The Greco-Roman world believed strongly in dualism. They divided the spirit and the flesh into two separate things. And then they reasoned that all matter was tainted. So, the ultimate good would to become a bodiless spirit floating off to the spirit realm. Free from this filthy flesh at last. Much of our thoughts about heaven and the resurrection actually come more from Plato than from Scripture. Well, and maybe a misunderstanding of the words of Paul. Paul uses the word “flesh” to describe the contrary to God nature. That is true. But he uses the same word to describe the material body with no hint of sinfulness. In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul wrote about the mortal body becoming immortal; the natural body being raised a spiritual body. And because he used the word “spiritual” our minds drift back to Plato’s spirit world devoid of body. But Paul speaks of a spiritual body. It will be immortal, but it will be body nonetheless. We will not be naked as the Greek’s supposed. But what about Jesus? We know that he is at the right hand of God; ministering in the true Holy of Holies. But the Hebrew author tells us that he opened the way into the Presence of God through his flesh. We assume he is spirit. But what if the trail he blazed was the ability to be in God’s presence with a body? What if he were resurrected with a body and he still wears that body? What if the Great Banquet of God will be a real banquet with real food?
Luke 24:36-43 is further evidence of the resurrection of Jesus. The disciples are standing around talking about the sightings of Jesus. And then all of a sudden he stood in their midst and said “Peace be to you.” This was a common Jewish greeting, so I’m not sure we can make too much of it. Yes, the angels also often said “Peace to you.” Some run with that and believe that our story is intended to mirror visits by heavenly beings. Again, it is how Jewish people greeted each other. The disciples become startled and frightened. Luke used two words that emphasize terror. Some have questioned why they would be so frightened when they were in the middle of talking about the resurrected Jesus. Well, have you ever talked about someone and then all of a sudden they are standing right there in your midst? Scarry stuff. How did he get there? Maybe he was a spirit. For the Jewish people, a person’s spirit was confined to the grave. It could be drawn out, but that was against God’s law. Don’t try to reverse the natural order of things. And disrupting the dead was a dishonoring of the dead. Later, as they were influenced by Greek culture, they may have envisioned disembodied spirits, for whatever reason, unhealthily wandering about this earth.
Jesus asked them why they were shaken and why those pesky doubts were rising up in their heart. He showed them his hands (arms) and feet and invited them to touch him. Spirits (Jewish or Greek) do not have flesh and bones. Jesus was bodily resurrected. If he were just a spirit, it would not have been resurrection. Both cultures believed that a spirit could exist in this world. This was not at all considered resurrection. Haunting, maybe, but not resurrection.
They could not believe their eyes. You might say they were so overwhelmed with the joy that they at the same time felt as if it was too good to be true. Maybe they were like the Psalmist who penned Psalm 126:1 describing the joy of returning from exile: “We were like those who dream.” Joy and doubt danced. And then, almost, incongruently, Jesus asked them if they had anything to eat. But have you noticed how a meal seems to go with every event in life? We try to encourage the grieving to eat. We bring a meal over to the sick. But there is most likely more going on here. He is not a spirit. He is a resurrected body and he is hungry. But it is still more than that. It is another reminder of the Lord’s Supper. I know. Fish is what is on the menu. And this may take us back to chapter 9 and the feeding of the five thousand. Meal and Scripture.
It is interesting that we assume that between our story here and the ascension, that Jesus must have thrown off his body. But we are not told that anywhere. Is there a difference between a disembodied spirit – a ghost – and resurrection. Not the way many talk about resurrection. Will heaven merely be a gathering of spirits who have slipped out of their bodies? What does it matter? I believe that we eat the Lord’s Supper in anticipation of the Great Banquet. I believe that we will laugh and eat and reach out and touch. I believe that when Jesus comes back again, my body, which was sown corruptible, will be resurrected incorruptible. I will not be naked. I will be clothed with a body of glory. I know that it will be better than now. Do I need to know more than that? Jesus blazed the way. Follow him. Grace.