What does the risen Jesus mean, 'for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have'. Luke 24:39?

Question

Luke 24:39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."

First some brief points;

1. Jesus is now immortal - he wasn't before death - now he cannot die again.
2. He has been raised into a new spirit life.
3. He now has life as the Father has life within himself! John 5:26
4. He can also give life to others - raising them. John 17:2
5. We will be like Jesus when we are raised. 1 John 3:2
6. Jesus is OF spirit - but not A spirit??

It seems he has a 'body' - that does not need physical things to live - although he can clearly eat etc. This body is not a manifestation but actual, with an ability to move outside of time /space constraints. He said he will drink wine again in the kingdom Luke 22:18.

2 Cor 13:4 For he was crucified in weakness but lives by the power of God

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all... He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit, John 20:19-20 Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side

The Q centres on this. How can we better define Jesus and the 'spirit life' he has now and has had since being raised from death?

Romans 8:11 and if the Spirit of Him who did raise up Jesus out of the dead doth dwell in you, He who did raise up the Christ out of the dead shall quicken also your dying bodies, through His Spirit dwelling in you. YLT

Jesus was given eternal life at his resurrection. Notice also, Paul is talking to the brethren - who are alive (obviously) yet he says God will give 'life' to their (mortal/dying) bodies.

Answer 1

Admittedly, there isn't much to go on.

What we do have is this;

1. Jesus had a body after being raised - 'flesh and bones', he said Luke 24:39

2. This body cannot die

3. He can eat and drink - though we would assume, based on him now having immortal life that it isn't necessary. Luke 24:42 (22:18 in the kingdom)

4. He is not a spirit - but he has spirit life, as we will have. People were familiar with 'a spirit', often in the form of being possessed Luke 4:33, 13:11 etc, they had seen such spirits cast out, enter pigs. Jesus is saying he wasn't like this invisible presence which can manifest in something physical.

5. He is still a man. The following verses can be taken to be referring to Jesus after his ascension. Certainly, there is little evidence for expecting Jesus to be any different from how Paul describes.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Acts 17:31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed.

6. He still has a body, as will we. The body concept isn't changing, just the form or life of it.

we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory Phil 3:21

Also we get the idea that as a 'first-fruit' he represents the other fruit that comes after him - i.e. the same basic fruit. Why would the first-fruit be remarkably different from the following fruit - it makes no sense. We are humans who will follow the first human raised from the dead (asleep).

1Cor 15:20 Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep

7. He returns in the same way we saw him go Acts 9. Not overly significant regarding a 'body', but is inferring that he will be the same.
8. It's relevant that the various texts speaking of Jesus 'not being visible', refer not to Jesus looks per se, but to the beholders temporary inability to recognise him. Acts 10:40, Luke 24:16 Emmaus Rd, "But their eyes were kept from recognizing him." Otherwise, we're told he was 'seen' as a gardener and a fellow traveller.

Conclusion (thus far)

There's little support for a 'spirit' Jesus who NOW, somehow has no body.

Nor is there support for a Jesus who changed from what he described himself as to something other, after he wasn't seen anymore. IOW, he is still 'flesh and bones'. If he is not, we're not told; but rather it's insisted thus far that he is.

So, he means what he says - he still has flesh and bones (not flesh and blood) and is alive by the spirit of God and Father who raised him from the dead.

Answer 2

What does the risen Jesus mean 'for a spirit does not have flesh and bones' [Luke 24:29]?

1. Consider the power of God's Spirit in [Ezekiel 37:14] "I will put My spirit into you, and you shall live".

2. Reflect on the attributes of spiritless body in [Ezekiel 37:8] "flesh came upon them, and skin covered them from above, but there was still no spirit in them."

3. Consider the attributes of a Resurrected Body in [Ezekiel 37:12] "So says the Lord God: Lo! I open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves as My people, and bring you home".

In Luke 24:39, we learn that a Resurrected Body of Yeshua (Jesus) has physical & spiritual attributes parallel to the Resurrected bodies in Ezekiel 37:12. As a Resurrected King, Yeshua is not just a spirit but also has flesh & bones fulfilling the prophecy of Ezekiel 37.

• John 20:27 is the indicator that the Resurrected Body of Yeshua (Jesus) has physical & spiritual attributes.

John 20:27 [NIV]: "Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

John 20:27 helps explain the fully Resurrected Body of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah in [Luke 24:29] has both a spirit and "flesh and bones" which were shown to Thomas.

