Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luke 24:39
In Luke 24:39, Jesus invites the disciples to touch His hands and feet to prove He is not a spirit, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones. This tactile demonstration emphasizes the concrete reality of the resurrection and counters misconceptions about immaterial spirits. It also marks a bridge between the disciples’ fear and their subsequent faith.
The verse affirms the physicality of Jesus’ risen body, preserving the historicity of the incarnation and resurrection. It also reinforces the doctrine of the resurrection as a bodily, tangible hope, not a purely spiritual dream.
Approach faith with a biblically grounded confidence in the bodily resurrection. Practical steps: reflect on the resurrection as a historical event with real, physical implications; comfort others with the reality that God’s promises include tangible renewal—our bodies, our world, and our relationships will be restored. Consider acts that embody resurrection hope today, such as healing ministries, acts of mercy, and the transformation of communities.
Cross-References: Luke 24:40; John 20:27; 1 Corinthians 15:44-49; Hebrews 13:8