Resurrection Body, Part 3, Drinking and Eating

Resurrection Body, Part 3 Eating and Drinking Luke 22:17-18; 22:29-30; 24:40-43; John 21:1-14 Revelation 2:17; 22:1-2 Introduction In studying resurrection bodies, we have discovered several things from scripture. Now, it seems necessary for me to emphasize that I have not invented any new things. What I have told you is only what I have discovered and distilled from the scripture. I am not making things up and I have tried not to over reach. Additionally, I am have been looking at the resurrection body of Jesus and seeking to understand how our future bodies may be similar to his, when we receive them, which will not be until he returns. We have seen that Jesus was able to be present with the disciples and yet could remain hidden from recognition, until he was ready. We have seen that the resurrection body operates under a different law of physics: it is able to pass through walls. One wonders, then, about the stone and the tomb. For if Jesus could pass through solid objects, or bypass solid objects, then the stone in front of the tomb was not rolled away to let him out. Rather it was rolled away to reveal that he had already "left the building." Jesus was not simply a "spirit man", he had flesh and bones, but his blood was poured out as an atonement for sins: yours and mine, not his own. Eating and Drinking Today we look at another interesting aspect of resurrection bodies: Eating and drinking. Drinking: There is no testimony in the Gospel records that report that Jesus drank anything after his resurrection, no eyewitness testimony, no story. But, there are some significant indications that resurrection bodies are able to drink. First we look at the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 22, verses 17-18: After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, "Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. Here we see Jesus, still in his pre-resurrection, human form, pouring out the last cup of Passover. But rather than pouring the last cup and having it simply left on the table in expectation of Messiah, he encourages his disciples: drink this cup. Then he implies that it will be a long time before he drinks again: "not until the kingdom of God comes." But notice that when it comes, he will again drink. Of course we know what the disciples did not at that moment: Jesus would have a different kind of body post resurrection. And yet, even with this new body, he could, he would drink. But, he could also not drink for a long time. And if we look further in the same Chapter (22), at verses 29-30, we find that we too will drink: And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. In the future, Jesus has invited his disciples to a special banquet, to his table, for eating and drinking. It seems reasonable to impose this same blessing, this same invitation, to all faithful believers, when the kingdom is finally and forever revealed. Eating: There are multiple additional passages that refer to the resurrection body being able to take in food. First, we look at Jesus. Luke 24:40-43, Jesus has appeared to the disciples on the day of resurrection and revealed himself to them in the upper room: When he had said this , he showed them his hands and foot. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. Jesus has done two things in this one interaction. First, he has demonstrated in yet another way that he was real, he was not a ghost, he was not a spirit. Ghosts do not eat solid food. Second, he was demonstrating that the resurrection body can eat. Now, what we do not know, is if Jesus was hungry, or if he was simply eating to prove his point. Whatever his motivation, he actually ate fish in their presence. So, now, remember last week, we talked about the circulatory system, the blood, and that Jesus did not have this operational. His blood had been poured out. His heart had been pierced. He was not sustained by nutrition being delivered through his blood system. But now, he seems to demonstrate that he had some kind of digestive system: he could chew, he could swallow, his food went somewhere...... Let's keep going. In John 21, we find the story of Jesus initiating a miraculous catch for the disciples who had gone back to fishing, after his resurrection, after he had appeared to them on multiple occasions. We don't have time to read this story, now, but later take time and see that Jesus had a fire ready and had fish and bread ready for their breakfast, and he gave it to them. Now, John does not tell us that Jesus ate with them, but, based on the story from Luke, it is possible. But let's keep going. There are two passages of scripture in the Revelation that seem to have bearing on our resurrection bodies, particularly in the matter of eating: Revelation 2 and Revelation 22. Let's look at each of these: Revelation 2:17 - written specifically to the church at Pergamum, but applicable to us as well: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. So, what is the hidden manna? I cannot be exactly sure, but I understand the concept of manna. This is the bread that come each morning for the Hebrew Children in the wilderness. The manna was for eating. But it was special because "he who gathered little did not gather too little, and he who gathered much did not gather too much." And it is possible that this manna is to be understood spiritually. But, it is also possible that it is actually for the faithful to consume. Yet, it will not be less than we need for sustenance, and will not be more. We will not be gluttonous with this heavenly bread. Revelation 22:1-2, again this passage does not directly mention ingesting something, but it certainly implies that food, fruit will be readily available and continually available: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. What will we eat in the New Jerusalem? We will eat from that which has been hidden from mankind since Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden. We will eat from the fruit of the tree of life. Is it an actual tree with actual fruit, or a figurative tree with figurative fruit? This section of the Revelation appears to be describing the fulfillment of what was intended from the beginning. And if there was a literal tree of life in the Garden, then there will be a literal tree in the renewed paradise. Plus, the fact that the tree bears multiple harvests certainly seems to imply that we will be able to eat more than once. Now, I am a bit confused by this, because, if we have eaten from the fruit of the tree of life and we have eternal life, why would we need to eat from the tree again? Can we have multiple eternal lives? No.. That is not the reason. It cannot be. Perhaps God will provide for us the delicious fruit, simply for our pleasure and enjoyment. I'm not sure. Yet, like the manna, I believe that there will be no waste. The fruit will not fall off and spoil or rot. There will not be too much or too little for any of us, individually, or corporately. One writer speculated that when the fruit is taken, a new one replaces it immediately. Or when a flower is plucked, a new one grows, so that there is never an incomplete state of perfection in this new and exciting world. I am not sure about that. But, I do believe that we will be able to eat and drink in our resurrection bodies. Jesus has already done so, and we will be like him. I want to close with an invitation: If you have never imagined yourself eating and drinking at the table prepared for followers of Jesus, but you would like to join in the marriage supper of the Lamb, Jesus is calling out to you today, "Come and dine." "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20). 4