“Unless I see the print of the nails in His hands, and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side — I will not believe it.” John 20:25
Thomas had missed seeing Jesus in the upper room, when He showed His wounded hands to the disciples. He declared that unless he saw the hands for himself and the print of the nails — he would not believe. If the print of the nails had not been in the hands of Him who stood in the midst that night — it would not have been the Christ. Nothing is Christ or of Christ — which does not bear the mark of the nails.
What does the print of the nails stand for? It told the disciples that this man before them was their friend who had died on the cross. It was the mark of identification. It also proved that He was risen and alive again. They thought they had lost Him — but now they had Him again. It was the proof, too, that He was the Messiah.
As we look at His hands — what do they tell us? That He was dead! Yes — but why? The wounds in His hands tell us that He died as our Redeemer. He was the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world. “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.” The print of the nails tells us Jesus Christ loved us and gave Himself for us.
Christ wants to see the print of the nails also in us — in our hearts and lives. This does not mean we must be nailed on a cross. There is no need for another sacrifice for sin. Neither does it mean that we must wear actual nail wounds in our flesh. What He wishes is the print of the nails in our character, our disposition, our conduct, and our service of others.
The cross meant LOVE — love that stopped at no sacrifice. “He gave himself for us.” John writes: “He laid down his life for us — and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” This may not be required literally — but it is required in spirit and in act.
The nails of the true cross today are those decisions which crucify our selfishness. Whenever we deny ourselves for the love of others, whenever we give up ease or reputation for the unthankful — we are beginning to bear these sacred marks of the Crucified.
One way the print of the nails is shown is in getting on kindly with disagreeable people. A woman defined Christian love as “Loving people you don’t like.” Another told of struggling with a difficult person in her home. At last she cried out to Christ, who seemed to say, “Can’t you love her for my sake?” She yielded, and peace filled her heart.
Or take it in service. Jesus humbled Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant. His whole life was serving. He never said He was too tired to help. He poured out His life in doing good to others, often to those most unworthy and ungrateful. Anybody can serve kind and worthy friends. There is no print of the nails in such service. The good Samaritan served a man who would have spurned him.
Christ wants to see the print of the nails also in our spirit. Do we think of what it is to be Christlike in temper and mood? Some Christians are so touchy their friends must measure every word. Some have no control of their temper. These are not prints of the nails of Christ’s cross.
It is not easy to keep sweet, to give the soft answer, to return kindness for unkindness, to overcome evil with good. Yet these are the print of the nails, the true adornment of Christian life. “Love is patient, and is kind.” Love “is not provoked.” Love “seeks not its own.”
We see the print of nails in Christ’s life. He never did a selfish thing, never spoke a selfish word. It was not easy, either, for Him — but the love in His heart never failed. It is in doing the hard things of love — that the print of the nails is seen. We show the print of the nails when we prove honest and honorable in our dealings with others even at cost to ourselves.
“How can I learn the lesson?” someone asks. Christ will teach you. He says, “Come unto me, and learn of me.” Our selfish hearts are capable of being ennobled by the riches of His love, compassion, and sympathy.
