An Excerpt From “A Snack For Jesus” a sermon on Luke 24:36-48 preached by Rev. Lewis Kisenwether, March 21, 2005, ©2005

v. 37 – Now they’ve heard the story at least twice

from reputable witnesses;

devoted women followers

sincere disciples.

The women quoted angels

and the angels quoted Jesus

yet,

when Jesus appears

they are what:

delighted,

rejoicing,

praising God?

No, terrified and affrighted

They are not prepared for Jesus.

They think He’s a gh gh gh ghost (remember Abbott and Costello or Scooby-Doo).

It’s a natural reaction.

Nobody expects to see dead men walking around.

Nobody except those who believe God can do anything

Anywhere

Anytime.

38 – Jesus speaks to them as if it should have been the most normal thing in the world for His disciples to expect Him to break the bands of death.

WHY?

Are you troubled?

Do thoughts (doubtful) thoughts arise in your heart?

Can’t your faith in me make contact with true reality?

At other times He called them “O ye of little faith.” At this moment it’s still true of them.

So He offers them proof

Check it out

Hands – nail holes

Feet – nail holes

Touch me

Grab hold of me

See I’ve got flesh and bones

When’s the last time a spirit had flesh and bones?

When’s the last time you could grab a ghost by the arm?

When’s the last time they stood still so you could see if they were real?

Well, I am.

40 – and He holds out those precious hands to let them see.

He lifts His feet so they can see.

41 and they are mixed in their emotions

They start to laugh

They’re bubbling over

They’re nearly hysterical

But they still can’t believe it

Somebody pinch me see if I’m dreaming.

It couldn’t be!

What was in that wine we had for dinner?

Can this be real?

I wonder how such a thing could happen?

And Jesus continues to offer proof that He is not a ghost.

“Do you have anything to eat here?”

42 – They went to the equivalent of the kitchen counter

and got Him some of the leftovers from dinner

a piece of fish and some honeycomb

43 – Jesus munched it down

Fried fish is great.

Most people today don’t eat honeycomb, but to them it would have been like dessert

A nice piece of smooth sweet chocolate

I can imagine Him smiling.

Ghost don’t enjoy food.

Not even McDonald’s.

Ghosts are not real.

Get this and get it right:

“We have not followed cunningly devised fables…”  Peter said (2 Peter 1:16).

The resurrection story is not a hallucinatory fairy tale.

It’s not a day dream.

Jesus is real.

And if anybody asks you how you know, say,

HE ATE THE FISH.

HE HAD DESSERT.

HE IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD.