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why did jesus told mary magdolin not to touch him?

spr418spr418
edited May 2006 in Youth Corner
well thats my question..i hope no one gets this question wrong..that question was asked yesterday at pre servants meeting but we had a different person giving us the lecture and i didn't really get what he said!

GBU
sandra

Comments

  • Unknown
    Jesus told Mary Magdalene not to touch him, because he has not resurrected yet-or ascended, I don't remember which one it is!

    Forever,
    Coptic Servent
  • mnc_hnnmnc_hnn
    ascended i think

    but how come he let thomas touch him to prove he was alive?
  • spr418spr418
    ya i know but still why couldn't she touched him?

    GBU
    sandra
  • shnodashnoda
    here sandra an answer for your question from the book of pope shenoda III " contemplation on the resurrection" p. 89
    pope shenoda said that mary magdolin doubted his resurrection due to the rumours that the chief priests said about the body of jesus that it was stolen during the night.even the disciples themselves didn`t believe in the begining.and how strong will be her faith compared with the disciples` faith ,she the young girl.
    so when jesus saw here he told her not to touch him meaning that with this weak faith she didn`t deserve to touch him although she had seen him and touched his feet (Matthew 28:9)
  • jmaziounjmazioun
    Hi,
    With all respect to H.H. Pope Shenuda, there is another explanation i find making more sense. This explanation was given by St Augustine in his Homilies on the gospel of St John.

    He says that the words 'do not touch me' said by Christ to Mary are a proclamation of His divinity. Because Mary was sorrowful and crying over him, this showed that she did not understand that he is 100% God and one with the father. So St Augustine says "do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to my Father" means do not come to Me if you do not acknowledge that I am God and one with the father. That is why Jesus says 'my father' and not 'our father', to acknowledge that his sonship is different to ours, he is the son of God by nature (True God out of true God).

    offcourse everyone is free to chose which interpretation they find more convincing

    God bless
  • shnodashnoda
    by the way,
    pope shenoda mentioned this explanation of St Augustine.i think the 2 explanation have the same idea that mary wasn`t having enough faith in jesus to be god.
  • mnc_hnnmnc_hnn
    does it have to be three times bel talata lol
  • shnodashnoda
    sorry but i have some problems with my connection so it was send 3 times my mistake.i am sorry. :-\ :-\
  • mtanious32mtanious32
    I brought this up in Sunday School and i brought up this same topic in a different thread couple months back, but here is the answer:
    The thing about her not totally believing He was risen is also contradictory to Thomas, who touched him, because he did not believe what the disciples had seen.

    Jesus told her not to touch Him because after the Resurrection he ascended to the Father and showed him the "sacrifice" so God would accept it and he came back to Earth. Do not mix this ascension with the one 40 days after the Resurrection...2 totally different events...hope that helps
  • shnodashnoda
    [quote author=mtanious32 link=board=13;threadid=3918;start=0#msg55415 date=1148707462]
    Jesus told her not to touch Him because after the Resurrection he ascended to the Father and showed him the "sacrifice" so God would accept it and he came back to Earth.

    this is the first time i hear this.i am not sure if it is right.where did you get it from mtanious32 ?!!
  • topdawgtopdawg
    Than this brings another question to mind? If Jesus did not allow Mary to touch him due to her lack of faith, Why than did Jesus tell Thomas to touch his wounds to prove it was Him and Thomas doubted and had lack of faith.
  • basketballbasketball
    well thomas did not have faith and he said that he will believe when he sess christ and his wounds.thomas at that time didint have faith yet in christ.
  • Unknown
    Do you know how many times Mary Magdalene visited Jesus Christ's tomb and what exactly happened every time?

    find out the full answers:
    http://www.copticnet.com/Articles/English Articles/The Magdalene.pdf
    by His Eminence Metropolitan Bishoy

    sandrahanna, I read a perfect answer to your question in pages 4 and 5 (under side title: the 5th visit)

    "Do not touch me" = do not cling to me
  • Maranatha1969Maranatha1969
    Any1 who could educate me on this...
  • Unknown
    [quote author=doit4Jesus link=topic=3918.msg55182#msg55182 date=1148199432]
    Hi,
    With all respect to H.H. Pope Shenuda, there is another explanation i find making more sense. This explanation was given by St Augustine in his Homilies on the gospel of St John.

