Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Appearance

 

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 (English Standard Version)


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