But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
The disciples did not have the context to process what they were seeing. They knew about ghosts, the spirits of the dead, and so tried to categorize what they were seeing in this way. But Jesus wanted to be clear that he was no ghost. He still bore the wounds of the cross on a body which was solid and could be touched. He even shared a meal with them, which was not something ethereal creatures like ghosts could do.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.”
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
Jesus had brought others back to life, including Lazarus. Even in the Old Testament Elijah had raised the widow's son to life again. But this resurrection of Jesus was clearly of another kind. For one thing, there was no one else around to raise him. God raised him from the dead, and Jesus himself took up his life again. This event was, the disciples would realize, a vindication of everything Jesus said about who he was and his mission.
The resurrection of Jesus was not a mere resuscitation. Lazarus and the widow's son would both die again after having their lives restored. Jesus had taken on a human nature which was susceptible to death, but was himself free from all sin that merited death. Death tried to stake a claim over which it had no right, and would never have a second chance. After Jesus gave himself up for us God glorified him so thoroughly that his human nature would reflect his holiness and union with the Father and the Spirit. This meant that henceforth even his human nature would be free from death and suffering. He had the other properties of a glorified body as well. Besides impassibility, he demonstrated subtlety, agility, and clarity. It was clear that this wasn't merely life in the same manner as he had previously had it and therefore not surprising that the disciples didn't know exactly what to make of it.
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body (see First Corinthians 15:42-44).
The fact that God means what he says when we hear that he wants to do for us more than all that we can ask or imagine (see Ephesians 3:20), when he says eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has prepared for us (see First Corinthians 2:9), is something we begin to understand with the resurrection appearances of Christ.
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
Forgiveness would be preached in his name because his sacrifice purchased that forgiveness of sins and the resurrection revealed that the sacrifice was accepted. More than that, it was the power of his resurrected life that would make our own holiness possible, that would make we ourselves fit to rise with him. His resurrection power was something which could do more than merely coerce our will from without, it could conform it from within.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment
As we await the return of the Lord and our own resurrection we do so with Jesus present in our midst through his Mystical Body. Through us, he reaches out his hand to heal, and opens his mouth to invite others to follow him. God glorified Jesus in his resurrection, but continues to glorify him through when he uses us to make him known in the world.
You children of Israel, why are you amazed at this,
and why do you look so intently at us
as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?
Because Jesus is the one who is glorified rather than ourselves we can be bold to follow the Lord's promptings and do our part.
O LORD, our Lord,
how glorious is your name over all the earth!
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