John 20:11-18
Since we are looking at the feasts of the Lord and focusing on the feast of firstfruits, I want to stop and take a look at a very important moment on resurrection day. We are putting together a resurrection timeline of all the events mentioned in the Bible.
We know that the first appearance of Jesus, in his new resurrected body, was to Mary Magdalene. I want to look closely at that appearance right now. Let’s see exactly what happens on resurrection day using the Scriptures.
And remember, Jesus arose from the dead in the Spring. His death, burial, and resurrection occurred in the first month. We aren’t talking about the feasts that occur in the Fall. We aren’t talking about the Blowing of the Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, or the Feast of Tabernacles. Those feasts have not yet been fulfilled.
The Day of Atonement Hasn’t Been Fulfilled as a Fall Feast
The Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Days of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost or Feast of Weeks have been fulfilled. The remaining Fall Feasts have not yet been fulfilled.
John 20:1-2
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
We know that there were many women that came to the tomb early that morning. It wasn’t just Mary Magdalene. There were several other women with her according to the other Gospel accounts. As soon as she sees the stone taken away from the sepulchre, she runs, and comes to Simon Peter and John.
She says to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they laid him.” We know that she didn’t speak with the angels that told the women that he is risen from the dead. Mary took off running to Peter and John before she heard from the angels.
She says to Peter and John, “We know not where they have laid him.”
John 20:3-5
Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Peter and John Run to the Tomb of Jesus Christ
Peter and John run to the sepulchre. John outran Peter. John got there first. He stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. He saw the linen clothes lying there. John didn’t go into the tomb.
John 20:6-8
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
Peter went straight into the sepulchre. He saw the linen clothes lying there and the napkin that went about his head. John then goes into the tomb as well. He sees. He believes. Did he believe that Jesus was risen from the dead? No one has told him that yet.
John 20:9
For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
They didn’t believe Jesus was risen from the dead. They believed what Mary Magdalane had told them that someone had taken away the Lord. But why did they, whoever took him, leave the linen clothes and napkin?
John 20:10
Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Peter and John leave the tomb.
Mary Stooped Down to Look into the Sepulchre
John 20:11-13
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
Mary Magdalene is there without Peter and John. She is outside of the sepulchre. She is crying. She stoops down and looks into the sepulchre. What does she see inside? She sees two angels in white sitting. One at the head where Jesus had lain. And one at the feet where Jesus had lain.
The two angels ask her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” She answers, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.” She wrongly assumes that people have taken the body of Jesus. She wants to know where his body is located.
John 20:14-15
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus is now standing there behind her. Mary thought he was the gardener. She wants to know where his body has been taken. “Tell me where thou hast laid him.” She still doesn’t know that Jesus is risen from the dead. No one has told her yet.
Mary Magdalene Realizes Jesus is There With Her
John 20:16
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
Once Jesus calls her by her name “Mary,” she turns and realizes it is Jesus. She calls Jesus “Rabboni” which means “Master.” Now, the next verse is the one I want to focus in on for this Bible Study.
John 20:17-18
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. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Remember that Jesus says “Mary” and she turns to see Jesus. She says “Rabboni” or “Master.” Then Jesus says to her, “Touch me not.” He tells her to not touch him. Why? Jesus says, “For I am not yet ascended to my Father.” Is the thought finished?
He says, “Touch me not; For I am not yet ascended to my Father.” Then there’s a colon. This connects the though. Don’t touch me. I am not yet ascended to my Father. BUT. But what? “But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
Jesus Says, “Touch Me Not.”
Now, I want to focus on why Jesus tells Mary, “Touch me not.” And I want to talk about adding things to the word of God that aren’t there.
For example, people make up a place called Abraham’s bosom. They will say there is a literal and physical place called Abraham’s bosom. They will say that it’s paradise in hell. They will say that the Old Testament saints went there and that it was a holding place until Jesus came, died on the cross, descended to Abraham’s bosom, preached there, and took them all to heaven.
It might sound good. It might make sense to people. But it’s not in the Bible. That’s called a fairy tale.
1 Timothy 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Faith is believing what God says. Don’t have faith in the words of men. Have faith in the word of God. Don’t give heed to fables. This ministers questions instead of edifying which is in faith.
2 Timothy 4:2-4
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Do Not Add to the Word of God and Create Fables
We will preach the word of God here. We will not preach fables. Others will not endure sound doctrine that comes straight from the word of God. Others will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and they shall turn away their ears from the truth. And shall be turned to fables. Instead of turning to fables, hey, watch thou in all things.
