Clinging By Faith

Jesus said to her, “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.’ ”  John 20:17

Confession first: I still do not understand that first part of what Jesus said to Mary Magdalene. If Jesus simply wanted Mary to run and deliver His message, then the bit about His coming ascension would seem out of place. Was it His state of undress? Because those grave clothes were still in the tomb as Peter and John had seen. Was our risen Lord, like, naked as the ol' jaybird? No, that cannot be either, because Mary would by no means have mistaken a nude fellow for a gardener. One, even in our libertine age, would not expect first century gardeners to have worked in the buff. Would Mary perhaps have received an unexpected ride up to Heaven as she clung to Jesus? That does not seem likely either as she would have to maintain that grip for about forty days as Jesus appeared to persons and groups around the area. Was Mary somehow too dirty or unclean to be clinging to the risen Lord? That also seems unlikely as the doubting Thomas, besides gaining a label, was invited to thrust his hand into our Lord's side and stop doubting. Did Jesus travel from place to place before His ascension through a means by which Mary in her fallen state might have suffered harm? Sorry, still seems unlikely as Mary could hardly be safer than traveling with her Lord Jesus no matter what method He used. Perhaps the time had come for all who believe in Jesus to cling to Him by faith, and as this was the one brief time that a person could reach out and physically cling to our Lord, He had to stop that sort of thing until His glorious return. Interesting, but there still seems to be a question mark floating around my head. 

Until that time when He returns with the answer, the just shall live by faith, and we hope our Lord will kindly allow us to cling to Him by faith too! 

Bucky