Maxie Dunnam, President of Asbury Theological Seminary in his book, “This is Christianity” tells a remarkable story about Dr. Maxwell Maltz, a plastic surgeon. A man had been injured in a fire while attempting to save his parents from a burning house. He couldn’t get to them. They perished. His face was burned and disfigured. He mistakenly interpreted his pain as God’s punishment. The man wouldn’t let anyone see him – not even his wife.

She went to Dr. Maltz for help. He told the woman not to worry, “I can restore his face.” The wife was not convinced her husband would let him help because he had repeated refused any help.

Then she said, “That’s why I have come to see you. I want you to disfigure my face so I can be like him! If I can share in his pain, then maybe he will let me back into his life.”

Dr. Maltz was shocked. He denied her request but was so moved by the woman’s love that he went to speak with her husband. Knocking on the man’s bedroom door, he called loudly, “I’m a plastic surgeon, and I want you to know that I can restore your face.”

No response. “Please come out.” Again there was no answer. Still speaking through the door, Dr. Maltz told the man of his

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