A NEW RELATIONSHIP

JOHN 20:11–18

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father”

(John 20:17a).

Once Peter and John have left the tomb, Mary returns, still grieving for her lost Lord. There she encounters two angels who ask her why she is weeping. The implication is that this is a time for rejoicing and not for tears. But Mary still does not realize what has happened. To put her fears to rest, Jesus Himself speaks to her. At first she does not recognize Him. It isn’t until Jesus speaks her name in Aramaic (Miriam), in the manner that all her friends addressed her, that she realizes who is speaking to her.

Her reaction, of course, is one of great joy. But when she approaches Him, He makes a strange statement: “Do not cling to Me, for 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 your God.’ ” Was Mary not allowed to touch the resurrected body? We do not think this was what Jesus meant, for later He tells Thomas to touch His hands. Jesus knew Mary’s heart. Perhaps He knew that she wanted Him with her, to have things return to the way they were before He had died. But things had changed, and His relationship with her had changed. He would no longer walk with them as one of them. They would no longer enjoy His physical presence, always with them, teaching them. He would now be returning to be with His Father.

The relationship between Jesus and His followers would now be one of the ascended Lord in the Spirit with His Church. And notice that He now calls them His brothers. This is a new designation, indicative of a new relationship—a more intimate one. Brothers belong to the same family. They possess much in common, and they share in the same inheritance. Therefore, every Christian is a joint-heir with Christ. Just as Jesus is the first-born among the brethren, so all Christians will be raised in His image.

Jesus also emphasizes that God is their Father and His Father. He is God’s Son by nature, they are His sons by adoption. Nevertheless, the closeness of the relationship is stressed. Jesus would be ascending to be with the Father, but in a spiritual sense He would always be with His brothers. This was the message Mary was to give to the disciples, and it was the lesson she had to learn herself.

CORAM DEO

Ezekiel 24–26

James 3

WEEKEND

Ezekiel 27–31

James 4–5

What does it mean to be part of a family? What is the difference between a relationship with a brother and that with a friend? One difference is a friend can turn into an enemy, but a brother will always be a brother, no matter what. Meditate on the passages below and think about what it means to be a part of God’s family.

For further study: Rom. 8:12–17, 29 • Gal 3:26–4:7 • Heb. 12:3–11

WEEKEND