Mary, Thomas, and Touching Jesus

After Jesus had risen from the dead, Mary of Magdela was the first to see him. As soon as Mary recognized him Jesus told her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (Jn. 20:17). Several days later Jesus appeared to all of the disciples for the second time, and he allowed Thomas to touch his wounds in his side and his hands (Jn. 20:27,28). Some believe that because Jesus would not allow Mary to touch him because he hadn’t ascended to the Father, and because he DID allow Thomas to touch him; that he must have ascended to the Father between those two encounters. But let’s allow the scriptures to answer that issue: “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he ENTERED IN ONCE into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Heb. 9:12). So we see that Jesus entered into the most holy place in heaven only one time, so when did that one time occur? “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you INTO HEAVEN, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11). So we know for certain that Jesus went into heaven in the sight of his disciples and that it was confirmed by two angels who stood by.

And so it becomes evident that he did NOT ascend to heaven in John 20, between seeing Mary and Thomas, so that leaves us with the whole ‘touching’ issue, and what Jesus meant when he told Mary, “Touch me not.” It’s really simple. Jesus had previously cast seven devils out of Mary, and she obviously knew great relief from that experience. Upon seeing Jesus risen from the dead, Mary hungered for a closer and more powerful relationship and experience with Jesus, one that would literally cleanse her entire being from all sin, and join her to him in spirit (I Cor. 6:17). That touch she could NOT have until after Jesus ascended to heaven, because the essence of that experience, which is the holy Ghost baptism, could not be had until Jesus went back to heaven (Jn. 7:37-39; Jn. 16:7). The baptism of the Spirit, which Jesus had promised his followers when he went away, is the witness of the remission of sins; and is the experience that literally puts one into Christ and makes them ‘one’ with he and the Father (Acts 1:4.5; Heb. 10:14-17; I Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Jn. 17:22-24; Rom. 6:3,4; I Pet. 3:18). On the other hand, Thomas wanted to touch Jesus merely to confirm to himself that it was really Jesus, and that he had truly risen from the dead (Jn. 20:24,25). That touch was something that COULD be provided immediately, and so Jesus granted Thomas that wish. So it really just comes down to two different kinds of touching. One was available upon request, and the other was not. Jesus only ascended to heaven one time according to the scriptures, and his priesthood could not begin until he entered the heavenly tabernacle (Heb. 8:1-4). Therefore there was no new testament remission of sins until Jesus went back to heaven, at which time he sent back the holy Ghost baptism which alone is the true remission of sins (I Cor. 6:11; Rom. 8:9). And it is certain that Mary got the touch she was looking for not long after she sought it, on the day of Pentecost. Amen.