“I Have Not Yet Ascended To The Father.”
John 20:11-18
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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 and said to him in Aramaic “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” — and that he had said these things to her.”
The events of John 20 take place on Easter Sunday. Everyone thought Jesus was dead and gone. However, Jesus was raised, and he appeared to many people (1 Cor. 15:16). Some of the first who saw Jesus raised were the disciples, but John also gives the account of Mary Magdalene in the above text. The story almost always begs the question, “Why did Jesus tell Mary not to touch him?”
First the text is very clear, Jesus is raised from the dead! No more is death a certainty for anyone.
Second, Jesus is patient in his teaching us when things seem confusing. The angels instructed Mary. They taught her. She must be led to first look into the grave, acknowledging Jesus died. But then they directed her to examine her heart, “Why are you weeping?” She acknowledges the death of Christ. We too must examine our heart when we are sorrowful. We must first see the cross and then look at the grave as the reward for our sins, “the wages of sin is death.” We must confess our sin before we are directed by God’s messengers to hear the good news, “Why are you weeping?”
Third and perhaps the point of this account, is that Jesus tells Mary not to “cling” to him. This word “cling” or hold, handle is quite interesting. It is a physical touch that has a change associated with it. Like when a husband and wife “cling” to one another they become one. It’s almost as if Jesus says, “Don’t hold me because you will not be physically holding me as you have these years that I have been with you.” but then Jesus adds, “For I have not yet ascended to the Father.” This implies that the ascending of Jesus will impact a change where we can “touch” or “cling” to him in a new way.
Jesus is teaching Mary and us that when he ascends to the right hand of God (And Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing pat the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56; Eph 1:20) the way we do behold him/cling to him will change. That when Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, he is with us in his word and sacrament. That is how we behold Him. That is how we now cling to him!
It is not an accident that Mary is wondering how and where to find Jesus and he teaches her and all who would seek to find him.
This clinging, or touching is of course only known by faith. We don’t touch him as his disciples did, like Thomas, but in a new way. And this new way is even greater than the ordinary physical embracing of Jesus. Even as Jesus himself said after Thomas touched him “Do you believe because you have seen? Blessed are those who have not seen yet believe.”
It is not Jesus who is changed now when he clings to us in his word and sacrament but us. He comes to us. He descends to us because we cannot ascend up to him. Jesus is teaching Mary and us where true resurrection joy is to be found! Beholding him by faith. Receiving the sacrament by faith. Remembering the promises he gave you at your baptism where he came to you forgiving you all your sins just as he came to Mary and all the disciples absolving them of all their sins.
So, remember this story of Mary when you are bothered or confused. When it seems as if death has won, or your problems and sins are so big. Jesus is patient. Here his word spoken from his messengers. Believe that Christ has not left us but is present in a new way. Then you also be encouraged that you too may take this life-giving message to others who are troubled in heart.
Alleluia, Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
See you on Sunday.
Pastor Ottmers