Q. Did the resurrected Jesus have a human body? (Carrollton, Georgia)

A. It is a fundamental truth of Christianity that Jesus rose from the dead in his physical body. (This differs from the doctrine of Jehovah's Witnesses, who hold that the post-resurrection Christ was spiritual, not physical.) Christians believe that the Jesus who appeared to more than 500 witnesses after Easter (1 Corinthians 15:6) was not a ghost but was actually there -- walking, talking, even eating.

When Jesus showed himself to the disciples in the Upper Room on Easter Sunday night, they were at first terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. But he said to them, "Why are you troubled? ... Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have" (Luke 24:38-39).

Seeing them still amazed, Jesus asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of baked fish, which he then ate in front of them (Luke 24:41-42). A week later, still bearing the wounds of the crucifixion, Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side" (John 20:27).

At the same time, though, it needs to be said that Christ's post-resurrection body was somewhat different than his physical body on earth, since it was now glorified -- incorruptible and free of suffering, a promise of what our own bodies will be like in heaven.

He could enter closed rooms, for example, even though the door was locked (John 20:19), and he was able to disappear, as he did when he vanished from the sight of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:31); and, of course, he was able to ascend into heaven (Acts 1:9).