5 The two disciples (who returned from Emmaus) related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

36 As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

42 They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43 He took them, and ate in front of them. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled.”

45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures. 46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things."

Luke 24:35-48 - World English Bible

Western culture is inherently skeptical. We want proof of the "other worldly," like ghosts. We judge those who claim to have seen such phenomena as "crazy." Yet, some cultures highly prize such seers as those who can look beyond this existence into the eternal. Still, an encounter with those beyond the grave can frighten the common person. Such was the experience of the disciples in Luke 24.

Even with the witness of the two from Emmaus, the appearance of the Risen Lord startled the men in the upper room. Jesus greeted them with "Shalom" ("Peace") then challenged their incredulity in two ways. First, showing his wounds proved his identity. Secondly, consuming fish proved his corporeal existence. Both created an experience unlike any in history. Here was a man who not only survived death, but transcended it; he was in this world, but existed beyond it. He possessed a reality a ghost could never had, for he possessed a resurrected body.

Much has been written about the nature of the Resurrection. Some claim the event was simply metaphoric, possessing great symbolic power. No doubt the Resurrection has this power, but this passage from Luke clearly argued for a rising of the body. His wounds, his challenge to the disciples to touch him, his consumption of fish in their sight showed his followers that he, indeed, rose from the dead.

Now, the disciples had a mission, witness to the Good News of the Resurrection. He who died was now alive, just as the Scriptures foretold. That event began the reconciliation of humanity with its maker.

We are skeptics and times we might doubt the story of the Resurrection, but that doubt should not stop us from celebrating the event. Like the disciples in the upper room, the Lord will turn our misgivings into joy. He will give us an opportunity to see him, to touch him, to witness to his presence among us.

How have you witnessed to the Risen Lord this week?