Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to the Father.
Mary was overjoyed and moved to embrace the risen Christ, but He stopped her with the words "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father." Les Feldick explains that Christ first had to ascend to the Father at that moment—a high-priestly act—before returning to appear to the disciples.
John 20:17 — This verse records Jesus' exact words to Mary giving the reason: He had not yet ascended to His Father.
Hebrews 9:11 — Les points to Hebrews 9 as the record of Christ's high-priestly entrance into the heavenly tabernacle, explaining why the ascension had to happen first.
On the morning of His resurrection, Mary Magdalene found the tomb empty and, after seeing the risen Jesus, heard Him call her name. In John 20:17 Jesus said: "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." Later that same day, He told Thomas in John 20:27: "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side." The Bible therefore shows a temporary restriction with a stated reason—not a general ban on touching the risen Christ. Hebrews 9 also presents Christ as the High Priest who entered into the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, and by His own blood obtained eternal redemption.
Les explains that on that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene, thrilled that Jesus was alive, was about to give Him a bear hug. Jesus stopped her and said, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father." Les calls this "the first ascension"—a moment of ascension to the Father that happened while Mary ran to tell the disciples—and he distinguishes it from the second ascension in Acts 1. Les teaches that Jesus had to ascend into the very throne room of heaven to fulfill His high-priestly work. He did this as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, not after Aaron. Les points to Hebrews 9 as the complete record of what took place early that Sunday morning. He also emphasizes that the High Priest had to be spotless, so Jesus could not be defiled by human hands—even the hands of a faithful woman like Mary Magdalene. The contrast with Thomas shows the prohibition was only for that brief moment before the ascension.
Les explains that Jesus was not saying He had never been with the Father before, but that He had not yet completed the ascension that was necessary at that moment. Mary needed to tell the apostles, "I ascend unto my Father." Les calls this "the first ascension," distinct from the ascension in Acts 1. He teaches that Jesus left the earth's confines that morning and ascended into the very throne room of heaven before returning to appear to the eleven.
Just a few verses later, in John 20:27, Jesus invited Thomas to touch His hands and His side. Les emphasizes that this was not contradictory. By that time, Jesus had already ascended to the Father and returned. So the restriction to Mary was only for the moment before that ascension. He tells readers to notice the contrast: to Mary, "touch me not"; to Thomas, "reach hither thy finger."
Les explains that on the Day of Atonement, the high priest took the blood of a sacrificed animal behind the veil into the presence of God. Christ, as High Priest after the order of Melchizedek—not Aaron—had to ascend to the Father before He could be touched. Les points to Hebrews 9 as the record of what took place that early Sunday morning: Christ entered into the heavenly tabernacle. He also stresses that the High Priest had to be spotless, so Jesus could not be defiled by human hands before that work was done.
Background: Day of Atonement
Les reminds listeners that on the Day of Atonement the high priest took blood behind the veil into God's presence—this pattern underlies why Jesus had to ascend.
Mary's Halted Embrace
Les describes Mary's intention to embrace Jesus and Jesus' command, "Touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father." He notes Jesus ascended at that moment and later invited the disciples to touch.
The Thomas Contrast
Les contrasts Jesus' words to Mary with His later invitation to Thomas to touch His hands and side, showing the restriction was temporary and tied to the ascension.
The Natural Human Response
Les highlights Mary's natural inclination to embrace Jesus and asks, "Where is the Father? He's in heaven," showing why the ascension had to happen first.
The First Ascension Defined
Les calls Jesus' ascent from Mary "the first ascension," distinct from Acts 1, and says Hebrews 9 explains this early Sunday morning event.
Ascension Into the Throne Room
Les teaches that Jesus had to ascend into the very throne room of heaven before returning to the eleven; Mary was sent to tell them of the ascension.
First vs Second Ascension
Les again names the ascension to the Father as the first ascension and the Mount of Olives departure as the second, then directs listeners to Hebrews 9:11.
The Spotless High Priest
Les teaches that the High Priest had to be spotless, so Jesus could not be defiled by human hands before His high-priestly work was complete.
John 20:17: 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.
This is the direct command to Mary and the stated reason—He had not yet ascended.
John 20:27: Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Shows that by this later moment, touching was allowed, reinforcing that the earlier prohibition was temporary.
Hebrews 9:11: But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Les points here for the explanation of Christ's high-priestly entrance into the heavenly tabernacle.
Hebrews 9:12: Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Completes the thought and connects Christ's own blood to the heavenly entrance.
Because He had not yet ascended to the Father. Mary was about to embrace Him, but Jesus said, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father," so that He could first fulfill His high-priestly role in heaven.
Les Feldick calls the moment Jesus ascended to the Father after speaking to Mary the "first ascension." The second ascension is the well-known departure from the Mount of Olives in Acts 1.
By the time Jesus appeared to Thomas, He had already ascended to the Father and returned. So the restriction was temporary; Jesus even invited Thomas to touch His hands and side.
Watch the Teaching: Jesus as High Priest: The Order of Melchizedek Explained