    He says that the words 'do not touch me' said by Christ to Mary are a proclamation of His divinity. Because Mary was sorrowful and crying over him, this showed that she did not understand that he is 100% God and one with the father. So St Augustine says "do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to my Father" means do not come to Me if you do not acknowledge that I am God and one with the father. That is why Jesus says 'my father' and not 'our father', to acknowledge that his sonship is different to ours, he is the son of God by nature (True God out of true God).

    offcourse everyone is free to chose which interpretation they find more convincing

    God bless


    Yes, i read the same. However, if Saint THomas doubted, then why was he allowed to touch the wounds of Christ?
  • mmatt95mmatt95
    I guess Tomas had an "excuse" to doubt, he hadn't seen Christ while St Mary had seen Him and touched him before. She doubted due to the rumours spread by the jews and the soldiers, which is quite different than the situation of Tomas. He was the only disciple who hadnt seen Christ when he appeared in the upper room, nor did he see the tomb or angels or anything alike.
  • ChristrulesChristrules
    Our priest said that Thomas got to touch Jesus because he doubted in a good way (confusing i know)

    what he means is he doubted but he wanted to know, he wanted to believe, while Mary Magdelen just doubted..

    i think thats right please correct me if im wrong

    Pray for me a sinner
    May the prayers of Pope Kyrollos be with us all Amen
    Glory be to OUr GOD Amen!
  • coptic pharoahcoptic pharoah
    When Jesus saw Mary Magdalin, he had not yet assended to the Father, but when he appeared at the meating place, where the disiples were, He had already gone to the Father and came to the Disiples...  Plz correct me if i am wrong

    God Bless
    Coptic Pharaoh
  • Unknown
    [quote author=doit4Jesus link=topic=3918.msg55182#msg55182 date=1148199432]
    Hi,
    With all respect to H.H. Pope Shenuda, there is another explanation i find making more sense. This explanation was given by St Augustine in his Homilies on the gospel of St John.

    He says that the words 'do not touch me' said by Christ to Mary are a proclamation of His divinity. Because Mary was sorrowful and crying over him, this showed that she did not understand that he is 100% God and one with the father. So St Augustine says "do not touch me for I am not yet ascended to my Father" means do not come to Me if you do not acknowledge that I am God and one with the father. That is why Jesus says 'my father' and not 'our father', to acknowledge that his sonship is different to ours, he is the son of God by nature (True God out of true God).

    offcourse everyone is free to chose which interpretation they find more convincing

    God bless


    This is the explanation we were taught also. Well done for posting it.
    So, should I assume that Saint Thomas, although he believed in Christ's Divinity, doubted that He rose from the dead?? Why then did St Thomas get to touch also Christ?

    But what would have been so bad if she had touched Him? I mean, it still doesnt make complete sense, because as soon as He said "Mary", she knew it was "Him". So, she believed. THen surely touching Him also would increase her faith??

  • coptic pharoahcoptic pharoah
    [quote author=mnc_hnn link=topic=3918.msg55163#msg55163 date=1148154808]
    ascended i think

    but how come he let thomas touch him to prove he was alive?


    When Jesus saw Mary Magdalin... he had just risen from the death.. He had not  went to see the Father yet... "17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  John 20:17

    but when He appered and let Thomas touch His wounds... He had already gone to se the Father and had came back to teach them all what they neede to know to spread the word of Christianity... 
  • Unknown
    [quote author=coptic pharaoh link=topic=3918.msg87241#msg87241 date=1210566575]
    [quote author=mnc_hnn link=topic=3918.msg55163#msg55163 date=1148154808]
    ascended i think

    but how come he let thomas touch him to prove he was alive?


    When Jesus saw Mary Magdalin... he had just risen from the death.. He had not  went to see the Father yet... "17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’”  John 20:17

    but when He appered and let Thomas touch His wounds... He had already gone to se the Father and had came back to teach them all what they neede to know to spread the word of Christianity... 


