In John 20:15, Jesus had been resurrected, but He hadn't ascended to the Father. People were still figuring out that He was no longer in the tomb. When Mary saw Jesus, she thought He was the gardener.

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned to Him and said, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for [or because] I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and to your God'" (John 20:15-17).

Here's the situation. Jesus is barely out of the tomb and Mary shows up. However, she doesn't recognize Him. When she does, she evidently starts to touch Him. The Living Bible says that Jesus said, "Don't touch me…for I haven't yet ascended to My Father…."

We Will Be Glorified Like He Was
Here is an important point we don't need to miss. Jesus had descended into the grave. Although He was resurrected when He saw Mary, He had not yet ascended to the throne and placed His blood on the mercy seat. When He put His blood on the mercy seat in the true holy of holies, not one made with hands, He came back to earth in His renewed, touchable body.

He had been glorified in the same way we will be glorified. He then taught for forty days before His final ascension into heaven as described in the first chapter of Acts.

This is why in Luke 24, it says:

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." When He said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
(Luke 24:36-40)

He urged them to openly handle Him so they would believe that He was not a spirit. This was after Mary had seen Him and He had placed His blood on the mercy seat.

By Jesus placing His blood on the mercy seat, we now have access to the Father through Him. Jesus is not untouchable. We can daily reach out and access (touch) the power of God.

Larry Ollison Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.