“Jesus saith unto 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.” – John 20:17

When Mary went to Jesus’ tomb she was met with a sound rebuke. Think about it for a moment. If your Lord and Master had been killed and then you’d just discovered that He had risen from the dead, you’d want to touch Him, wouldn’t you? You’d want to hug Him and kiss Him and shout “Glory!” but, Mary was told by Jesus not to touch Him for, “I am not yet ascended to My Father.”

Later on, after this scene, lots of people touched the resurrected Lord. Perhaps the most graphic story concerned Thomas (remember the “doubting Thomas). As he was doubting to his brethren that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, Jesus suddenly walked through a wall and confronted Thomas. “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing (John 20:26-27).

Now, what was the difference? Why couldn’t Mary touch Jesus at the tomb just like Thomas did later in a private home?

To understand this story, we must first go back to the story of Moses and the instructions he was given to build the Tabernacle. The Bible teaches that the Tabernacle (a tent) and, later on, the permanent structure in Jerusalem called The Temple were constructed after plans of a heavenly Tabernacle that resides in heaven. If this is true, the heavenly Tabernacle also contains the same contents as the earthly including the Ark of the Covenant. Some scholars believe that the original Ark (which was absent from the Temple in Jesus’ day) was transported by God Himself to heaven for safe-keeping. I’m not sure I believe that but there seems to be no doubt that an Ark exists in the heavenly Temple.

Now, I want to give you my opinion of why Jesus told Mary not to touch Him. Keep in mind that, as our sacrificial Lamb, Jesus had just been killed for us on the cross and His blood was shed for our salvation. But, we also must remember, that Jesus fulfilled more roles than just Savior. He was also our High Priest and, as such, it would have been His duty to carry His own precious blood to the heavenlies and sprinkle it upon the Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant just as the high priests in the Old Testament were instructed to do. If this is true then it explains why Jesus would not allow Mary to touch Him. He did not want her touch to defile Him before His mission in heaven was complete.

This would also explain why He could be touched later on when He returned from heaven. God bless you!

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