When Jesus was resurrected, He bore the scars of the crucifixion. Jesus came to conquer and make all things new. If His body was healed, why did those scars remain?
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
At the incarnation, Jesus became fully human while also retaining His deity. The scars are a testament to that humanity, which He maintained following the resurrection. It is His humanity, His flesh, that assures us that He can identify with our pain and suffering.
… and with His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
The scars are proof of His payment and a reminder to us that it is accomplished. The resurrection doesn’t negate the crucifixion as if it didn’t happen. It conquers it. And in redeeming us, His suffering is redeemed as well fulfilling its ultimate purpose. He rose into a glorified body and the scars bear witness to that glory.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Jesus still bears the scars of His love for us. We will never need to question the depth of that love. We need only look at His hands.
Instead of shame, the scars now represent victory and good news. Because of His pain, we are made whole. We, too, will someday have resurrected bodies. Flesh made whole again, perfected. No pain and no scars. We don’t know if He will have the scars in heaven, but He chose to keep them while He walked here. And they are beautiful.
See My hands and My feet, that it is I myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. Luke 24:39-40
