GLORIFIED BODY

This Easter season, I have been mindful of Jesus’ glorified body after He rose from the dead. It is something I never took time to reflect on, but it is a subject I find fascinating.

We know that three days after Jesus’ death, he rose from the dead on that first Easter morning. During the next forty days, the Risen Jesus appeared to different people before He ascended into heaven. Jesus, in His glorified, resurrected body, appeared to Mary Magdalene, the eleven of His disciples, the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and Thomas, among others.

 

What do we learn about Jesus’ glorified body?

*Jesus had flesh and bones.

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” –Luke 24:36-39 (NIV)

*Jesus could still eat.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish,  and he took it and ate it in their presence. –Luke 24:40-43 (NIV)

*Jesus still had scars from the nails when He was crucified.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” –John 20:26-28 (NIV)

*Jesus could appear and vanish whenever He wanted.

When he was at the table with them (the two disciples on the road to Emmaus), he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” –Luke 24:30-32 (NIV)

Isn’t God amazing with how He made all of creation and our bodies? He breathed life into Adam and continues to breathe life into us. He sent Jesus, His only Son, who was both divine and human, to earth to experience all we do except that Jesus was sinless. Jesus died, rose three days later, and appeared with a glorified body. We, too, will one day experience a glorified body, just like Jesus!

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. –Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV)

 

Photo courtesy of Baptist Union of Great Britain under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

 

What do we learn about Jesus’ messages when He appears in His glorified body?

*Jesus is always calling our name, even in our sadness and brokenness.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). –John 20:11-16 (NIV)

Mary was very distraught when she saw the empty tomb. She wanted to find out who stole Jesus’ body from the tomb. She loved Jesus for the way He changed her life by driving out seven demons. Mary did not physically recognize Jesus because He was in His glorified state, but as soon as He called her name, she knew Jesus was right in front of her. Jesus came to bring her comfort when her heart was broken.

*Jesus says, “Peace be with you,” even when fear starts to overtake us.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” –John 20:19-23 (NIV)

The disciples were hiding behind the locked doors because they feared for their lives after Jesus was put to death. They were afraid it might happen to them too. How beautiful that Jesus’ first message is “Peace be with you!” Jesus’ peace brings us joy, just as the disciples experienced it. Jesus then commissioned the disciples by breathing the Holy Spirit over them.

*Jesus’ glorified body carries the wounds He endured, so we can stop doubting and believe He is the Savior of the world.

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. –John 20:26-31 (NIV)

Thomas was not with the other disciples when the Risen Jesus first appeared to them. He could not believe that the others had seen Jesus, as no one had ever risen from the dead before. Jesus cared for Thomas and wanted him to experience seeing Him firsthand. He knew that by making Thomas touch His wounds, he would never doubt again. How blessed are we who have not had the privilege of physically touching Jesus’ wounds but believe!

*Jesus is present to us in the Scriptures and the breaking of the bread, even when we are downcast and feel alone.

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.  But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” –Luke 24:25-32 (NIV)

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were trying to flee from Jerusalem for fear of being persecuted. They were downcast because they thought Jesus, the one who was going to redeem Israel, was dead since the tomb was empty. The disciples did not recognize Jesus as the one they were conversing with because of His glorified state. Once Jesus started explaining the Scriptures to them, they realized who He was.  Jesus’ identity was also revealed to them through the breaking of the bread before Jesus disappeared. There was no doubt that Jesus was alive!

 

 

 

Be encouraged this week to…

…take time to marvel at the specialness of Jesus’ glorified body.

…hear Jesus call your name when you feel broken.

…hear Jesus say “Peace to you” when fear starts to overtake you.

 

…touch Jesus’ wounds that He suffered for you.

…listen to Jesus in the Scriptures.

…experience Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

 
REFLECTION:
Does knowing you will have a glorified body like Jesus fill you with awe?
What message from Jesus’ glorified body resonates most with you?

 

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.  –Romans 6:4-5  (NIV)