LUK 24:39 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.

>>The love of Mary Magdalene for her Saviour, and the other women that were with her did not end with His death.

LUK 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

>>In all their sorrow they had forgotten that Jesus had told them that He would rise again.

LUK 24:6-8 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

>>Even when these women came and told Peter, and the rest of the disciples the message from the angels, they were filled with unbelief

LUK 24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

>>Before Jesus was crucified Peter's faith seemed so strong—he could boldly say to Jesus

LUK 22:33 Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

>>Jesus told Peter how this supposed faith would be proven to be nothing more than human rational

LUK 22:31-32 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

>>When the hour of trial was come, Peter learned to know how much faith he had—outside of the Lord's sustaining grace

MAR 14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

>>It was at just such a time that our Saviour intervened.

LUK 22:61-62 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

>>Now Peter was not only stripped of his own strength to stand, but the guilt of his fall had hidden the resurrected Jesus from His faith's eye. This is why the women were not only told to tell the disciples—but especially Peter.

MAR 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

>>Jesus had told Peter, I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren" LUK 22:32, but until their eyes were fixed upon the pierced hands of our Saviour—Jesus' disciples were still blinded with human rational.

LUK 24:13-16 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

>>When Jesus appeared unto them they were not comforted—they were terrified!

LUK 24:36-37 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

>>This brings us to the words of our text

LUK 24:38-39 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 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.

>>The very presence of God is a terror to a wounded conscience, until the eye of faith is fixed upon those crucified hands of our risen Lord. Then we learn to see the beauty of what we read in ROM 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

>>The resurrection of Jesus is our pledge that the justice of the Father has been satisfied—

>>That is what makes a faith's view of those wounded hands of our resurrected Lord so precious—in a personal way.

ISA 49:16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

>>That makes it so personal where we read, Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification," ROM 4:25.

>>Oh beloved friends, who would not tremble and fear at the presence of God, outside of the blessed assurance there is in a faith's view of those wounded hands?

MAT 28:2-4 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

>>Unto those who's enmity against God has been broken our Saviour says, "...Peace be unto you," LUK 24:36.

>>This peace of mind comes from a faith's view of those wounded hands and feet which were wounded for you.

LUK 24:37-39 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold [i.e., look at, or take notice of] 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.

>>A guilty conscience cannot appear before the light of life, outside of the finished work of our Saviour—without being "terrified and affrighted."

>>Therefore, to any who have learned to blush for denying our Lord in any way— Jesus says "Behold my hands and my feet."

>>Then we see the beauty in that He "...was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification," ROM 4:25.

>>As we learn to understand the love of the Father, and of the Son in those wounded hands and feet, we will understand that His disciples could not believe for joy!

LUK 24:38-43 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 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.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

>>Our Saviour showed them those wounds in His hands to strengthen their faith—

>>Those scares in our Saviour's hands are His pledge to His church that He will never forget one of His sheep regardless how far they may have roamed.

ISA 49:15-16 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

>>Do you know what it is for our Saviour to bless you with a faith's view of those crucified hands? See how He parted from His disciples

LUK 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

>>Isn't it true that the last time you see a loved one—that you never forget their parting expression?

>>Think of the assurance of their faith the disciples received by our Saviour's parting gesture.

>>He lifted up those wounded hands wherein they could all see their names engraved as He was carried up into heaven before their very eyes.

>>When we learn to understand the love that Held our Saviour to the cross, then sin becomes exceeding sinful.

JOH 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

>>It is not the preaching of God's wrath under the broken law that drives anyone to Christ—God's Word tells us in

ROM 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

>>Through the blessed atonement and resurrection of Christ the way was made open for every one who desires to become reconciled with their Creator, against whom we have all sinned.

2PE 3:9 The Lord...is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

>>Our Saviour tells us the true meaning of repentance in His parable of the prodigal son—It was by God's grace that he came into circumstance which brought him to use his logic.

LUK 15:14-16 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

>>Now see how that by just plain logic he brought about a well planed repentance.

LUK 15:17-19 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

>>Take notice how that when this man had come to himself, i.e., he had come to an attitude adjustment—at all cost he desired to re-enter his Father's service.

>>When we come to ourselves—we begin to analyze the logic of serving sin to the damnation of our souls—that is why the gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ is such good news!

MAR 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

>>What was the first part of this well planed repentance?

LUK 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

>>See the call to repentance we have before us in JER 3:13-14 Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God...ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you..."

>>See the tender parental love of our heavenly Father—He is addressing you and I as "backsliding children," not as reprobates—

>>He pleads that marriage union with His own dear Son saying "...for I am married unto you..."

>>As we behold His wounded hands and His feet by the eye of faith, we may see our names written therein—

>>What a blessing when we begin to realize the true nature of our sin by the scares it made in the hands of our risen Lord.

2CO 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

>>Our text says, LUK 24:39 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.