Jesus Appears to the Disciples
February 7, 2022
Commentary
The apostles plus other believers met together to discuss what had happened and as they shared with each other, Jesus Himself appeared in the room (v.36). As Jesus stood in their midst, he said to them, “Peace be unto you.“ Instead of becoming excited and singing a hymn of praise, they became very frightened even though some of them had already seen the risen Christ. They thought a ghost had appeared (v. 37)!
He also invited them to feel His body (vv. 38, 39). Jesus sought to calm them by showing them His wounded hands and feet and assuring them that He was not a ghost (v. 40). He even ate some honey and fish to prove to His doubting followers that He was indeed alive and real (vv. 42-43). However, His body wasn’t merely a restored human body like Lazarus (John 11), but was able to appear and disappear. His resurrected body was immortal, the kind of body we will be given at the resurrection of the dead (I Cor. 15:42-50). Verse 41 says “they believed not for joy.” In other words it was just too good to be true.
Luke makes it clear that Jesus spent 40 days with His disciples between his resurrection and ascension. Jesus opened these peoples minds to understand the Scriptures (vv. 44-46). The entire Old Testament points to the Messiah. God wants all the world to hear the Good News of salvation (vv. 47-48). He promised to send the Holy Spirit to make it possible (v. 49).
Application
Today, I cannot touch or feel the Lord Jesus as these disciples had the privilege of doing, but I need to realize that He is walking with me each day and desires to talk to me through His Word. That is why I need to get up early every day to read His Word and pray.
Luke 24:28– 49 (NET)
28 So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther, 29 but they urged him, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” 33 So they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and those with them gathered together 34 and saying, “The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
36 While they were saying these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were startled and terrified, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still could not believe it (because of their joy) and were amazed, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in front of them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”