Easter · Third Sunday of Easter · Year B
Luke 24:36-49
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
April 11, 2027
Overview & Insights
“Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see.” (Luke 24:39)
This passage not only brings Luke’s Gospel narrative, and especially its developing resurrection motif, to a triumphant conclusion, but also prepares for the taking up of the story in Luke’s second volume, Acts. The summary of the gospel message in 24:46–48, the cryptic promise of “power from on high” in 24:49, Jesus’s ascension in 24:51 (more fully narrated in Acts 1:1–11), and the communal life of the believers in Jerusalem in 24:52–53) will be developed in the early chapters of Acts. The story of Jesus is now becoming the story of the Jesus movement. The most obvious difference between these verses and Acts is the lack here of any indication of the passage of time (forty days [Acts 1:3]) between Jesus’s resurrection and ascension. In bringing his Gospel to an appropriately “orderly” (1:3) literary conclusion, Luke apparently feels no need to be pedantic about the chronological data.
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Commentary
Commentary on Luke 24:36b-48 Working Preacher
Working Preacher's Lutheran commentary on the risen Jesus eating fish, valid as the RCL Third Sunday Gospel.
Luke 24: The Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Enduring Word · David Guzik
Guzik's evangelical exposition of Jesus showing his hands and feet and opening the disciples' minds.
Luke 24 Commentary Precept Austin
Precept Austin compiles exegetical and word-level notes across the resurrection appearances.
Luke 24:36 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators assembled on Jesus standing among them and saying peace be with you.
Luke 24:36-48 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on the bodily resurrection and the opening of the Scriptures.
Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle B (Sunday Connection) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
A Catholic reflection and application of the Emmaus-to-upper-room Gospel.
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Why does the risen Jesus eat fish in front of the disciples?
To show that his resurrection is bodily and real, not a ghost or vision. He invites them to touch his wounded hands and feet, eats a piece of broiled fish before them, then opens their minds to understand the Scriptures and names them witnesses.
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