Answer 3

What does Jesus mean by his description of his risen body in Luke 24:39?

Luke 24:36-39 (NASB)

Other Appearances

36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your [a]hearts? 39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Luke 24:37 Humans cannot see spirits so the disciples felt uncomfortable, at this point thinking that this could be Jesus raised from the dead, they evidently thought they were seeing a vision.

Jesus assured them that they were not seeing a spirit: they could see his body of flesh and could touch him, feeling the bones, he also ate in their presence. Similarly, angels in the past materialized in order to be seen by men; they had eaten, and some had even married and fathered children.

Genesis 19:1-3 (NASB)

The Doom of Sodom

19 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and [a]bowed down with his face to the ground. 2 And he said, “Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.” They said however, “No, but we shall spend the night in the square.” 3 Yet he urged them strongly, so they turned aside to him and entered his house; and he prepared a feast for them, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

Following his resurrection, Jesus appeared to His apostles in different bodies of flesh and so he was not immediately recognized by them.(John 21:4-7 ,John 20:13-15 ,19-20 NASB) Jesus by appearing to his disciples in different materialized bodies and then saying and doing things which they could identify him strengthened their faith that he had truly been resurrected.

John 21:4-7 (NASB)

4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have [a]any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

The Q centres on this. How can we better define the 'spirit' Jesus is now?

Many years later, Paul referred to the glory of Jesus as being the exact representation of [God's] very essence

Hebrews 1:3 (NET Bible)

3 The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

1 Timothy 6:16 (NET Bible) Emphasis mine (Jesus)

16 He (Jesus) alone possesses immortality and lives in unapproachable light, whom no human has ever seen or is able to see. To him be honor and eternal power! Amen.

Colossians 1:15 (KJV)

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Answer 4

Jesus said, before the crucifixion, to Martha concerning the death of her brother Lazarus "I am the resurrection and the life", so He wasn't "given" eternal life He is Eternal Life. (John 11:25)

Answer 5

What does the risen Jesus mean, "for a spirit does not have flesh and bones..." Luke 24:39

AFTER DEATH

After Jesus' death, in the Spring of 33 AD, he subsequently made several, to all intents and purposes, "fleshly" appearances, to those who had known him, mainly his disciples, as the risen Christ, see - John, chapters 20 and 21 for the details - it wasn't until some 40 days after the resurrection that his "ascension", whereupon he took up his seat at the right hand of God, happened - these appearances struck fear into those who had known him, at least initially, as they were wondering if they were witnessing an apparition, or indeed a spirit. Sometimes he wasn't even recognizable as the man that Jesus was before his death. The "flesh and blood" that Jesus had been, was after all given up as the "Ransom Sacrifice" for all mankind, see - 1 Peter 3:18. The "fleshly" bodies, subsequently witnessed, were manifested in such a way that all could not fail to recognize the now risen Christ, even the doubting Thomas became convinced. So when Jesus says: "for a spirit does not have flesh and bones,..." Luke 24:39, it was to convince all, and even sundry, that he had risen in at least a flesh of sorts and had not yet taken up his true spiritual self. Although, he could suddenly appear and disappear at will and even walk on water.

ON ASCENSION

When Jesus' "ascension" is witnessed by his disciples (no further witnesses evident), Jesus apparently, or is it seemingly, departs the earth in the flesh and get's lost in the clouds, on his way to heaven, whereupon he presumably enters heaven in his true Spiritual form, having been "transfigured" on route. For it is written that "flesh and blood" cannot enter heaven, see - 1 Co, 15:50.

IMMORTALITY

In, 1 Tim, 6:15,16 NASB, it is unfortunate that the translators of the Greek sought to imply that God, himself is/was part of the narrative... "(15)...which HE [God] will bring about at the proper time - He [Jesus] who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; (16) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see. To Him [Jesus] be honor and eternal dominion! Amen."

When it is Jesus who will manifest, says Paul, the immortality of, himself, as - "...the happy and only potentate...". The actual translation into English, of 1 Tim, 6:15,16, reads: "...which-to appointed times-own-will show-the-happy-and-only-potentate, -the-king-of the (ones)-ruling as kings-and-Lord-of the (ones)-ruling as lords, (16) the-only (one)-having-immortality,.."

There is no mention of God himself in the above. When one puts God himself into the translation, one can be excused for getting confused as to whose immortality is being referred to.