20:17 (A) What did Jesus mean by telling Mary not to touch Him?
20:17 (A) What did Jesus mean by telling Mary not to touch Him?
The word touch here (KJV), means cling to. Mary was attempting to hold onto Jesus, clinging to Him, and Jesus told her not to because He had not yet ascended to the Father. He was going to ascend and told Mary to go and tell the disciples.
(B) What ascension is Jesus referring to here?
Most Bible commentators agree that Jesus is referring to His ascension recorded in Mk 16:19; Lu 24:50-51 and Ac 1:1-9 (CP Mk 16:19; Lu 24:50-51; Ac 1:1-9).
But there is another teaching also that Jesus ascended to the Father that very day in Jn 20:17, and returned the same evening to appear before the disciples in the locked room (CP V18-20).
It is not relevant which teaching is correct - neither one is fundamental to our salvation so just agree to disagree in love.