Titus 1:13-14
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
We need to be sound in the faith. We have faith in the words written in the Bible. We don’t add to them or we will be found liars. Proverbs 30 verse 6 says, “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
We will not be giving heed to fables and commandments of men that turn from the truth. The truth is written in the Bible. We don’t add details to the Bible. We don’t take away details from the Bible.
Jesus says to Mary Magdalene who he appears to first, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto 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.” Let’s put the verse there so you can see exactly what Jesus says.
John 20:16-17
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 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.
The Fable of Defiling Jesus Christ and His Sacrifice
Notice exactly what the Bible says right there. Now, here’s the fable created by someone and carried on in churches today.
They will preach and teach that Jesus said not to touch him because if Mary Magdalene touched him that she would have defiled the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. I am going to read you the exact quote from a preacher, and you tell me if this is adding to the word of God that you see right there.
And keep in mind this is a quote from a very popular preacher who taught this:
“He arose from the dead as the high priest. He started walking toward the Holy of Holies in heaven. The real one where God is tonight. And all of a sudden, since he was the high priest, he could not be touched by the hands of men because this man (the high priest of Israel) could not be touched by the hands of men by the time he got that blood and the time he sprinkled that blood. So Jesus was on his way from Calvary to the Holy of Holies and to the mercy seat in heaven. And all of a sudden he saw Mary and oh how Mary loved him. He saved her from a life of ruin and wreck. She was possessed of seven devils and oh she loved him and there was her resurrected Savior. Don’t you know she wanted to reach out and say let me see if that’s really you Jesus. And Jesus said, “Oh, oh (jumping backwards), oh Mary, No, Mary, No, don’t touch me. Don’t touch me, Mary. I’ve not yet ascended to my Father.” What was he saying? He was saying I’ll spill this blood if you don’t watch out Mary. He said I’ve got to get to heaven with this blood and if I get touched by the hands of men before I get to the mercy seat in heaven, and sprinkle my blood on that mercy seat, then my payment on the cross will be invalid. He said I’ve got to get it there (pointing to the mercy seat in heaven).”
Would the Payment Jesus Made be Defiled by Mary Magdalene???
That’s an exact quote from a preach on why Jesus told Mary to “Touch me not.” He says that Jesus said, “My payment on the cross will be invalid if you touch me, Mary.” Now, you take a look at what Jesus actually said. Did Jesus jump backwards and run that way so Mary wouldn’t touch him? Did Jesus say, “Mary, if you touch me, I’ll spill this blood I’ve got in a bowl and then no one can be saved. I’ve got to get this blood, Mary, to the mercy seat in heaven.”
Did Jesus say those things? Hey, to all the preachers out there, you better be careful with the word of God. Maybe you don’t have enough respect for the word of God to not add to His words and take away from His words. Fairy tales.
Here’s another quote from a preacher that copied the preacher I just quoted from:
“He’s the sacrifice for all mankind. He’s been resurrected from the dead, and he has not yet put the blood on the mercy seat. He has not yet ascended up and put his blood upon the mercy seat in heaven. He said, “Hey, don’t touch me” because her touching him would have defiled that sacrifice. Cause later he allows people to touch him. Later on he allows Thomas. He’s like here touch my hands. Stick your hand in my ribs and all that stuff, right?”
This preacher says that Jesus said to not touch him because she would have defiled the sacrifice that Jesus made. Hey, the Bible doesn’t say that. Jesus didn’t say that. Imagine putting words in the mouth of Jesus Christ. Imagine that. You’ve got to be a brave man to do that. You’ve got to be a large man to do something like that. You must have a large belly.
Touch Me Not But Go to My Brethren
So, they say that 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,” because Jesus had not yet ascended to heaven and he had not yet taken his physical blood from the cross 3 days and 3 nights ago into heaven and sprinkled his physical blood on the physical mercy seat in heaven.
They say, and let me be clear here, that if Mary Magdalene would have touched Jesus that she would have defiled and corrupted the sacrifice that Jesus made. Quote: “I’ve got to get to heaven with this blood and if I get touched by the hands of men before I get to the mercy seat in heaven, and sprinkle my blood on that mercy seat, then my payment on the cross will be invalid.”
He said, “Hey, don’t touch me because her touching him would have defiled that sacrifice.” These are direct quotes.
Now, imagine this. What’s taking place in John Chapter 20? This entire chapter is about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus, God in the flesh, dies on the cross. The body of His that died on the cross died. He was dead. His body died. He had holes in his hands and his feet.
The Blood of Jesus Was Shed For Us
John 19:34
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
He was beaten, whipped, scourged, crown of thorns, nails through his hands and feet, and pierced in his side. Wouldn’t you think His blood was all over the place? These people will also say that his blood that spilled out is divine blood. They are saying there’s something different about the blood of Jesus. They will say his flesh and his blood is divine or different than ours.
Here’s a quote from the first preacher:
“Whose blood? God’s blood. It was not man’s blood that went through the veins of Jesus. That was not man’s blood that went through the veins of Jesus. No, that was God’s blood.
“The reason man dies is because man has bad blood. When man sinned, death came and death came in the blood. And so the blood that flowed through Jesus’ veins was not the blood that flows through my veins or yours but it was God’s blood. God’s blood. God’s blood. He hath purchased with his own blood.”
Was the Physical Makeup of the Blood of Jesus Different?
So they say the blood of Jesus was different because it was divine. Some will say that his flesh was divine. Now, this is where you have to be very careful.
1 John 4:2-3
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Now, the Bible clearly says that Jesus came as flesh and blood to save us. He came just like us. He had this same flesh and this same blood. It’s called flesh and blood for a reason. He didn’t have divine flesh and divine blood or Jesus wouldn’t have died on the cross. He is God manifest in the flesh.
1 Corinthians 15:50
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Notice that the Bible never says that Jesus went to heaven in that exact same, unchanged, flesh and blood body that died on the cross. He was perfect in his flesh and blood, but he never went to heaven in that flesh and blood. Here’s a question for you to think about? Is there physical blood in heaven?
Where Has All the Physical Blood Went?
Where has all physical blood went since the existence of the first human? Where did the physical blood of Jesus go when he died? He had holes in his hands and in his feet. The soldier pierced his side and blood and water came out. He shed his blood for us. He died for us. His blood was shed.
Shed, by definition, means to pour out, to spill, to flow out, to let fall, to scatter, to emit, to come out. And that’s what happened to the blood of Jesus. His blood was shed. Where did it go?
Hebrews 2:14-15
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
The children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. He had the same flesh and blood as us. The difference, though, is Jesus was absolutely perfect. The physical makeup of his flesh and blood is exactly the same, but Jesus never sinned.
The Flesh and Blood of Jesus Was Without Sin But Did That Change The Blood?
Did that make the physical makeup of his flesh and blood different? He had no blemish. His body did not see corruption. The physical makeup, the building blocks of his flesh and blood were the exact same. He didn’t get an advantage. His flesh died. His blood was shed. This tells you his flesh and blood was the same as ours. He died.
Hebrews 2:16-17
For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
He wasn’t different in terms of the physical makeup of flesh and blood. He took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore IN ALL THINGS it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. He was made like us exactly to save us.
If a preacher says that the flesh and blood of Jesus was different than ours, you need to be very careful and rebuke that preacher. Maybe he made a mistake. Some of them will double down. Those are the ones you need to be careful with. They think they do no wrong. They believe themselves to be the Lord’s anointed.
Now, Jesus has risen from the dead in John Chapter 20. He is in the same body but a changed body. He is in a glorified body. He has an incorruptible body. Jesus is the firstfruits. He is the first to have that glorified and incorruptible body. The body that Jesus arose in was incorruptible the moment he arose from the dead.
Jesus Arose from the Dead in an Incorruptible Body
1 Corinthians 15:52-54
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
We get the same new, glorified, and incorruptible body that Jesus had at the moment he arose from the dead. We can’t die with that new incorruptible body. That’s the point of Jesus being the firstfruits. He’s the first to rise from the dead in a changed, new, glorified, immortal, and incorruptible body. We’ll get one just like his new body.
1 John 3:2
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
When Jesus comes back, the first resurrection occurs, or the rapture, and we get a new body like his. Then shall we be like Jesus. Glorified, immortal, and an incorruptible body.
His prior flesh died. His prior blood was shed and spilled out three days and three nights prior to his resurrection. He is in a body now that will never die. Jesus says that he was dead but now is alive forevermore. The Bible doesn’t say his new body has blood. His bones were not broken.
Jesus is Flesh and Bones in His New Body
Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Flesh and bones in his resurrected body. Blood is not mentioned. Keep all these things in mind. His blood was shed for us. We are saved by his blood. We are saved by his sacrifice.
