Luke 24:40

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

Luke 24:40 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to His disciples in Jerusalem. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a spirit (Luke 24:37). Jesus invited them to behold His hands and feet, to handle Him and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones as they saw He had (Luke 24:39). In verse 40, Jesus then showed them His hands and His feet.

Meaning

The showing of His hands and feet provided tangible, sensory evidence of His bodily resurrection and His identity as the same Jesus who was crucified. The wounds in His hands and feet served as infallible proofs of His passion and resurrection, confirming the truth of His incarnation. They also remind believers of the great sacrifice He made for humanity’s redemption, demonstrating His love, obedience, and the extent of His suffering on the cross.

This verse highlights the physicality of Jesus’ resurrection. He was not a ghost or an apparition but a living being with a physical body that could eat, talk, and interact with His disciples. This physical demonstration authenticated the reality of His triumph over death and served as a foundation for the disciples’ faith and their future ministry.

Biblical connections

The disciples’ response was not immediate belief but wonder and disbelief for joy (Luke 24:41), showing the overwhelming nature of the event. Jesus then asked for food and ate broiled fish before them (Luke 24:42-43), further demonstrating His physical, bodily presence.

Application

Jesus’ willingness to show His wounds reassures believers that His resurrection was real and that His sacrifice was sufficient. It invites Christians to trust in the risen Savior, who conquered death and offers the same hope of bodily resurrection to all who believe in Him.

Reflection

The marks on Jesus’ hands and feet are a lasting testimony of His love and victory. They call believers to worship Him with confidence, knowing that the same Jesus who suffered and rose again lives forever.