The disciples were absolutely terrified when the resurrected Jesus stood in front of them. The only way this could happen according to their thinking would be that they were seeing a ghost. And accordingly, they panicked. So Jesus cut across that by inviting them to feel that He was indeed flesh and blood. He stopped them in their tracks, saying, “Behold… it is I myself.”


Jesus was the friend whom they had known and loved, with whom they had eaten, whose teachings had been “the words of life” to them. He was the One who trudged the dusty roads with them, and whose miracles they had witnessed.


There is awe in His “behold” as well. What He actually says is, “I am the I AM himself.” This is the name God told Moses at the burning bush. So He was there physically, their intimate friend! This was God Himself! No wonder they could not take it in for sheer joy!


And, amazingly, this startling Gospel news is for us also. Our reading in John says that He will show His own self to us. Let’s hold onto that!