January 5, 2025

Why did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to touch Him but allowed Thomas to touch Him?

We Are Reformed

The reason Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to cling to Him, but later allowed Thomas to touch Him, comes down to the specific purpose of each moment and what Jesus was teaching through those interactions.

When Mary saw Jesus after His resurrection, she was probably overwhelmed with joy and wanted to hold on to Him physically. But Jesus told her, “Don’t cling to Me, for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father.” What He meant was that things were about to change. He wouldn’t be staying on earth with them as He had before. Instead, He was preparing to ascend to heaven, and after that, His followers would relate to Him spiritually, through the Holy Spirit, rather than by physically being with Him. Jesus wanted Mary to understand this new reality and to focus on what was coming next.

With Thomas, the situation was different. Thomas had refused to believe that Jesus had risen unless he could see and touch the wounds for himself. So when Jesus appeared to him, He invited Thomas to do exactly that—touch His hands and side. This wasn’t just about physical contact; it was about proving to Thomas, and to everyone else who doubted, that Jesus really had risen from the dead. By showing Thomas His wounds, Jesus confirmed the reality of His resurrection and called Thomas to believe.

So, while Mary was being taught to shift her focus from the physical to the spiritual, Thomas was being given proof to overcome his doubt. Both moments highlight important truths: Jesus’s resurrection was real, and His relationship with His followers would now be based on faith, not physical presence.

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