Luke 24:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

NIV: When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

NASB: And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

CSB: Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

NLT: As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.

KJV: And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

NKJV: When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Born-again believers (John 3:3–5) look forward to a glorified body in eternity (1 John 3:2). We don't know exactly what that will be like, but there are a few details. They will be imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:51–54): immune to being hot or cold, hungry or thirsty, sick or injured.

Jesus' glorified body carries the scars of the work He did on the cross. In His human form, His hands and feet still show signs of the nails that held Him to the cross. His side shows the evidence of the soldier's spear (John 20:27). In another form, He is the Lamb who was slain (Revelation 5:6).

When the risen Jesus appears to a room filled with His disciples, many have an extremely hard time believing it's Him. He shows them these scars to strengthen their faith.

There is someone missing from the room, however. For some reason, Thomas wasn't present. When he returns, later that night, he doesn't believe them. He insists that he won't believe unless he touches Jesus personally (John 20:25). He's not a coward. He agreed to follow Jesus to Jerusalem knowing the religious leaders might kill them all (John 11:16). And he's not unique in his disbelief. Many in the room at this moment are looking at Jesus and still don't believe.

Yet Thomas is extreme in His disbelief. He has the witness of more than a dozen of people and still refuses to believe. Only two witnesses are required in Jewish law. His skepticism borders on a cynical refusal to believe, no matter what.

In eight days, Jesus returns to the room, just for Thomas. Jesus will invite Thomas to touch His hands, feet, and side, just as Thomas demanded. He'll say, "Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas will respond the only way he can: "My Lord and my God!" Jesus will answer, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:26–29).

Luke 24:36–43 explains how Jesus reveals Himself to a group of His male disciples. He's already met with the women (Matthew 28:9–10), Peter (Luke 24:34), and two men traveling to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–31). While the men are discussing these events, Jesus appears in the room. Some think He's a ghost, but He shows them the wounds on His hands and feet and eats some fish to prove He has resurrected. John 20:19–29 adds that Thomas isn't present so Jesus returns later.

After Jesus is executed and buried (Luke 23:52–53), the women who had followed Him from Galilee come to improve His burial condition. They find an open, empty tomb and angels. The disciples are informed. Two of them spend time speaking with a stranger while walking, only to realize it was Jesus Himself. Jesus appears to His followers, eating fish and explaining how His role as Messiah was predicted in Scripture. Jesus then ascends to heaven while His disciples worship.

Luke 24 describes how Jesus' followers learned of His resurrection. Luke 23 recorded His legal trials, crucifixion, death, and burial. Acts chapter 1, also written by Luke, explains how Jesus' followers prepare for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. Luke 24's theme is the fulfillment of prophecy from Jesus and the Old Testament prophets. Once Jesus' followers understand, He returns to heaven. Matthew 28 includes how the Sanhedrin bribed the guards. John chapter 20 adds Thomas coming to believe while chapter 21 records Peter's reconciliation with Jesus.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.