Luke 24:40

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

Context:This verse is a part of the account of Jesus appearing to His disciples after His resurrection. In the preceding verses, Jesus had just appeared to His disciples, who were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a ghost. Jesus reassured them and asked if they had any food. They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it in their presence to demonstrate His physical presence.

In Luke 24:40, Jesus continues to alleviate their doubts and fears by showing them His hands and feet. The mention of His hands and feet is significant because it serves as tangible evidence of His crucifixion and resurrection. Jesus was reminding His disciples that He was the same person who had been crucified, as His hands and feet bore the marks of the nails.

The wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet serve as a reminder of the great sacrifice He made for humanity’s redemption. They demonstrate His love, obedience, and the extent of His suffering on the cross. By showing His disciples His hands and feet, Jesus confirms His identity as the risen Savior and provides reassurance that He has conquered death.

This verse also highlights the physicality of Jesus’ resurrection. His resurrection was not a mere spiritual or symbolic event but a bodily 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 of His resurrection authenticated the reality of His triumph over death and served as a foundation for the disciples’ faith and their future ministry.