Question:
Does not John 20:17, where it is stated, “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.”, show that the Lord did not go to the Father upon His death?
Answer:
This verse actually shows that the Lord was instructing Mary that she could not hold Him to this earth any longer. The word “touch” may also be translated, “to attach oneself.” He was about to ascend to Heaven to sit at His Father’s right hand. He could no longer stay with Mary and the disciples in the physical sense. Note that the Lord later invited Thomas to touch Him (John