Jesus Eats Broiled Fish in the Upper Room—Luke 24:33-49

This episode of the Congregation of Prayer from St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Random Lake, Wisconsin, centers on Luke 24:33–49, focusing on Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to the disciples in the upper room. Pastor Gillespie reflects on the physical reality of Christ’s resurrection, emphasizing how Jesus’ wounds—his hands and feet—serve as tangible proof of his bodily resurrection, countering any notion of a ghostly or spiritualized presence. He underscores the theological significance of Jesus eating broiled fish and honeycomb, illustrating that the resurrection is not a mere spiritual event but a restoration of the body, affirming the goodness of creation and rejecting reincarnation and Gnostic dualism. The sermon also explores the necessity of Christ’s suffering and death as foundational to the gospel, linking this to the preaching mandate of the church: to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in Christ’s name to all nations. Drawing from Acts 3, Pastor Gillespie highlights Peter’s sermon, where the healing of the lame man points to Christ’s resurrection as the source of life and renewal. The episode closes with a call to faithful, imperfect stewardship of the gospel in families and congregations, grounded in the promise that God’s word will not return void.