See My Hands and Feet: Luke 24:36-43

Trust but verify.

There's something of a natural born skeptic in each of us. We hate to be taken, to be gullible, or naive. We distrust.

Those few men and women who gathered after Christ's death to mourn and wait, as he had instructed, had seen a litany of miracles performed by their Master. They'd even seen the dead brought to life. But certainly the miracles of a dead miracle worker die with him. Death is the end when it's the Wonder Maker who dies.

In a time of worry and pain, surely these men and women were aware that they could be deceived. There were men ready to confuse, take advantage, and silence them. Sure, Jesus had appeared to some of them and at least for that moment they had been convinced. But each minute he was not with them must have brought renewed doubts.

Jesus knew that they were human. And he knew that dead people, generally speaking, don't reappear. If they do, it's not likely that it will be an all-together positive experience for those who witness it.

So, to calm their worries, he let them verify.

Their Master had been a man. He was still a man. Their Master's flesh had been torn. His still bore the scars. Their Master's bones had been disjointed, but not broken. He was standing on strong legs. Their Master's hands and feet had been pierced. He showed them his feet and hands. Their Master had said "I thirst." He asked for food and ate in front of them.

Jesus, the God-man was a man, and he still is. His humanity continues even as he has been glorified.

How kind of him to calm the fears of his followers. How kind of him to prove to them and to us that he is real.

As a man for thirty-three years, he learned by battling against them, what our weaknesses are. And so, he kindly met those men and women and us in that weakness and made us strong.

He called them to trust and yet he let them verify.

How good.

by Tim W. Shorey