Could Mary Magdalane touch the resurrected body of Jesus Christ and corrupt Jesus Christ as many preachers are saying? Do you think Mary Magdalene could have ended it all for us as these preachers are teaching? “If she would have touched him, we would all be in hell. If she would have caused him to spill the blood on the ground, we would all be in hell.” That’s what they say.
Let me ask you this question. Was the blood that Jesus had running through him when he touched an unclean leper the same blood that was shed on the cross?
Matthew 8:2-3
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Jesus Touched Multitudes of People and Was Never Defiled
Jesus touched all kinds of people in his same body with the same blood that he shed for us to forgive us of our sins when he died on the cross. He touched multitudes of people.
So, how would Mary Magdalene, with Jesus in his new and incorruptible body, corrupt the blood of Jesus Christ? This is a literal fairy tale made up by some preacher that didn’t study all the Scriptures.
Preachers will take something from the Day of Atonement, Leviticus Chapter 16, and make something up from that chapter saying that Aaron couldn’t be touched by anyone. The word touch and any form of that word isn’t in Leviticus Chapter 16. Again, here’s the quote from the preacher:
“And all of a sudden, since he was the high priest, he could not be touched by the hands of men because this man (the high priest of Israel) could not be touched by the hands of men by the time he got that blood and the time he sprinkled that blood.”
Fairy tale. The Bible doesn’t say that. Be very careful out there. Here’s the truth. Jesus can’t be corrupted. The flesh and blood of Jesus Christ was just like ours, but He was sinless. He was tempted in all points. He got tired. He wept. He slept. He was just like us except he never sinned. Satan himself couldn’t corrupt Jesus.
Mary Touched Jesus Before He Was in an Incorruptible Body
Mary anointed the feet of Jesus. She touched him before he was in an incorruptible body. Jesus touched lepers, and they never corrupted his blood. The preachers will say he could have been corrupted because he was now the high priest. He is our high priest. But he’s not a priest after the order of Aaron. Jesus is our high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
The Day of Atonement is a future fulfillment. Jesus, at the cross, became the Passover Lamb and his blood was shed for us and applied to us at the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch him but to go to his brethren. Jesus told her that he was not ascending to the Father. But to go tell his brethren that he will ascend. When did Jesus ascend? 40 days later he ascended. The Bible says so. We can’t make up fairy tales about Jesus ascending at different times either.
The word of God gives us the truth. Jesus wanted Mary Magdalene to go tell the others that he is risen from the dead. Jesus appears to the other women that were with Mary Magdalene that morning. The angel told them to go quickly. He wanted them to GO QUICKLY. They departed quickly.
There’s a Resurrection Day Timeline That Had to be Met by Jesus and Others
Why quickly? There’s a timeline that was in place for the resurrection day. Jesus had to appear to many different people that day.
Matthew 28:7-9
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
They touched Jesus right after Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch him. They didn’t corrupt Jesus. This happened soon after Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. Jesus can’t be corrupted at any moment, at any time, by anyone, anywhere, for eternity.
When a man preaches that Jesus can be corrupted by Mary Magdalene, you need to watch out. Maybe that man starts churches all over the place to make money. Maybe that man starts churches to have money to eat all the time. Maybe that man has a large belly.
Matthew 28:10
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Jesus then tells those women to go tell his brethren.
Go Tell My Brethren, Go Quickly, Some Ran Quickly
Mark 16:7-8
But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Go quickly. And they went out quickly. Peter ran. John ran. There was a timeline to meet.
John 20:17-18
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. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Touch me not? Why? I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren. Hey, it’s not time for that right now. I am not yet ascended. But GO TO MY BRETHREN. Tell them I ascend unto my Father. When? The Bible tells us 40 days later Jesus will ascend.
Touch Me Not But Go Tell Them Now
Go tell them now. That’s what the Bible says over and over again. Go quickly and tell them. Tell them what? Jesus is risen. Mary went and told them she had seen the Lord! And that he had spoken these things unto her. Face to face. She talked with Jesus.
Mary Magdalene saw Jesus. The other women saw Jesus. Peter saw Jesus. Two of them walking in the country, one named Cleopas, saw Jesus. Go tell them all that Jesus is alive. Go quickly. Tell them now. The Bible says these things.
And that’s what Jesus wanted Mary Magdalene to do. That’s what the angel told the women to do. Go quickly and tell all the brethren. Don’t make up fairy tales that aren’t there. Don’t teach that Mary Magdalene could have corrupted the sacrifice Jesus made. That’s foolishness. That’s sin. That’s adding to the word of God. Rebuke them sharply.
Let’s pray.
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