Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to touch Him after His resurrection?
Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father. As the spotless High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, He had to ascend first in His impeccable state and could not be defiled by human hands before that ascension.
Les explains that Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus as Rabboni and was evidently about to embrace Him because she was thrilled to see Him alive after all He had gone through. But He held her at bay, saying, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father," and sent her to His brethren and disciples with the message that He ascends to His Father, their Father, His God, and their God. Les teaches that He ascended in that moment while Mary ran to tell the twelve; later, when they all met Him, He told them to touch Him and check His wounds. The reason was that He had to ascend in the impeccableness of the High Priest. That High Priest had to be spotless, so Jesus could not even be touched by the hands of a lady like Mary Magdalene and could not be defiled by human hands. This ties to Hebrews 9 and His High Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron, covering the whole spectrum of humanity.
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.
Why did Jesus need to remain untouched by human hands before his ascension?
He had to ascend in the impeccableness required of that High Priest. As the spotless High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, He could not be defiled by human hands, even Mary Magdalene's. So He told her not to touch Him until He had ascended to the Father.
Why did Jesus tell Mary not to touch Him but then let Thomas touch Him?
Jesus told Mary not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father; He was about to ascend to His Father and her Father, His God and her God. Later that day, after that first ascension, He invited Thomas to touch His hands and side to prove He was for real.
More Questions
Why did Jesus tell Mary not to touch Him but let Thomas touch Him?
Jesus' refusal to let Mary touch Him is unusual because later that same day, in verse 27, He invited Thomas to reach out his fingers, behold His hands, and thrust his hand into His side — which is touching, proving He was for real.
Why couldn't Jesus be touched by human hands before his ascension?
Jesus had to ascend in the impeccableness of the High Priest because the High Priest had to be spotless and could not be defiled by human hands, which is why he would not allow even Mary Magdalene to touch him before that ascension.