narrator, but,
in the anxiety to make a clear case, it is overdone, as often happens
when the object is to remedy or correct an oversight or mistake
previously made. In relating that the disciples _doubted_ the words of
Mary Magdalene, he had probably forgotten Jesus had promised them that
he should rise, for, if he had told them this, _why did they doubt_?

Neither the "_Matthew_" nor the "_Mark_" narrator says in what _way_
Jesus made his appearance--whether it was in the _body_ or only in the
_spirit_. If in the latter, it would be fatal to the whole theory of
the resurrection, as it is a _material_ resurrection that Christianity
taught--just like their neighbors the Persians--and not a
spiritual.[229:1]

To put this disputed question in its true light, and to silence the
objections which must naturally have arisen against it, was the object
which the "_Luke_" narrator had in view. He says that when Jesus
appeared and spoke to the disciples they were afraid: "But they were
terrified and affrighted, and _supposed_ they had seen a
_spirit_."[229:2] Jesus then--to show that he was _not_ a spirit--showed
the wounds in his hands and feet. "And they gave him a piece of a
broiled fish, and of a honeycomb. And he took it, _and did eat before
them_."[229:3] After this, who is there that can doubt? but, if the
_fish_ and _honeycomb_ story was true, why did the "_Matthew_" and
"_Mark_" narrators fail to mention it?

The "_Luke_" narrator, like his predecessors, had also overdone the
matter, and instead of convincing the skeptical, he only excited their
ridicule.

The "_John_" narrator now comes, and endeavors to set matters right. He
does not omit entirely the story of Jesus eating fish, _for that would
not do, after there had been so much said about it_. He might leave it
to be inferred that the "_Luke_" narrator made a mistake, so he modifies
the story and omits the ridiculous part. The scene is laid on the shores
of the Sea of Tiberias. Under the direction of Jesus, Peter drew his net
to land, full of fish. "Jesus said unto them: Come and dine. And none of
the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then cometh, and taketh _bread_, and _giveth them_, and _fish_
likewise."[229:4]

It does not appear from _this_ account that Jesus ate the fish at all.
He took the fish and _gave to the disciples_; the inference is that
_they_ were the ones that ate. In the "_Luke_" narrator's account _th