Luke 24 offers one of the most surprising and comforting images of the risen Jesus. After appearing to His startled disciples, He reassures them of His resurrection not with a sermon—but with supper.
“Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then He asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He ate it as they watched.”
— Luke 24:41–43 (NLT)
Why does Luke go out of his way to mention this simple meal?
Why did Jesus ask to eat?
And perhaps most curiously—what does this say about our future with Him in eternity?
Let’s take a closer look.
1. Jesus Was Reassuring His Disciples—He Was Really Alive
The disciples were overwhelmed. Jesus had just appeared in their midst—resurrected from the dead—and they didn’t know what to think. Some thought they were seeing a ghost.
So Jesus said:
“Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (v. 39)
Then He did something utterly human—He asked for food.
When He ate that broiled fish in front of them, He was giving physical evidence of a spiritual reality:
He was truly alive, in a real body, risen from the grave.
2. Resurrection Bodies Are Real—But Glorified
This brief moment in Luke 24 shows us something powerful: resurrection life isn’t floaty or mystical—it’s physical, but transformed.
Jesus could walk and talk, be touched, and eat.
But He could also appear in locked rooms and disappear from sight. His body was glorified, not limited by our current physical constraints.
The apostle Paul expands on this in 1 Corinthians 15, where he explains that our resurrection bodies will be:
- Imperishable
- Glorious
- Powerful
- Spiritual (in the sense of being Spirit-empowered, not immaterial)
This gives us a hopeful picture: eternity with God involves new, physical life—not just spiritual survival.
3. So, Will We Eat in Heaven?
If Jesus could eat after the resurrection, will we?
All signs point to yes.
- Jesus told His disciples He would again “drink the fruit of the vine” with them in His Father’s Kingdom (Matthew 26:29).
- Revelation 19:9 describes the “wedding supper of the Lamb,” a celebration with food and fellowship.
- Isaiah 25:6 says, “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples.”
Food in Scripture often represents fellowship, joy, and covenant relationship. It’s no surprise that heaven is described as a banquet.
So yes—we may well dine in heaven. Not from necessity, but from delight.
4. This Changes How We Think About Eternity
Sometimes we imagine heaven as disembodied, cloudy, and vague. But the Bible paints a richer picture—one of renewed creation, restored bodies, and shared meals in the presence of Christ.
Jesus didn’t need to eat that fish in Luke 24. But He did—to ground our hope in something real.
He wasn’t a ghost.
He wasn’t a myth.
He was—and is—alive.
And so will we be.
Final Thought: The Table Awaits
That moment around the table in Luke 24 is more than a comforting detail—it’s a preview of what’s coming.
A day is coming when we will eat with Jesus again, face to face, in glorified bodies, in the presence of God.
We won’t just “make it” to heaven—we’ll dine there.
So take heart.
Death doesn’t have the final word.
The table is set.
And the Risen Christ is already there, waiting.
Want to explore more about the resurrection or our eternal hope in Christ? I’d love to hear from you at markcole.ca. Leave a comment or send a message.
