Jesus' Resurrected Body
by Harley Pinon
I have another article concerning
the resurrection, which I have called What
Happens to Us When We Die? It deals more with the question of our
being conscious immediately after death, and some related ideas, but some
simply want to know, "What will we be like in the resurrection?" When
Jesus rose from the gave, did He have a body similar to what we will have in
eternity? It is an important question because John says,
"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what
we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed,
we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2
NKJV)
Jesus' resurrected body was a bit
different. Someone observed that Jesus was recognized by His voice after
His resurrection, but not by His body. However, the two on the road to
Emmaus did not recognize Him even after He spoke to them. Mary did not
recognize Him when He talked to her until He called her by name as we note
in this passage: (John 20:15-16 NKJV) Jesus said to her,
"Woman, why are you
weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
She, supposing
Him to be the gardener, said to Him,
"Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I
will take Him away." {16}
Jesus said to
her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!"
(which is to say, Teacher).
Obviously he had a body! He was not just a spirit. He wanted the disciples to be sure of that, and I think that is an important concept. "Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." {20} When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." (John 20:19-20 NKJV) He had a body, but He could apparently walk through walls.
Consider Luke's account: "Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." {37} But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. {38} And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? {39} "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." {40} When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. {41} But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" {42} So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. {43} And He took it and ate in their presence." (Luke 24:36-43 NKJV)
What was the demonstration? It was that He had a body. What meaning does that have for us? I believe that it means that we will have a body in the resurrection. Jesus said: "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice {29} "and come forth; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (John 5:28-29 NKJV) "All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth." Now who, or what is in the grave? Bodies! Right? To be more exact consider that Jesus said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." (Mat 23:27 NKJV)
So in the tombs are dead men's bones, but what is to happen to these bones? In Ezekiel 37, there is the story of the dry bones. I copy part of the story here: "The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. {2} Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. {3} And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know." {4} Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! {5} 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. {6} "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."' " {7} So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. {8} Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. {9} Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."' " {10} So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army." (Ezek 37:1-10 NKJV)
So here is hope of a resurrection. The Bible teaches a bodily resurrection. Paul emphasizes this in the beautiful Resurrection Chapter (I Corinthians 15). (1 Cor 15:35-37 NKJV) But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?" {36} Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. {37} And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain; perhaps wheat or some other grain." So here Paul is saying that our resurrection body will be different from our present body. How different we do not know. If we don't have bodies, why would we need "mansions," or "rooms" to stay in.
In summary, I think Jesus' resurrected body gives us some idea of our resurrected body. Is the resurrected body in the world to come different form the one Jesus had here after His resurrection? I don't think we can be too dogmatic about that because we do not know if His body was transformed when He ascended into haven.