 1:6, will surely come. In practical terms, believers are called to respond rightly to their wounds.
Wounds must not produce hatred, for bitterness becomes a second and more destructive attack. Hebrews 12:15 warns against allowing such roots to grow.
Forgiveness does not excuse wrongdoing; it prevents the offender from taking possession of one’s future. Likewise, wounds must be turned into prayer rather than revenge.
In a society plagued by cycles of retaliation, the Church must not descend into militancy but must stand in prayer, truth, advocacy and righteousness, trusting God’s declaration in Romans 12:19 that vengeance belongs to Him.Suffering should also produce compassion rather than coldness. Christ’s wounds deepened His mercy, and believers must reflect that same compassion.
The wounded Saviour understands a wounded Nigeria.In addition, the Church must strengthen community life—supporting widows, caring for orphans, rebuilding destroyed homes and churches, and bearing one another’s burdens as instructed in Galatians 6:2.
Final assurance for the wounded
Ultimately, four enduring truths emerge: the wounds did not stop Christ; the wounds proved His reality; the wounds brought healing to others; and the wounds followed Him into glory.
These truths affirm that suffering is not wasted in God’s divine plan.Nigeria may be bleeding, but it is not finished. The Church may be persecuted, but it is not defeated. Just as Christ rose with His wounds intact, so too will His people rise.
Their story does not end in burial; it ends in resurrection.What was meant for evil, God will turn to glory. As declared in John 11:25, He is the resurrection and the life.
Therefore, the wounds of believers will not destroy their faith, their tears will not overwhelm their destiny, and their pain will not cancel their calling.The Church in Nigeria will rise again—because He kept the wounds, and still rose.
Rev. Prof John Brown Okwii, the Serving Pastor, Assemblies of God Nigeria, Hwolshe Branch, along Yakubu Gowon Way, writes via johnbrownokwii@gmail.com