The Fifth Appearance of the Risen Christ

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As the two disciples from Emmaus broke into the room where the eleven disciples were gathered together, to hear how the Lord had appeared to Simon, we read, "As they thus spake, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and sup-posed that they had seen a spirit..And He said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts D arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have. And when He had thus spoken, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, He said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And He took it, and did eat before them." (Luke 24:36-5336And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them. 44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48And ye are witnesses of these things. 49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. 50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:36‑53)).
From this narrative we gather two things. That the disciples were incredulous and slow to believe, and required strong proofs before they would be convinced of the resurrection of our Lord, That the Lord graciously gave them the strongest proofs that He was indeed the risen Christ. He showed them His hands and feet with the marks of the nails. He invited them to handle Him, so that they might be assured that He was no apparition. Then further He took the initiative, asking them if they had any meat, and He graciously partook of food in their presence. Surely proofs could not have been fuller and more convincing than these.
We have purposely given the above Scripture showing this in full. What room was left for doubt? The reaction in the minds of the disciples was very marked. They could not believe for very joy. Moreover He reminded them that He had foretold His resurrection when yet with them, and how all that was written in the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms concerning Him was all fulfilled. Surely proof could not have been more complete and satisfying..