Do you have anything to eat?
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “ Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. (Luke 24: 36-43 NIV)
We are following Jesus after his resurrection through the Feast of Pentecost. Jesus has met with the women at the tomb. He told them to go tell his disciples to meet him in Galilee. Mary Magdalene lingers a bit and is greeted by Jesus. She tries to hold on to him but Jesus tells her he has to return to “My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”
The women run to tell the disciples. After telling them all they had seen, the Bible tells us the disciples did not believe the women, “because their words seemed to them like nonsense.” (Luke 24:11. NIV) Peter and John, however, had to be sure. They both “got up and ran to the tomb.” Luke 24:12 John tells us that “the other disciple with Peter (John himself) out ran Peter and reached the tomb first. What a foot race that must have been! “Peter saw and left wondering what had happened (Luke 24:12) but John saw and believed.”( John 20:8) But they still did not understand.
It is now evening and the disciples are in Jerusalem having what I believe is a most lively discussion of all the things they have seen that day. The eleven disciples are there, the women are there and the two from Emmaus have joined them. While they are talking about the past days’ events, “Jesus himself stood among them and said, Peace be with you.”
What a meeting that must have turned out to be. First, Jesus has to calm their fears. Then he asks, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” (Luke 24:38) How many times would he have to tell them? “Don’t let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1 NAS) But standing there, after all they had seen and been through, how could this be? How many times have we doubted what Jesus tells us in His Word? How many times have we forgotten that he is always with us, that his promises to us are all “Yes and Amen”?
Then Jesus shows them His humanity. He shows them his hands and feet. But they still did not believe but this time Luke tells us it is “because of joy and amazement.” (Luke 24:41 NIV)
Were you ever so happy to see someone unexpectedly that you said, “Oh my goodness, I can not believe it is you. You are here. What are you doing here?” In my mind, I can see the scene playing out now. The smiles and the dancing and the squeals of delight.
Now the next line in the text just brought the reality of Jesus humanity home to me. “Do you have anything here to eat?” I almost laughed out loud as I reread the account in Luke.
See my hand and feet! Jesus arrives in the room unannounced! NOW LET’S EAT!
Luke simply concludes the story, “They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it in their presence.” Was He so hungry after three days in the grave? He had been really busy the last few days. He had gone back to offer the blood sacrifice to the Father. Another meeting I would loved to have been there to see, that moment when the Father God accepted and received the sacrifice for all men. The redemption is complete. Grace has won! The New Covenant is now in operation.
Jesus will now spend the next 40 days teaching the disciples how to walk in the new covenant. In John we read the evenings benediction. “Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that He breathed on them and said, “Received the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)
The Word is so real and so amazing to see all that was done for me and you. Jesus was a man, human yet divine. He loved us so much that He became one of us and paid our debt that we might live with Him forever in His prepared place. Oh How I Love Him! Just wondering what it will be like when we are seated with Jesus at the marriage supper and He says, “Let’s eat!”
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you that you help us through your Holy Spirit to make alive Your Word!
Hebrews 4:12 “For the Word of God is Alive and Active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit.” (NASB)
This is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham
Treading on to Pentecost!
May 31, 2017 Fifty Days from Resurrection Sunday
