JEFF TURNER
Mary Magdalene played a significant role among Jesus’ followers, and her sorrow at His crucifixion was deep. She had witnessed His unjust execution and mourned the loss of her beloved teacher. When she saw Him alive after the resurrection, her instinct was to reach out and hold on to Him. However, Jesus gently stopped her, saying, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20:17).
This instruction may seem unusual since other disciples, like Thomas, were invited to touch Jesus after His resurrection. However, the original language clarifies the meaning. Mary was not simply reaching out in recognition—she was trying to hold on to Jesus as if to keep Him from ever leaving again. The pain of His absence during His death had been overwhelming, and the thought of losing Him once more was unbearable.
Yet, Jesus was preparing her for a new reality. He would soon return to His Father, but He would not leave His followers alone. Instead, He would send the Holy Spirit, who would dwell permanently in the lives of all believers. Through the Holy Spirit, Mary Magdalene and every Christian after her would experience the continuous presence of Christ. As Romans 8:9 affirms, “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” His physical departure did not mean separation; rather, it ensured a deeper, unbroken connection between Him and His followers.
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