When the resurrected Jesus first manifested Himself to the group of His apostles, they were of no mind to believe it. Apart from John, who in spite of not understanding the nature of Jesus’ resurrection body had at the tomb believed (Joh 20:8), and Peter, to whom He had appeared earlier that afternoon, though perhaps in a form he didn’t at first recognize that still left him wondering (perhaps the reason why it is barely mentioned), the others couldn’t bring themselves to believe He was really alive. Even the two Marys and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus had to admit that they didn’t at first recognize Him, so as much as they could wish that it was true, His death was not like Lazarus’ or Jairus’ daughter. Not only was His body brutalized by His scourging and crucifixion, His life fluids had been drained out by the piercing of the soldier’s spear. In this they were correct: mortal life could not be restored to His dead body, and that was the only life of man they knew. But what they didn’t understand was that God was fulfilling the promises made to their fathers by raising up Jesus to immortal life as the first-born from the dead of many brothers to follow as sons of God, never to die again; cf. Act 13:32-33. All of His kingdom promises would now be fulfilled with Jesus ascending to the right hand of God to reign as king until all of His enemies are put under His feet. How? By that same power of the cross that would soon be manifested throughout the world by the lives and testimony of His followers; see Psa 110:1-3.
So then, when Jesus suddenly appeared to them on that Sunday evening, they were terrified, and supposed they must be seeing a spirit. Jesus understood the doubtful thoughts that arose in their hearts and bid them to see His hands and feet and side, that it was really Him who had been crucified, and to touch Him for proof that He wasn’t a spirit, but had real flesh and bones; cf. 1Jo 1:1. What additional proof does Luke record that Jesus gave at that first encounter with His apostles to demonstrate that He was more than just an immaterial being, but still a man? See Luk 24:41-43. What is it about eating that is so central to the human condition, not just in regard to the sustenance of his life, but in regard to a person’s relationship to others—especially to God—and what it means to be human? Cf. Gen 2:9,16-17, 3:17-19, 31:44-46,54, Exo 24:9-11, Lev 11:2-4, Deut 8:3, Pro 9:1-6, Act 2:42,46. What is the special significance of Jesus’ ability to eat as a resurrected man with His followers? See 1Co 1:9, 1Jo 1:3.
Why does Luke say that He offered this additional proof of His resurrection? See Luk 24:41. How had the nature of their unbelief changed from just moments before by seeing and touching Him? Instead of it being impossible in their minds for it to be true, how was it now almost too good to be true? Although things in this world that seem too good to be true usually aren’t, reflecting the nature of its god, should we ever doubt God’s goodness, that as a loving Father He delights to surprise His children with things that so delight us that we might imagine they are too good to be true? What does this remind us about the hope we have in the gospel as children of God? Cf. 1Co 2:9. Should we imagine that there is a limit to God’s goodness, that perhaps after a time in eternity there will be nothing new under the Son, that we will have exhausted His goodness, so that something might eventually happen that we would imagine was just too good to be true? Cf. C.S. Lewis’ depiction of this as further up and further in, in the final chapters of The Last Battle in the Narnia series.
What does the additional proof that Jesus gave of the real, physical nature of His resurrection body and that His appearance was not just that of a spirit, teach us about the ability of a spirit to eat (or presumably, drink)? After our physical death when our mortal body lies in the grave and our soul goes to be with the Lord, but before our resurrection from the dead to an immortal body like Jesus’ (i.e., the current state of all those who since the time of Christ have died) should we therefore suppose that our salvation is then complete, and that we will eat and drink to have fellowship with Him in His kingdom at that time? Cf. Luk 22:15-18. Is it only after that time, after our own resurrection, when we shall eat and drink with Him in His kingdom? Since Jesus has been resurrected from His death to be able to eat and drink, is it possible for Him to eat and drink with us even now in this life, before our own resurrection from the dead? In what sense does He in fact do that whenever we partake of the Lord’s Supper to have communion not just with other members of the Church, but with Christ Himself? Considering that Jesus could make Himself invisible, is it possible that every time we partake of communion, He is actually there, eating and drinking with us in His kingdom? Cf. Luk 22:29-30, which reads literally, “Just as My Father has willed / covenanted to Me a kingdom, I will / covenant to you, that you may eat and drink at my table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Think: is this Jesus spoke of still future, even after 2000 years, or did it in fact already happen? In what way did Jesus’ twelve apostles who carried the gospel to the nation of Israel immediately after Jesus’ ascension eat and drink at His table, and sit on thrones at that time judging the twelve tribes of Israel, after which judgment was executed in 70 a.d.? See again Act 2:42, Act 10:41. Is it possible that as we take up our cross and follow in the steps of our Savior that we too are judging the nations through the gospel witness of our own lives? Since those in their mortal flesh who have not died may in some sense eat and drink in fellowship with Jesus in His kingdom in a way that those who have died are unable before their resurrection from the dead, what should we understand about the importance of preserving our mortal life as far as we can in service to Him? See 1Co 6:19-20; cf. Rom 14:7-8, 2Co 5:15.