“Peace be with you.”
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
We can see from their response that the resurrection of Jesus wasn't some projection of the disciples' imagination. It wasn't as though they say together reflecting on his life and decided that their feelings meant that he was still with them in a metaphorical or merely spiritual way. Rather, his resurrection came in a way that was shocking and unexpected. But neither was Jesus an angry ghost returning for vengeance. Rather he came to bring peace, a peace more profound and real than any that was previously possible. Yet they remained troubled and questions arose in their hearts. They simply weren't prepared to interpret the fact that the one whom they knew to be dead was now alive. And no doubt many of them were reflecting on the ways in which they had failed Jesus in his time of need. Even if he had somehow returned, what would he want to have to do with such as them? As it would turn out, everything.
Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have.
This was in fact the same Jesus who had loved and guided them before his death. And returning, by speaking his word of peace and allowing them to touch him, and by sharing a meal with them, he reestablished any bonds that he been broken during his passion. He was not interested in punishing them or upbraiding them for their failures. He wanted only to reestablish communion.
Once they had seen sufficiently that he was not a ghost, and while they were still experiencing incredulous joy and amazement, he then opened their minds to what was written about him in all of Scriptures, in Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, in order that they would have the context to see how what had happened to Jesus was always part of the plan. They needed this context, because it was the will of Jesus for them that they become witnesses who would preach forgiveness of sins beginning in Jerusalem but going eventually to the ends of the earth.
The Scriptures made it clear that the cross of Jesus was not merely a tragic accident, but rather an intentional self-offering. Moses wrote about the Passover lamb. But Jesus himself was the true lamb whose blood alone could truly accomplish the forgiveness of sins for the world. The Last Supper was the interpretive key that made it clear that the death of Jesus was not merely an execution but rather a sacrifice. The resurrection was the vindication of that offering, the assurance that it had at last been received by the Father. And so, witnesses to the resurrection were called to testify to the fruit it made available to the world, forgiveness of sins in the name of Christ.
We can see even from the very first sermon of the Church given by Peter on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem that it was precisely this forgiveness of sins that was the heart of the message.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away,
and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment
Perhaps we prefer to focus on other parts of the Gospel proclamation, but let us not neglect this great and necessary gift of Jesus for it is meant to be the foundation upon which the new creation is built.
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