Jesus Is the Friend Who “Sticks Closer Than a Brother.”
“Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father…’” John 20:17
The words of Jesus to Mary may seem curious. Jesus had just announced his presence to Mary. In her amazement, she no doubt turned to embrace him, whether a standing embrace or to fall at his feet. The Gospel of Matthew says that when Jesus appeared to the women as a group, they “took hold of his feet and worshipped him” (Matthew 28:9). We might imagine that Jesus would approve of the women wanting to cling to him. After all, their joy and amazement were great. Doesn’t God want us to “cling” to him in faith, love, and worship?
The reason for Jesus’ remark seems to be the nature of his transition from an earthly presence to a spiritual one. The resurrection of Jesus was physical and bodily. Jesus really rose from the dead. It was not a spiritual resurrection only but a physical and bodily one. But the resurrection marked a time of transition between Jesus and his followers. Before, he had been with them constantly. After the resurrection, he would be with them sporadically. He would appear and disappear. He would be present with them, but not like before. We can imagine that he did not sleep in the places they slept. He did not need to sleep at that point. He did not get tired, so he did not need to rest. He did not need to eat, although he did eat with them on occasion, to show he was real. They did not experience him in the same way they had before his crucifixion.
There was a reason for this period of transition. Jesus was getting the disciples ready for a new reality. In the future, they were going to relate to Jesus spiritually, through the Holy Spirit. They could still talk to Jesus, but it would be through prayer. They could still hear from Jesus, but it would be through the Holy Spirit and the words of scripture.
If the disciples had a preference, they would probably have preferred the old way of relating to Jesus. God’s plan was for something new, however. With the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was not going to be confined to one location; he was going to be available to be with many believers through the Spirit. In addition, he was not going to be physically beside people, but within them. This was going to be a greater and deeper abiding. He was going to be with people with a depth of conviction and intimacy that was profound. Jesus said that it was important that he go away so the Spirit could come. The disciples would eventually recognize the wisdom of Jesus’ statement. We are grateful in our time for the coming of the Spirit because he enables us to know Jesus as the early disciples did.
Is it okay to “cling” to Jesus now? Of course. We do not cling to him physically but spiritually. We can seek him, serve him, and cling to him as much as we wish. For example, there is no limitation to how much we can pray. Or how much we can read the Bible. Or how much we can serve Christ. Or how often we can use the gifts God has given us. Jesus himself invited us to abide in him like a branch abides in the vine. Through the Spirit, we are invited to live in him and through him. Jesus is the friend who “sticks closer than a brother.”
May this Easter give us each renewed joy and hope. Easter shines brightly in a dark and troubled world. May its light enlighten our hearts and enable us to shine for others, so that the good news of Christ may be known in the world.