The late Lucky Hope recounted to me a story of having been a missionary aircraft mechanic in Africa after WW2. His face had been severely burned and scarred from a gasoline fire. By faith he had told the natives that in two weeks that he would be healed. His face was badly scarred and covered with scabs until the final day when he awoke to find scabs on his bed sheet. Looking in the mirror his face was as smooth as a babies skin. God chose to remove his scabs as a testimony. When Jesus was seen after the resurrection, some did not recognize him. On the cross he had been unrecognizable being torn apart by whips and beaten with fists. The Bible does not say that he was risen bloodied and battered as a resurrected Savior.
Jesus walked with two men on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize that it was Jesus. It was the third day and getting late as they explained the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus to this stranger walking with them. Jesus expounded to them the scriptural references concerning the Messiah.To expound means to stay close to the scriptures and to thoroughly explain them.
Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luk 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
Luk 24:29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
Luk 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
Luk 24:31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
What was it that opened the eyes of the two men that the man was Jesus? When he broke bread, they probably saw the nail scars in his hands that were retained as an identifying testimony. Jesus had risen with flesh and blood to show that it was he and then he suddenly vanished from their sight.
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
Our hearts burn as well, when we read the scriptures and feel the presence of the Lord. Man's words do not move us as do the words of the Holy Bible when the Holy Spirit makes them come alive.
Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
Luk 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Luk 24:35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
He miraculously appeared in the room in a flesh and blood body. They still did not understand that he was to rise on the third day; they were terrified.
Luk 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
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.
Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
I do not know if his wounds in his hands and feet and in his side were kept only to validate that he had indeed risen. I see no reason for him to keep the wounds in heaven. I see a glorified Jesus without wounds in purity and glory. By faith I see soldiers who were blown apart healed in glorified bodies in Heaven. Most importantly we will be like him and will see him face to face as he welcomes us to our new spiritual dwelling places.
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