September 17 The Resurrection of the Body 1

Luke 24:36-43 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 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.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
 
NEARLY every time I’ve seen a film about Jesus’ resurrection, our risen Lord has been depicted as some type of ghostly image. Only rarely has Jesus been shown to sit down and eat with people, preach to them and touch them. Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. And 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. The writers of these productions apparently are unwilling to completely believe Jesus’ own testimony, “Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Granted, Jesus had disappeared from Cleopas and his friend at the table in Emmaus. And he seems to suddenly appear here. How, then, do we understand “flesh and bones” with Jesus’ appearing and disappearing?
    First, we must know Jesus’ resurrected body is a real body. The tomb is empty. A spirit or ghost did not rise from Jesus’ dead body and leave the flesh and bones behind. Second, his body is a resurrected body is a changed body, different than his mortal body. Jesus has lived as human flesh and blood. Now he is eternally alive in his resurrected body. This is a Christian’s great hope: Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 
    Here is a quick understanding of the resurrection of the body from the Fire Bible™: Global Study Edition: “The Bible teaches that though there is a period between a person’s physical death and bodily resurrection, there is no lapse of time between death and the life to come. A Christian’s death brings one immediately into Christ’s presence. While awaiting resurrection of the body, believers live with a bodily form. (as Moses and Elijah at The Transfiguration). Further, in Revelation 6:9-11 souls in heaven are described as visible and wearing white robes.”
    Now we may wonder that if we are in heaven with Jesus in a spiritual form, why is resurrection of the body important? Our next lesson will explore how essential this is to our faith.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I rejoice in the evidence of your bodily resurrection. Amen.