Luke 24:39

Assuming they were seeing a spirit not clothed with a real body, the disciples were unfortunately allowing their troubled and frightened thinking to open the door of their minds to harmful doubts. We should likewise be aware of such foolishness. When we are troubled by our circumstances we begin to have doubts about Jesus – His love for us, His goodness to us, His sufficiency to meet our needs and on and on.

“That many of the troublesome thoughts with which our minds are disquieted arise from our mistakes concerning Christ. They here thought that they had seen a ghost, when they saw Christ. When Christ is by his Spirit convicting and humbling us, we mistake him, as if he intended our harm, and this troubles us.” Matthew Henry

We tend to forget the promises found throughout all of Scripture which state quite the contrary:

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 (NIV)

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

“For Jesus, however, the disciples’ lack of faith was a deep disappointment, and I know that my own lack of faith at times surely must grieve the heart of my Lord. Yet, I know he understands my struggle, and I know he understands my prayer that reiterates the plea of another who struggled with unbelief when he cried out, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:24). Ruth A. Tucker

“Doubt not His grace because of thy tribulation, but believe that He loveth thee as much in seasons of trouble as in times of happiness.” Charles Spurgeon

Certainly, all the troublesome thoughts arising in our hearts and minds are clearly known to our Lord Jesus. In our verse for today, He silences the disciples’ fears and strengthens their faith by convincing proofs of His resurrection. He first shows them His hands and feet – showing forth a real body - the nail marks of which were convincing hallmarks of His identity. This was the Body crucified not a borrowed one. It was Jesus’ desire for them to both touch Him and to experience a revelation and be affected by it through seeing His presence. Through touch and sight His desire was for them to obtain an accurate view to understand its meaning. How like Jesus to offer up such convincing proofs to those He loves. He stoops to where we are and meets us at that point.

“What makes God so dear to us is not so much His big blessings to us, but the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us – He knows every detail of each of our individual lives.” Oswald Chambers

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matt 10:29-31 (NIV)

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matt 6:25-30 (NIV)

Peter was able to walk on water when he kept his focus on our Lord yet when his eyes began to shift to his circumstances of the winds and waves he began to sink like a load of bricks. Jesus is to be our “True North” as well – fixing our eyes upon Him in lieu of our circumstances is the first step in overcoming our doubts and our fears. Just as the writer of Hebrews tells us:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Heb 12:1-3 (NIV)