Jesus’ Resurrection: “Don’t Cling to Me” (John 20:17)
When Mary recognized Jesus early on the day of His resurrection, she apparently threw her arms around Him. He responded by saying, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God” (John 20:17). Jesus’ words have a great deal of meaning. They highlight truths that all of His followers—including His followers in the 21st century—need to understand.
Even though the translators of the King James Version indicated Jesus told Mary, “Touch me not,” Jesus did not mean that He objected to Mary’s touching Him. Later He told Thomas, who earlier had expressed doubt, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” (v. 27). The word translated touch in John 20:17 in the KJV actually means “to cling, to adhere to, to attach oneself to.” The NIV says, “Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me.’”
Jesus’ resurrection had inaugurated a new era, one of which Jesus previously had spoken when He told His disciples, “I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment…. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because He will take from what is mine and declare it to you” (16:7-8,13-14).
Mary needed to understand that the way she previously had related to Jesus, and the way He had related to her and to others, no longer would be valid. While Jesus had demonstrated that He was God and had ministered to people in a multitude of ways, He had done so within the confines of a physical, human body. After He “ascended to the Father” (20:17), He could send the Holy Spirit to His followers and to the world. Since God’s Spirit was not and would not be confined to a human body, Jesus’ followers would benefit, just as Jesus said in 16:7.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in SundaySchoolZone.com materials are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
