I told you! It wasn’t just Thomas who needed a bit of convincing that Jesus had really been raised from the dead. Luke says that, in their joy, the disciples were disbelieving and wondering. To convince them that he wasn’t a ghost, Jesus invited them to see his hands and feet and to touch him. He also ate some fish in their presence. Intriguingly, Jesus reminds the disciples that ghosts don’t have flesh and bones. Not a ghost or a vision, as real as anything could be, possessing bodily features and yet able to appear and disappear. What was going on! We could sit and wonder forever, but whilst doing that let us take in some more amazing facts. 

In his Gospel, John has Jesus empowering the disciples with the Holy Spirit on the very first day of Resurrection. On that same momentous encounter Luke says that Jesus explains the significance of his resurrection and sets up the disciples as his global witnesses. Do you think they got any sleep that night! 

Last week we looked at a painting by Caravaggio as we considered the meeting between Thomas and the risen Lord. This week we shall look at the ‘Resurrection Appearance’ by the 13th century Italian painter, Duccio di Buoninsegna. Without being an art expert, I notice two things: facial expressions and hand gestures. Jesus’ serene face speaks of peace. We could also imagine him saying, “Don’t be so surprised. Nothing unexpected going on here. I had told you to expect this.” The expressionless faces of the disciples suggests they are outwardly putting on a show of faith. We could imagine them says, ‘Yes, Jesus, of course.’ Their hands, however, speak more honestly. The open palms of the disciples on the left of the painting, and the raised hands of the disciples on the right combine to say, ‘Welcome, and peace be with you too. We believe, but help us in our disbelief! Help us understand. We are only human, and yet we are expected to handle this amazing moment. We will, but can we just get a bit closer and have a bit of time to take this in. Reassuringly, we see Jesus giving the disciples a blessing. In other words, all their reactions, all their questions and all their needs were acceptable and would be addressed. An art expert might say I have got it all wrong, but even if what I am seeing is not in the painting, it is certainly seen in Jesus all the time. He blesses us in our incredulity and in our questioning. He blesses us in our searching, and he blesses us in the faith we eventually find. But that is not the end of the encounter. A response is called for.

In our Common Worship Holy Communion Service, after receiving the Blessing, we have these important words: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. We reply: In the name of Christ, Amen.