Question 1

What does John 20:17 mean?

Accepted Answer

John 20:17 records Jesus telling Mary Magdalene not to touch Him because He has not yet ascended to His Father, but instead to go tell His disciples that He is ascending to His Father and their Father, to His God and their God. Jesus is making a distinction about His current state after the resurrection and instructing Mary to deliver an important message to the others. In this verse, Jesus (speaking to Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb) gently stops her from holding onto Him, explaining that His return to the Father is still to come. He directs her to bring news to His "brethren" (the disciples), highlighting both His unique relationship with God as Father and the shared relationship believers now have with God because of His resurrection.

Question 2

The Greek behind John 20:17

Accepted Answer

The word "Touch" (ἅπτομαι, haptomai) can also mean "cling to" or "hold on to," suggesting Jesus is not just forbidding a simple touch, but telling Mary not to try to keep Him from leaving or to hold onto Him physically as if He were staying. "Ascended" (ἀναβαίνω, anabainō) is in the present tense here, showing that Jesus is in the process of returning to the Father, but has not yet completed it. This helps explain why He tells Mary not to cling to Him. "My Father and your Father... my God and your God" uses the same words for "Father" (πατήρ, patēr) and "God" (θεός, theos) for both Jesus and the disciples, but Jesus carefully distinguishes His unique relationship as Son from the disciples' relationship as children of God by grace.

Question 3

Why John 20:17 matters

Accepted Answer

John 20:17 clears up the idea that Jesus’ resurrection body was untouchable; later, He invites Thomas to touch Him, so the issue here is not about being physically untouchable, but about Mary’s desire to keep Him with her. The verse emphasizes Jesus’ relationship to God as both unique and shared: He is the Son in a special sense, but through Him, His followers also call God their Father. This moment marks a turning point in the Gospel, as Jesus sends Mary to announce His resurrection and coming ascension, making her the first messenger of this news to the disciples.

John 20:17 (KJV)