While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of baked fish; 43 he took it and ate it in front of them. 44 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 in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures. 46 And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And [behold] I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. 50 Then he led them [out] as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. 51 As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. 52 They did him homage and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple praising God.
Jesus startled the disciples when he appeared to them in Jerusalem and said “Peace be with you.” The women were also present. At the birth of Christ, the peace the angel and heavenly hosts promised to those who believed in Jesus was fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry. Jesus showed his hands and his feet to the disciples who were still doubtful and invited them to touch him. Jesus asked them for something to eat and they gave him a piece of fish (vv. 41-42). Table fellowship was an important aspect of Luke’s Gospel. Jesus began his ministry with the Wedding Feast at Cana (Jn. 2:1-11) and instituted the New Covenant by his crucifixion which he spoke about at the Last Supper (Lk. 22:20). Jesus ate and drank with some of the disciples on many occasions after he was raised from the dead and before he Ascended (Acts 10:40-41).
Jesus explained to them that he was the fulfillment of all that was written about him in the Scriptures - the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings. He revealed to them the true meaning of the scriptures and God’s plan. The scripture would be fulfilled by his disciples preaching repentance for the forgiveness of sins in his name to all nations. His disciples were to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit, the “power from on high (Acts 1:8).” Jesus led the disciples out just as God led the Hebrews out from slavery in Egypt (Lk. 9:31) and blessed them as he was taken up to heaven (Acts 1:6-11). The disciples worshipped Jesus and returned to Jerusalem.
Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit through which we have received an informed moral conscience to discern what is true and just. Grant us the wisdom to use this gift for the benefit of others with the certain knowledge that you will provide for all our spiritual and physical needs. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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