    But why couldn't she touch Him BEFORE He ascended to His Father? WHy??
    What difference does that make if he ascended or not to His Father. WHilst He was on the cross, HE was still in Heaven - With the Father!! (from what Sayedna said).

  • pp
    Something I am not about this, as women talk to men during that time, they must look at the men's feet. So, as she looked at his feet, and heard His voice and SEEN HIM, she STILL doubted. After he had said, "Mary," then the reason why he said that she couldn't cling to Him is because He meant to say that if she doubts that He is Jesus, then what make her think that she could touch him. In other words, if she still doesn't believe that he is Jesus, why with such little faith after seeing so much should she touch him.
  • PopeKyrillosPopeKyrillos
    It's kind of funny because I just got a sunday school lesson from abouna
    (me and 3 other people), and someone asked him that question, and I didn't pay attention to one word of it ;D

    I do remember that it had something to do with the fact that Mary Magdalene should have believed by that point that he was risen, but she didn't. Thomas believed right away after he put his finger in Christ's flesh, but Mary was even told to her that she was risen by the angels in Christ's tomb.
  • Basant TawfikBasant Tawfik
    I learned this in Sunday school!!!! my sunday school teacher said," remember how Mary was crying? She was so emotional!!! And usualy when people are emotional, wen they see something very so dear to them they would cling on them." that is why God didn't let her touch him. if she touched him she could of not let go because she loved him so much. and usually wen u love something so much, wen u see them u hug them and feel like u don't want to let go because u don't want them to go. i hope that explains.
  • HezekielHezekiel
    Interesting, my bro was cornering me with this question some time ago. I never knew a logic answer.

    But here is what I think in regards to Mary Magdalene:In  Matt 28:9 "And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him, we note that the women among whom was also Mary Magdelene met the Lord after he rose  and held him by the feet. So,it means there was nothing wrong to touch him and Mary Magdalene did touch him.But she was in doubt for she came seeking him among the dead.Her actions revealed uncertainty in the Lord's ability to conquer death. This is to say, she did not approach Him with full faith in her heart and mind of Him being equal to the Father. As a result of her actions, Jesus might have prevented her from touching him. He wished her to believe in Him as God equal to the heavenly Father. Most probably, this verse teaches us that the Lord is not about physical relationships with His people, but about spiritual relationships which are based on believe. That is what he tried to make clear to Thomas in John 20:29 " Then Jesus told him (thomas), "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".
  • Basant TawfikBasant Tawfik
    [quote author=Hezekiel link=topic=3918.msg87353#msg87353 date=1210631576]
    Interesting, my bro was cornering me with this question some time ago. I never knew a logic answer.

    But here is what I think in regards to Mary Magdalene:In  Matt 28:9 "And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him, we note that the women among whom was also Mary Magdelene met the Lord after he rose  and held him by the feet. So,it means there was nothing wrong to touch him and Mary Magdalene did touch him.But she was in doubt for she came seeking him among the dead.Her actions revealed uncertainty in the Lord's ability to conquer death. This is to say, she did not approach Him with full faith in her heart and mind of Him being equal to the Father. As a result of her actions, Jesus might have prevented her from touching him. He wished her to believe in Him as God equal to the heavenly Father. Most probably, this verse teaches us that the Lord is not about physical relationships with His people, but about spiritual relationships which are based on believe. That is what he tried to make clear to Thomas in John 20:29 " Then Jesus told him (thomas), "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".

    mary magdeline saw Jesus twice. once by herself and the other with the other marys.

  • Georgeously KoolGeorgeously Kool
    This is a part of the liturgy when it says that his humanity parted not from his divinity for a single moment nor a twinkling of an eye. Mary magdaline wanted to "cling" or Hug jesus when she realized that it was him. But he told her not to because he wasnt yet in body/flesh. He was Still in the process of being ascended to the father. But when he saw thomas and told him to touch the place of the nails, he had already ascended and he was able to be touched. This is the answer i recieved from the priest i asked in upstate NY. By the way, one of the servants told me that Pope Shenouda wrote a book clearing up all the confusions about the ressurection. I myself am trying to get a hold of it. It should answer all our questions. God Bless You all. And please keep me in ur prayers. Thanks.
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