"He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
No one believed the resurrection. Even when it was plainly told to them that Christ would be raised on the Third Day, no one believed him at first and even Peter rebuked him. But not even Christ expected us to believe blindly, but he says, "Touch me and see!" This is not the testimony of irrational men or blind followers, but men who tested what they saw and believed in the truth.
The very idea of Jesus and His Resurrection sounds like pure and utter nonsense (v11) and Peter must have thought he was investigating a crime scene rather than the truth of our Risen Lord. Every disciple doubted the resurrection and Peter's first conclusion, being a rational man, was not "He must've walked out". He saw him beaten. He saw him die and he is still grieving the loss. What cruel new insult now is this to the memory of his beloved Lord?
They did not even recognize him as he talked to them (v16), but their hearts burned like fire within them as he spoke. It was not until they ate with him as he broke the bread that they knew Him(v30-31). It is not until they touched him (v39) that they believed for they all had doubt in their minds (v38). No one comes to believe that Christ is risen until they reach out to touch him. And when we've touched him, He touches us.
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