36 And as they thus spake , Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted * , and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled ? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
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 .
40 And when he had thus spoken , he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered , he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb *.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
Here we find the resurrected Christ standing in the middle of the room where the Disciples were at, still thinking that the ONE whom they had been with for three years was killed by Roman soldiers, and that they would be next.
Jesus SHOWS HIMSELF to THEM to prove to them IT IS HE!
They still were doubting.
Jesus asks them if a spirit (ghost) has flesh and blood?
Then to prove HIS point, he asks for and EATS some fish and drinks in front of them. Anyone ever see or know of a ghost that eats and drinks??? No? Didn't think so...
HE went this far to prove to those who would spread the GOSPEL to all the world that HE indeed was very much ALIVE even as He said that He would arise again on the third day according to the scriptures!!!!!
So many times we find ourselves, myself included, in situations that are bad, hurtful, that test and try our faith and we sometimes cannot see any farther than the circumstances that are surrounding and enveloping us.
We need and must be people of faith and REMEMBER HIS WORDS, that HE would never leave us nor forsake us, and that ALL THINGS work together for GOOD to them that LOVE HIM and are called according to HIS purpose.
We must focus on HIM and NOT on the circumstances, or in Peter's case, the WAVES when he stepped out of the boat into a raging sea during a storm and began to sink underneath.... He took is eyes off of Jesus just as this group did. And so do we....
This passage of scripture is put here for a reminder to us. It has been preserved for our edification.
May I encourage you to keep your eyes on HIM and IN HIS WORD DAILY, so you may grow stronger each day in the faith and as a child of the KING!
| 