Don't Touch Me

As I was listening to my Wonder Bible this past week from the book of John, something stood out that I've never heard before. Actually, I have heard it audibly but have never really "heard" it until now. So, I asked the Lord to enlighten me. In short, after His resurrection, Jesus appears before Mary Magdalene and He tells her, "Touch me not for I have not yet ascended to the Father" (John 20:17). Okay, well enough. I always assumed Jesus was telling Mary not to touch Him because of His 'risen state' -- that He was now a holy and pure body and therefore should not be touched by her earthly flesh. Right or wrong it is what I have always assumed. I never gave His statement much thought until this past week. And here is what struck me. Remember doubting Thomas? Thomas was not present when the eleven disciples first saw Jesus after His resurrection and announced to Thomas that they had seen the Lord. Thomas, as recorded in verse 25, boldly pronounces, "Except I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into His side, I will not believe." Eight days passed since Thomas said this. Thomas was with the disciples this time when Jesus appears in their midst. Verse 27 tells us Jesus had a different reaction to Thomas than He did Mary. He told Mary "Touch me not" but to Thomas, he said, "Reach hither thy finger and behold My hands, and reach hither thy hand and thrust it into my side." Hadn't Jesus just days prior told Mary NOT to touch Him, but to Thomas, He gave permission to touch Him? I found that very curious! Why the two differences?

I asked God to reveal what this could mean, not from a contradictory standpoint, but from what seems to be an unfair position or even favoritism. Obviously, I had to begin with and understand the meaning of the word 'touch' so I went to the Greek dictionary as I so often do. In John 20:17, the word "touch" (in Greek is Haptou) means "to cling to, to lay hold of." Because Jesus used the word touch in this sense, this wasn't just a touch or a tap; it was a grip. The meaning of this verse has the idea then of "to stop clinging," "grasping tightly," or to "stop fastening onto." It wasn't that Jesus was telling Mary not to physically touch Him, rather, not to cling and prevent Jesus from moving or leaving and Jesus let her know He must leave. So we must understand, the issue is not about physical touch at all, but that He could not remain with her or anyone. If you read Matthew 28:9, you will see the women in this verse were holding Jesus' feet. "And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshipped Him" (NASB). INTERESTING! Think of that. They were on their knees holding His feet! "Taking hold" (Haptou) of His feet sounds as if He was nearly held hostage by very emotional women. I probably would have done the same!

Mary's reaction (Haptou) was motivated by several things. One, of course, would simply be her loving devotion to the Lord. Mary had to have been overwhelmed by recent events: seeing Jesus scourged, carrying a heavy cross, whipped, crowed, nailed, crucified, put to death, placed in a tomb, then he suddenly appears and is alive in a matter of three short days! Her grief that morning turned to sudden joy seeing Him alive so she naturally embraces and clings to Him, savoring the moment, not wanting Him to leave. She had lost Him once and she wanted to make sure she didn't lose Him again -- she wanted to keep Jesus with her always. It might even be possible that Mary thought it was the fulfillment of Jesus' promise to return (John 14:3), in which case He would take her (and all the followers and believers) with Him back to the Father in heaven. However, we know by reading this account and where we are in history today that it was not Jesus' plan to stay in this world, and He told Mary He would have to eventually leave by returning to heaven and to the Father where He belonged. He made it clear that His resurrection was not to be seen or misconstrued as His promised return. In fact, that's why He told Mary of the ascension. His plan was to ascend to the Father and then send the Holy Spirit (John 16:7; 20:22; Acts 2:1-4). Fellowship with Jesus would continue, but it would be a spiritual communion, not a physical presence. In loosening Mary's hold on Him, Jesus was, in effect, saying: "I know you desire to keep Me here, always present with you. I know you want everything to be just the same as it was before I died. But our relationship is about to change. I'm going to heaven, and you will have the Comforter in My place. You need to start walking by faith, Mary, not by sight."

And then there's Thomas. When Jesus spoke to Thomas, it was not to counter a misplaced desire but to rebuke a lack of faith. Thomas had said that he would not believe until he had touched the living body of Jesus (John 20:25). Jesus, knowing all about Thomas' prior statement, offered His body as living proof of His resurrection, and something He did on another occasion (Luke 24:39-40). So in conclusion, the Lord answered and revealed to me that both Mary and Thomas needed more faith. Mary needed faith enough to let Jesus go and believe she would never be alone because the Comforter He promised would come, and Thomas needed faith enough to believe without seeing or needing physical proof. Mary needed to loosen her grip and Thomas needed to strengthen his! Amazing, huh? If you read the Word you'll understand you have been given faith to understand all these things for "Faith comes in hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Believe it! Exercise it!
Until next time,
-Pat-