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Message from the Pastor

Pastor Danyal Mohammadzadeh

A Closer Look at the Crucifixion  – and More

Focusing on the magnificence of resurrection can lead us to close our eyes to the wounds of crucifixion. Yes, crucifixion was a traumatic event, not only for Jesus’ followers, family, and disciples; but for the human Jesus who suffered on the cross. The vision of the naked, humiliated, suffering, bleeding Jesus who experienced fear and trauma is one we hear of often. We have heard it from the disciples’ viewpoints frequently, but what would be Jesus’ narrative? How did he experience it? Wasn’t his resurrected body a response to the trauma he endured at the hands of others? Why did the resurrected Jesus keep the scars from his crucifixion? He could have had any resurrected body he desired, and yet he chose one identifiable, mainly by his scars, that could be seen and touched.

Jesus’ suffering was without question, intense. Jesus also rose again from that dark place of abuse and oppression, showing us we too can rise and heal. He was tortured, mocked, stripped, beaten, spit upon, and ultimately crucified – which was one of the worst forms of death in the ancient world. Matthew 27:27-30 gives us a clear view in which Jesus suffered physical, spiritual, sexual, and emotional abuse. Was Jesus sexually abused? Sexual abuse is not limited to forced physical touch, but includes any non-consensual exposure, which was part of Jesus’ torture on that Thursday evening and Friday morning.  Sexual abuse can be for the purpose of power, control, and humiliation. Jesus was forcibly stripped naked and publicly exposed for the purpose of power, control, and humiliation—fitting within the definition of sexual abuse.

Yes, our Christ knows trauma first-hand. He knows not only the physical pain of trauma, but he knows the psychological stress of impending threats, too. In the Garden of Gethsemane, as Jesus anticipates the coming crucifixion, He sweats drops of blood (Luke 22:44). The sufferer of trauma has far more in common with their savior than they might have thought.

Christ not only experienced trauma, but he bears the wounds of his suffering, eternally indicating that trauma is a wound that never fully heals… but it does not mean that we will never receive a new life, a new beginning, in which we can experience happiness, peace, and joy again. The wounds on His resurrected body are also a means of demonstrating solidarity with sufferers. He bears the marks of his trauma, so that the victims of trauma will know they have solidarity with Jesus Christ, their Savior. He knows about the impact of trauma. He cares about our wounds.

He bears in his body the wounds of his own past so that they might help us to believe in his compassion and gain a deep understanding. The wounds are not surface level scars, they remain gaping holes. Jesus’ scars are real and tangible, so much so that the doubting Thomas could place his finger in the holes that were in Jesus’ hands. Perhaps, Thomas is a symbol of people or events that could trigger Jesus’ PTSD.

God grants new life, new earth, and new heaven to all believers. However, there are many things that the victim of trauma will need to work through in the process of healing and recovery. There is no short-circuiting the hard work of processing and integrating traumatic memories, nor of stabilizing symptoms. Yet, a vital key for all that hard work is the amazing power of Divine support, that reveals itself through flesh-and-blood people, safe friends and family, trained counselors, who can help individuals and be present in the moment, and medications.

The pews of the church are filled with members whose bodies bear the burden of trauma from painful experiences. Some of us might suffer in silence, without speaking about our pain to anyone. Tears slide silently down our cheeks over the sacrament tray, sometimes we weep when we return home from worship. Even if we never see the tears, those who live with trauma are there, all around us. Perhaps this is you.

Jesus’ divine mission included reaching out to those who have been and will be traumatized. Until she touched the hem of his cloak, the woman with an issue of blood suffered the trauma of an incurable chronic illness for twelve years, spending all her money on physicians who could not cure her. Jesus’ response to her was, “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Luke 8:43–48). Her inability to be healed was a matter of inadequate medicine, not insufficient faith. He dispelled his disciples’ moral suspicions about a man with congenital blindness, saying, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents” (John 9:3). Jesus did not stigmatize anyone for a disability. It is not easy to perceive trauma unless we know what we’re looking for, and developing a discerning eye and compassionate heart for trauma survivors has the potential to change how we minister in the church. Since 2023, our congregation has started to make room for trauma healing at the church. It is the way that we understand the resurrection and offer it to all: the wounded body of Christ rose again from that dark place of abuse and oppression, and you too can rise in healing. Come and see!

Pastor Danyal