In our journey of life, faith, and following Jesus, we are surrounded by a culture of uncertainty and unknowns. The increase of anxiety and worry in the hearts of children and teens today is statistically proven. Many tangible factors bring fears and doubts into the hearts of many. As a pastor, I have seen many who seem to give up on their faith when struggling to understand why God is allowing a situation, pain, or a death in their life. So, what do we do?
Jesus appeared to his disciples over a 40-day period AFTER his resurrection and BEFORE he ascended into heaven. 40 days! Try fasting for 40 days, and you will find that is a long period of time. During those 40 days, he taught his disciples, he resolved issues, and he opened the scriptures to show them how EVERYTHING that was happening was in line with the law of Moses and the Prophets and ultimately the plan of God.
Luke records something so powerfully that Jesus said to his Disciples during this time.
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see. For spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. – Luke 24:38-40
It Is Me!
It always amazes me how much the disciples doubted that Jesus would rise again. They walked with him for three years and saw countless miracles. He told them three different times he would die and rise again. But they simply could not believe this.
But here is the resurrected Jesus standing before them. “It is me,” he said. In other words, what he was saying was, “You know me. You walked with me. You saw the work I have done. We broke bread together. We laughed together. We cried together. IT IS ME!”
When we are wrestling with doubts and troubles, we must come back to who we know Jesus to be. When times seem overwhelming, or I am upset with the outcome of a situation and doubt tries to creep into my heart, I see Jesus. I stop and look back on all the ways he has been with me, AND I also look at his character. I meditate on his works in scripture and remind myself of his teachings. I know he has been faithful and will continue to be faithful. I am reminded that nothing I go through, no trial or experience, or moment of pain, will affect who Jesus is.
Touch Me and See
Jesus specifically proved that he was alive, not just in spirit but also in bodily form. He had them touch his hands and feet. He allowed them to understand he wasn’t just a spirit. Later in Luke 24:42, he even eats in front of them. He is saying to them, “See, I am here in the flesh. You saw me dead on a cross and buried in a tomb, but I am alive.” He is showing the evidence and facts of his resurrection.
Why are facts about the resurrection so important?
First, the resurrection is proof of the validity of Jesus’ words. Jesus said a lot of amazing things when he was on the earth and he performed many miracles. But everything Jesus did would have been forgotten if he did not rise from the dead. It was a giant stamp of authenticity on everything Jesus ever said.
How can you trust Jesus’ words when you are struggling with doubt, worry or trouble? How can scripture help when you have a knot in your stomach about a situation? You look to Jesus’ resurrection. You “touch” his hands and feet again. You remind yourself of the greatest event in human history and you believe again. Just like the disciples, who did not believe, were confronted with the unchanging evidence of the resurrection, we need to bring the reality of the resurrection into every doubt and fear we have.
Second, the resurrection is proof of life after death. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26) What an amazing truth we have in any season or situation in our life! One of our greatest fears, which is our own physical death, has been consumed up by the resurrection of Jesus.
The resurrection can swallow every doubt, worry, anxiety and fear!
He Showed Them His Scars
Finally, Jesus showed them his scars. Luke 24:38 reminds us he showed them his hands and feet. John’s gospel gives the detail that Jesus had Thomas touch the scars on his hands and his pierced side (John 20:25-27).
Jesus showing his scars is a declaration: “I was sacrificed for you.” We become anxious or worried because we are struggling financially, or a relationship is in turmoil, or we are sick or dealing with health issues. There is a bigger issue we would have to deal with if it were not for Jesus. Without Christ’s death on the cross, we would have the wrath of God against us because of the many ways we have disobeyed God's law. That wrath is so great, it says in Revelation 6:15-17, that kings and esteemed people of the earth will call out to mountains to fall on them because they are hiding from the wrath of God. But for us who trust in the resurrection, the wrath of God has been diverted to Jesus. Through faith we have received his righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).
That is incredible news to all of us who believe. This is why Jesus asked, “Why are you troubled? Why do you have doubts? See the evidence and believe.”
What troubles do you have today? In what area are you anxious and struggling with doubt? Put your faith in Jesus again and find his peace because of who he is and what he has done!
