September 20, 2026 · Mark Bishop
Too Good To Be True
“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.”
Luke 24:36-43 →
## This Is the Life
When I was a youngster, I would sit in front of the television on Friday nights to watch what was called TGIF. It was a group of shows that played during several time slots that focused on light humor, drama, and would tie it all in with some sort of value. You would see those families and wonder why yours wasn't like that. It just seemed too good to be true. Even today, if you sit and watch a crime show you'll see the bad guys being caught most of the time. It just all fits together so well, it can easily cause one to wonder. The disciples were at a place walking with Jesus that just seemed too good to be true. They witnessed healings and miracles that went above the comprehension of the mind. They saw Him walk on water; witnessed His words calm a storm or kill a tree. A few saw two other prophets talking with Him on a mountain. I'm sure they had some difficulties, but I tend to think they were probably lost in the excitement of the moments. The Messiah, God's Son, is hanging out with them and teaching them. Years passing, I've read stories about those perfect families on television having some struggles behind the scenes. The perfect was not so perfect. The appearance of everything was just a cover-up. Jesus is betrayed, beaten, and killed on the cross. Their story was over. It was too good to be true.
Ladies came as a witness that He was alive, but the disciples just couldn't accept the story continuing. It was over. They were ready to go fish and remember the good times. He arrives, but even then they couldn't grasp that He was in their midst. When He speaks, they blow it off by saying it's just a spirit; it isn't Jesus. We read that Jesus tells them to physically touch Him as proof that the story had not ended, and that He is indeed alive. To cap it off, He eats fish from the fishermen. A real person eats. A real person can be touched by another.
## Is This Real?
Jesus did not mumble or say behind closed doors He would rise from the dead. Matthew 27:62-64 says, “The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” If Jesus was just to be a prophet or a spiritual guru, He could have said He would rise from the dead ‘spiritually’. There would be no proof except some man’s words. But if Jesus claims that his physical body would be risen from the dead, then there is a chance to prove He isn’t who He claims to be. The resurrection proves Jesus is the Son of God or just some prophet or guy that lived a long time ago. How do you prove or disprove His bodily resurrection? You look at this account (there are many more, but we’re focusing on this one). Thomas didn’t want to believe. Jesus explains that He isn’t just a figment of their imagination. They all can’t be having the exact same dream. He tells them to touch Him, and then they watch Him eat. Once Thomas reaches out and touches Jesus, he exclaims, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:24-29).
## Self-Check
There may be times where we are struggling with our faith, or feel like the story we're in is too good to be true. It's not. It is true. It's the story of God sending His Son to live among us; the Son to die for us;
the Holy Spirit to come live inside us to bear witness to the truth. Peace to you, believer. Jesus is alive. His body appeared to many eye witnesses. His disciples were ready to move on until He told them to examine His flesh. Thomas reaches out and examines the scars. He eats.
## This tells us He is alive!
## Bank On It