Why Mary Magdalene couldn’t touch in Jesus?

[Leonardo Von]

Why Mary Magdalene couldn’t touch in Jesus? 

•    “Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” (John 20.17 - WEB).

Although most of the versions is written *touch me*, the best translation is *hold me*. This expression can be seen below:

•    “And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs up himself to *take hold of You*. For You have hidden Your face from us, and have melted us away because of our iniquities.” (Isa 64:7).

Observe that there are people that have the ability to hold the Creator. But how? How can a simple creature hold the Almighty God? 

This is doable when Jesus find in us a heart like a child’s heart (Mark 10:14,15), that is to say, a heart outright ready to receive His love for Him and everything that He is and represents:

•    “We love Him because *He first loved us*.” (1John 4:19).

When we are infused by His pure and intense love, we become able to touch Jesus in a special way, like Mary Magdalene.

•    “Because *he cleaves to Me in love*, therefore I deliver him; I set him on high, Because he has known My Name.” (Psa 91:14 - TS2009).

If you pore on all the reports about Jesus’ resurrection, you will see that all the women that was to the gravestone touched and worshipped Jesus later (Matthew 28:9). So, why couldn’t Mary Magdalene in John 20:17?

The touch of Mary Magdalene was different. For you visualize this, observe that all the women saw the angels (including Mary Magdalene – Matthew 28:1,5)). Nevertheless, while the other women got satisfied with the vision of angels, Mary Magdalene didn’t. She stayed in the gravestone. She didn’t conform with least than touch Jesus’ body (even dead). No angel’s vision was sufficient to efface her desire to worship her Savior with the spices which they had prepared (Luke 24:1).

So, the adoration of Mary Magdalene was so sincere and intense that was able to hold Jesus. Although Jesus wish that every can be like this, at that moment Jesus couldn’t still to be in several places at the same time. This only became feasible in His ascension (Acts 1:9).

At that moment, it was urgent announce that Jesus was alive for other people too. If He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, it was to confirm that it is this kind of devotion that He desires of us. Nevertheless, He also shew that so important than have intimacy with Him is to preach the gospel.

So, have a great day cleaving to Jesus in love and, although the angels are marvelous, don’t stop yourself of seeking Jesus until you become His intimate friend (Isa 41:8; James 2:23) in who His soul is well pleased:

•    “While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. And behold a voice out of the cloud which said, This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, *hear Him*.” (Mat 17:5). 
 

[com7fy8]

I think that is a good explanation.

Mary was the first one Jesus appeared to. He could have first shown Himself to John and Peter. But they came and went, and then Jesus showed Himself to Mary.

So, I think that was because she was truly intimate with Jesus.

But, going with your explanation, Jesus did not want her to have Him all to herself, but she should want to share Him with others, too. And so, He sent her to the others. She was intimate with Him, spiritually, I would say, though she did not touch Him. So, she could feed on that while going out to serve Him.

But Jesus did let Thomas touch Him, later; Thomas, I now see, needed some contact to help him get close to Jesus. But Mary already was with Jesus; so I see He would be fine with her touching Him, but she was already in better intimacy with Him, than just holding Him. So, it was time to help the others.

Now I get how this can apply to ministry. You can get close to someone ministering with you. At first you might have affectionate contact with each other a lot. But then you adopt people who need your ministry, so then you give more and more attention to your needy people . . . but while you still are very close to each other.

Married people can get busy with their children so they might not see one another as much, but their relationship can even keep growing.

Our Apostle Paul says he'd love to go to be with Jesus >

"Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." (Philippians 1:23-24)

Edited August 27, 2022 by com7fy8