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It’s amazing to learn about modern devices that are really millennia old.  Cattle brands, for instance, are not unique to modern history.  People have been burning their names and initials onto animals for thousands of years.  This was done mostly because people have been stealing animals for thousands of years and, as any fifth grader can rightly tell you, if your name isn’t on it, then you can’t prove it’s yours.

This worked so well with animals that eventually the same measure was applied to identifying criminals.  Someone who was caught stealing in ancient Rome would have branded on their face the letters “FUR”.  A runaway slave would be branded with “FUG”.  Different brands were given depending on the crime committed, and today we have phrases like “He’s been branded as a liar” because of this practice.

As happens in every culture, something shameful was turned into something popular over time (e.g. short dresses and low cut shirts used to be shameful but are now widely popular).  The shame of branding faded as people started to mark themselves with symbols from their gods in order to show extreme devotion or invoke certain protections.  The Roman army adopted the practice of branding as generals sought to increase loyalty and make deserters easily identifiable.  Whether it was animals, thieves, worshippers or soldiers, there was a single word used to discuss these markings: stigmata.       

This word is only used one time in the New Testament in Galatians 6.17.  In concluding his letter to the churches in Galatia, Paul declares that he bore on his body the “marks of Jesus”.  What does this mean?  Were there brand marks Christians put on themselves?  Were there mysterious wounds that appeared similar to those Christ suffered on the cross?  Are Christians expected to have some kind of mark or brand on their bodies today?  If we look at Galatians 6.17 carefully and consider the context of Paul’s comment, we can understand what is really meant and how that applies to our identity in Christ.

Judaizing teachers are the focus throughout the Galatian letter as Paul combated their destructive doctrines.  They had followed Paul throughout the Mediterranean teaching that converts to Christ also had to obey the Law of Moses.  In particular, they tended to focus on circumcision as the mark, or stigma, of a true convert.  If we look at Galatians 6, we can see some of the true marks of Jesus that Christians should wear.

While the Judaizers were quick to boast in their fleshly adherence to outward rituals, Paul clearly states that circumcision accounts for nothing.  Rather than putting faith and hope in outward signs, a Christian’s faith must be in Jesus Christ, through whom they are made into a new creation (6.15).  Rather than boasting in legal righteousness and shunning those who struggle with sin, Christians are people who seek to bear the burdens of others (6.2).  This must be done while avoiding conceit and temptation (6.1,3).  Christ’s disciples must learn to persevere in giving and doing good, for in due season they will reap if they do not give up (6.9).  Personal benevolence is not limited to other believers but should be practiced toward all mankind for Christians are trained to love everyone as God does (6.10, Matthew 5.43-48).  Disciples are those who take responsibility for their own actions,  working diligently to present themselves as faithful servants of Christ (6.5).

The mark of Christ is contrasted with the mark of the Judaizers; a spiritual regeneration is contrasted with an outward, fleshly conformation to law.  Rather than scarring their flesh with some external sign, Christians are those people who have crucified themselves to the world and been reborn in the likeness and image of Jesus Christ.  This is a radical, inner transformation of our selfish thoughts and actions to reflect the two greatest commandments: loving God and neighbor.  There is no greater mark than love.  “Let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7-8).

If we are to call ourselves bondservants of Jesus Christ, then let us take our master’s mark upon us and change our lives accordingly.