“36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.” (Luke 24:36-43)
Jesus is resurrected. This isn’t just a matter of a ghost. This section of Luke seems to be included to drive home this point. Jesus lets the disciples touch them. Thomas did nothing that the other disciples did not themselves need. In fact when you read Luke’s account, you almost get the sense that Thomas wasn’t doubting so much as that he was jealous. In any case, Thomas seems to have not had any more doubts than the other disciples had. Jesus has to convince them all that he is flesh and blood. Might be hard to understand when a guy just appears in a room, and disappears at whim. So he eats fish. Ghost’s don’t eat. Humans do.
Eating and drinking are some of the highlights of life for man. It is hard to imagine life without eating. I don’t know what the life of an angel is like. I am not one. I gather it has its own joys. But God created man differently. He gave us bodies within which to enjoy life. And one of the ways we enjoy life is to eat. Good food just makes life better. Watch Babbette’s Feast for a visual of this. The old people live to eat the food she prepares for them. Poor food makes life unbearable for them. Jesus eats. In doing so he gives us not only proof that he is not a ghost, but insight into what our resurrected life will be like. It won’t be hanging out on a cloud strumming a harp all day. But it will be feasting at a banquet, eating fine food. There also will be work to do, but it will no longer be by the sweat of our brow that we eat.
2 comments:
What does this mean,"...work to do..."? What kind of work?
thx.
Sue J
heaven is the recreation of earth as it was supposed to be, a new heavens and a new earth. So just as it was that in the Garden we took care of his garden. We will return to that.
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