Why did Jesus tell Mary to, "stop clinging to Me"? NASB, or in the KJV "Touch Me not"?----For I have not yet ascended to the Father.

__________________
Name:Dennis
Church:Northfield Congregational Church, Member.
Location:Torrington, Ct. U.S.A.

"May our hearts be so exorcised by God's word as to give the Holy Spirit opportunity to perfect the new creation."

I had always taken it to mean that "the clinging" was not the proper "approach" until Christ ascened to God the Father where he would become the Great High Priest, Mediator, and Advocate.

__________________
~etexas~

Aptou (aptomai) is a present continuous imperative. Many of us, once we experience a spiritual "mountain top" moment, we would much rather keep it going then returning to the testings of normal life in the valley. Mary lost Jesus once, she was not excited about the prospect of losing him again. Jesus, on the other hand, admonishes Mary not to hang onto him (not to refrain from touching a resurrected body), but to let him go and assume his new role. In his going, there would be the coming of the Holy Spirit who would bless the disciples with a permanent indwelling.

__________________
Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Basically, because He was going to ascend to the Father's right-hand. He was no longer going to be physically present with them.

__________________
Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)