“Behold, in the midst of the throne … stood a Lamb as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6)

We see the King of kings appear in Heaven with His wounds. They are His marks of glory, His jewels, His sacred ornaments. To the eye of the redeemed, the slain Christ is radiant with His flowing blood. Christ was lovely when He healed the sick and cast out demons, but oh! He was absolute perfection when He hung on the cross. There we behold His purpose, plan and execution for our redemption. 

 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). 

 On the cross, all His beautiful qualities were manifested, all His attributes developed, all His love drawn out, all His character expressed. Beloved, the wounds of Christ are cherished and honored far more than the splendor and pomp of kings. The thorny crown is more precious than any imperial diadem. It’s true, He no longer holds the scepter of reed given to Him by Roman soldiers to mock Him, but there was more glory in that symbol of suffering, than any jewel-encrusted scepter. 

 Christ appears in Heaven as a slain Lamb, the role in which he wooed our souls. His wounds are trophies of His love and victory. He’s redeemed for Himself a great multitude whom no man can number, and His scars are memorials of the fight. Oh! If Christ in Heaven retains thoughts of His sufferings for His people, how precious should his wounds be to us! 

 "Behold how every wound of His, A precious balm distils, Which heals the scars that sin had made, And cures all mortal ills. Those wounds are mouths that preach His grace; The ensigns of His love; The seals of our expected bliss In paradise above."