Tuesday within the Octave of the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord
Posted on April 11, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 24:36-47 (NKJV)
24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Devotion
The evening of Christ’s resurrection arrived with excitement. The Eleven, joined by the two Emmaus disciples, were talking about the day’s events. All of a sudden, Jesus appeared—out of nowhere—in the midst of them. Jesus’ scars from the crucifixion were evident. He directed His disciples to touch the marks of His suffering and death. He wanted them to know that He had been resurrected from the dead. He was not a ghost; He was the God-Man.
They “handled” Him, but still they didn’t believe Him. He showed something else to prove it to them. He directed them to give Him some food. He took the food and ate it in front of them. In chapter 6 of John’s gospel (vs. 28-29): “Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’” Especially on the day of His resurrection, Jesus was doing the work of God. He is still doing that work today through these words from Scripture and the works of the Holy Spirit. He wants us to believe Him, and believe in Him, the One whom God sent.
Prayer: Almighty God, Who, through Thine Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech Thee, that, as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
