Marked



Photo Credit

Give me a room full of people, and I can pick out the violinists.  Give me a crowd of violinists, and I can pick out the dedicated devotee from the halfway hobbyist.  It’s simple, really—no magic or mind-reading necessary: nearly all violinists develop a tell-tale mark just under their left jawline.  On some, it’s only a shadow.  On others, it’s a raw, red patch or a bruise.  But the mark—combined with calloused fingertips—is the violinist’s mark of pride and dedication to his art. 

I still remember when my teacher first told me about the mark, and I was in awe: People play the violin for so long that they get a mark!! And then I began to develop a small one, which development I observed with great pride!  Once, when Mikaela and I attended a performance by violinist Nadja Salerno Sonnenberg, she asked Mikaela, "Do you play the violin?"
"Yes," Mikaela replied.
"Let me see your practice mark, then."
Mikaela obligingly turned her head, and Nadja clucked her tongue.  "Oh, you don't practice enough." 
The mark, you see, gives people away as a violinist, and it whispers tales about their dedication to all who are savvy enough to listen. 

Likewise, in the movie Little Women, Jo March’s ink-stained hands gave her away as a writer to Professor Bhaer.  A farmer’s tanned skin and dirty fingernails give his profession away, just as the pocket protector gives the engineer away!  But as I contemplated the phenomenon of the mark last week, the thought occurred to me: Do I have a mark that gives me away as a Christian and reveals the extent of my dedication to Christ? 

Because wouldn’t it be fabulous if Revelation 14:1 were true right now of all of us?

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their foreheads.”

Would that not be amazing to be able to look around a room and see YAWEH enscribed on foreheads all around?  Having my Father’s name written on my forehead would be a more effective evangelism tool than a Christian sweatshirt or a fish bumper sticker or even a tract.  Just as those who are not violinists puzzle themselves over my perpetual red patch, those who had no idea who my Father was would inquire with curiosity, “What’s that signature on your forehead?” 

“It’s my Heavenly Father’s name, and I am marked as His,” I would be able to tell them.    

It would revolutionize more than evangelism, though; it would revolutionize fellowship!  Those who know my Father could embrace me with love in the bread aisle at the grocery store, even if we had never before met, for we would recognize immediately that we were siblings in Christ. 

Sadly, patience is necessary before this incredible prophecy will come to pass.  Neverthless, even though I may not be emblazoned with the Father’s name on my forehead any time soon, I do see another mark with which I should already be emblazoned.  John 13:35 tells the secret:

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love is the mark of the followers of Jesus Christ!  It may not be as fantastical as having a signature on your forehead, but its very simplicity brings up the toughest sort of questions.  Can people pick me out of a room as a disciple of Jesus Christ because of my obvious love for my family?  Can they tell that I am a dedicated devotee of Christ’s because my love for the unloveable is wholehearted or am I apparent as a halfway hobbyist with half-done love? 

Truth be told, if people can’t see the callous of love on my fingers and the well-worn wrinkles of smiles on my face, it matters not one iota if my tongue claims the name of Christ.  I can claim to be a violinist until the cows come home, but if the marks are not there and, indeed, I cannot play, then I am only a delusional wannabe.  I must be marked—from the inside out. 

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.