QUESTION: In John 20:17 Jesus said, “Touch me not … .” What does that mean? Eight days later He encouraged Thomas to touch Him. When did Christ ascend to the Father?
ANSWER: John 20:17 says, “Jesus saith to her, touch Me not; for I am not yet ascended to the Father: but go unto My brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.”
Numerous skeptics have argued that there is a contradiction, because eight days later (John 20:26) we hear Jesus speak to Thomas, “… reach hither thy fingers and see My side; and be not faithless but believing” (John 20:27). The ascension of Christ is recorded in Acts 1:9-11.
In the America Standard Version, the phrase “touch Me not” has a footnote indicating the tense of the Greek. The footnote reads: “take not hold on Me.” The force of the Greek expression is to not keep on clinging to His body. There is no need to spend time in that way. There will be time for such natural emotions at some other time. Right now, there is something that needs to take priority! She needs to go to the brethren with the greatest announcement that the world has ever heard or will ever hear.
Paul puts it this way, “He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:18). Note the words: “firstborn from the dead.” That means that Jesus Christ was the first person to die and to overcome death by returning to life! You think, “but the Bible has several cases of people who died and were resurrected from the dead.” Elijah raised the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:20-24); Elisha raised the Shunamite woman’s son (2 Kings 4:32-37); Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:41-43); Jesus commanded Lazarus to “come forth” from the tomb (John 11:43-44); Peter raised Dorcas (Acts 9:40-41); and Paul raised Eutychus (Acts 20:9-12). Why then is Jesus called the “firstborn from the dead?” All of these would die physical death again (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead but would never die again! “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over Him.” (Romans 6:9). The reason that Jesus had to be the “firstborn” from the dead was in order that He might have the “preeminence” in the church, which is His body (Colossians 1:18). Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:4, “There is one body …” Paul also wrote of “… His body’s sake, which is the church.” (Colossians 1:24).
Mary announced the glorious resurrection of the Messiah! The episode with Thomas simply strengthened and reinforced the fact of the resurrection of Christ. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that He hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:34). “… thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
A warm welcome awaits you at all the services of the Maysville church of Christ, located at Main & Ash Streets. We have worship services each Sunday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Bible classes for all ages are held Wednesday evenings at 6 p.m. We welcome your Bible questions at P.O. Box 562, Maysville, Oklahoma, 73057, or jessandterr@yahoo.com.
