What is the meaning of Luke 24:43? He took it Luke records, “He took it” (Luke 24:43), pointing to a deliberate, physical action by the risen Jesus. Just moments earlier, He had invited the disciples to “Touch Me and see; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:39). • The act of taking the food underscores that His resurrection was bodily, not merely spiritual (cf. John 20:27; 1 John 1:1–2). • It fulfills His own prediction that He would rise physically (Luke 9:22; 24:6-7). • By holding something ordinary, He bridges the gap between the heavenly and the everyday, reassuring frightened followers (Luke 24:37-38). and ate it The verse continues, “and ate it,” a simple statement loaded with meaning. • Eating is a basic human function; by doing it, Jesus demonstrates that death has not diminished His humanity (cf. John 21:12-13, where He shares breakfast by the Sea of Galilee). • His eating answers the disciples’ lingering doubts; they had thought they saw “a spirit” (Luke 24:37), but spirits do not chew and swallow. • It foreshadows the future resurrection of believers with glorified yet tangible bodies (1 Corinthians 15:20, 42-44). • It recalls earlier fellowship meals—such as the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:16-17)—showing His unchanged character as provider and companion. in front of them The phrase ends, “in front of them,” emphasizing public, eyewitness verification. • Multiple witnesses satisfy the biblical standard of testimony (Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1). • Peter later testifies, “God raised Him up… and allowed Him to be seen—not by all the people, but by witnesses… who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead” (Acts 10:40-41). • Luke’s insistence on eyewitness detail (Luke 1:1-4) reinforces the historical reliability of the resurrection accounts (cf. Acts 1:3; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). • Their direct observation turns fear into joyful belief, preparing them to proclaim the gospel boldly (Luke 24:52-53). summary Luke 24:43 presents three straightforward actions—He took, He ate, they watched—yet each affirms the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus. By physically handling and consuming food in the disciples’ presence, Christ proves He is alive in the flesh, fulfilling Scripture and commissioning credible witnesses. His actions assure believers that resurrection life is real, tangible, and triumphant over death, anchoring our hope in the same future bodily resurrection promised to all who trust in Him. |
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