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.
Les teaches that Mary Magdalene was thrilled to see Jesus alive and evidently was going to embrace Him, but He held her at bay, saying, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father." Jesus had to ascend in the impeccableness of that 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 He could not be defiled by human hands. Les explains that He ascended in that moment while Mary ran to tell the twelve, and later when they met Him, He told them to touch Him and check out His wounds. This fits Hebrews 9, where He is High Priest 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.
More Questions
Did Jesus ascend before meeting the disciples after his resurrection?
Jesus had not yet ascended when he told Mary 'touch me not'; he ascended in that same moment while Mary ran to the twelve, and afterward he met the disciples and told them to touch his wounds.
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.