“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.”
My Notes
What Does John 20:17 Mean?
The risen Jesus speaks to Mary Magdalene with words that reveal the new reality: touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. The old form of relationship — physical proximity — is giving way to something new.
"Go to my brethren" — Jesus calls the disciples his brothers for the first time after the resurrection. The relationship has been elevated. They were servants, then friends (John 15:15), now brothers.
"I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" — Jesus shares his Father with the disciples. My Father becomes your Father. My God becomes your God. The resurrection creates a shared family — Jesus' relationship with the Father is now the disciples' relationship.
The verse marks a transition: from the physical Jesus walking beside them to the glorified Jesus ascending to the Father — and bringing them into the same filial relationship he has always enjoyed.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Why does Jesus say 'touch me not' — what transition is happening in the relationship?
- 2.What does Jesus calling the disciples 'brethren' for the first time signify?
- 3.How does 'my Father and your Father' bring you into Jesus' own relationship with God?
- 4.What does the resurrection changing the relationship from servant to brother mean for your identity?
Devotional
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father. The old relationship — touching, walking beside, physically present — is changing. Something new is being established. The ascension will complete the transition.
Go to my brethren. Brethren. Brothers. The disciples who were called servants, then upgraded to friends, are now called brothers. The resurrection elevated the relationship to family.
I ascend unto my Father, and your Father. The most intimate relationship in the universe — Jesus with the Father — is now shared. My Father is your Father. The exclusive relationship has become inclusive. You have been brought into the family.
And to my God, and your God. My God is your God. The Jesus who prayed to the Father now tells you: his God is your God too. The connection is not just conceptual. It is relational, personal, familial.
The resurrection changed everything about your relationship with God. Before: servant. After: brother. Before: distant worshipper. After: family member. Before: my God and your God were separate sentences. After: they are the same God, the same Father, the same family.
The ascension completes what the resurrection began: bringing you into the relationship Jesus has always had with the Father. My Father. Your Father. One family. One God.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Jesus saith unto her, touch me not,.... Not that his body was an aerial one, or a mere "phantom", which could not be…
Touch me not ... - This passage has given rise to a variety of interpretations. Jesus required Thomas to touch him Joh…
Touch me not - Μη μου ἁπτου, Cling not to me. Ἁπτομαι has this sense in Job 31:7, where the Septuagint use it for the…
St. Mark tells us that Christ appeared first to Mary Magdalene (Mar 16:9); that appearance is here largely related; and…
Touch me not, for, &c. This is a passage of well-known difficulty. At first sight the reason given for refraining from…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture