Luke 24:36-49 And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the middle of them, and said to them, Peace be to you.… I. THE DOUBTS OF THE DISCIPLES. II. THE LORD'S WAY OF MEETING THE DOUBTS OF THE DISCIPLES — "He showed them His hands and His feet." Strange as this kind of recognition, this way of fixing the doubted identity, may seem, it was satisfactory. The mother in the story knew her long-lost child by the scar on the shoulder received in infancy; so was the Son of God recognized by the nail-prints and the bruises of the Cross. But did the disciples need this? Were the loved features not the same as ever? Were the eyes that wept over Jerusalem not the same as before; or had the grave robbed them of their tenderness and lustre? Were the lips, from which came the gracious words of parting love, not the same as in the upper chamber at the last supper? Was the voice so altered, that they did not know its tones? No. These resemblances might all be recognized; but so many things threw doubt upon these recognitions. It is, then, to remove all doubt that He exhibits the marks of His Passion. And in doing so, He shows us the true way of dispelling doubt, of whatever kind it may be, viz., the fuller knowledge of Himself, as the dead, the buried, the risen, and living Christ. It is this that is the cure of all unbelief, the death of doubting, the cherisher of faith, the perpetual source of stability and peace; for the real cause of all doubting is imperfect knowledge of the Lord. (H. Bonar, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.WEB: As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you." |