John 20:17

The fifth particular in this Narration, is, Christs direction and commission to Mary, now when she knoweth him. It doth appear that she was about to touch and embrace Christ, but he prohibits her, and sends her with a commission to acquaint his disciples with his begun exaltation; and that having now risen from the dead, he was to ascend unto the Father, for their comfort, and the further clearing of their interest in God through him. As for this prohibition to touch him; The reason subjoyned, and the matter given her in commission to the disciples concerning his ascension, may seem to import a reproofe of her carnal disposition, who doated on his bodily presence, and delighted to be touching him; and to teach her, that (now he being risen from the dead) he would not be trysted with, nor enjoyed in a carnal corporal manner, as formerly, but she is to expect and wait till his ascension, and then she and the rest might tryst with him and touch him, not bodily, but spiritually and by faith. And it is indeed true, That even the most affectionate Saints may be exceeding carnal in their way of, and desires after, enjoying of Christ, and, That, Christ being now exalted, it requires much spiritual converse with him, and that we do not expect a carnal or bodily presence: It being the woful fruit of carnal dispositions, that because men cannot ascend up to Christ by faith, therefore they fancy a carnal and bodily presence of Christ on earth with them. Yet I take not this as the only, nor chief scope of this speech; for, however, after Christs ascension, it is the grosse mistake of men to fancy or doat upon his bodily presence (as that interpretation beareth well, agreeably to the Scriptures.) And it was Maries fault, if she looked on this as the highest degree of his exaltation, and did not expect that he was to ascend into heaven, but to stay among them, as formerly: Yet we finde that many were admitted to touch him, in expression of their affection, and for confirmation of their own faith, Matth. 28.9. and Christ invites them to it, Luke 24 39. And Thomas is reprehended, not simply for desiring of this, but, because he would not otherwise beleeve. Therefore I take up Christs scope to be, as in part, to put her in minde that he was to ascend, and therefore she was not to feed her selfe with any expectation of his bodily presence to be continued with them, as formerly; So chiefly to excite her to make hast with the good news to his disciples, seeing there was yet time enough before his ascension, wherein she might converse with him and touch him, so far as was needful for the confirmation of her faith. Doctrine, 1. Seldome do affectionate souls met with Christ, but they fall into some miscarriage, and do need caution or reproofe; for, Mary needs this prohibition, Touch me not, being ready to miscarry through her carnal disposition running in affections channel, or through selfishnesse, and forgetting the needy disciples. 2. Whatever Christ with-hold from any of his, in their doing service to him, he knows how to make it up, in so far as is for their good; for, so much doth this reason import, for I am not yet ascended to my Father, and therefore Mary may get time enough, after this service is over, to satisfie her selfe with touching of him. 3. It is the will of Christ, that such as have any good news of Christ, do publish it in their station, to the edification of others, especially of these who are in distresse and sorrow; And that they do not selfishly please themselves only; for, saith he, touch me not, which might satisfie thy selfe; but go to my brethren, &c. who are in deep sorrow, and know not so much as thou dost. 4. Whatever we may think of our conditions, yet in Christs account, it is more acceptable to be about service for Christ, and doing good to others in our station and generation, then to be enjoying and reaping our own particular content and satisfaction; for, Christ propounds it as better to Mary to be the messenger of these good news, then to stay with him satisfying her own senses. 5. Christs glory and exaltation doth not diminish his affections toward his people, but rather the expressions thereof are enlarged: Therefore, after his resurrection, his thoughts run earnestly upon the sorrow of the disciples, to have it eased, and that under the name of Brethren (go unto my brethren, and say unto them, &c.) whereas before, servants, little children, and friends, were their usual designations. Yea, Peter, the fallen man, is not forgotten by name, Mark 16.7. 6. Christs most satisfactory manifestations within time, are not fitted to our carnal desires and dispositions, but are usefully seasoned with such a degree of distance, as may disappoint these, and teach us to be more spiritual, and may train us on to long after the full enjoyment of him in heaven; Therefore doth Christ, both in his speech to Mary, and in his commission to the disciples, put them in minde of his ascending to the Father, that their carnal hearts might not look on his resurrection as the highest pitch of his glory, and so dream that there was no more to do, but enjoy him as formerly; But that they might be prepared shortly to want his bodily presence, that so they may seek to enjoy him by faith. 7. Christ doth very far exceed the weak desires of his people, in affording them ground of comfort; for, whereas she and the disciples would even now have been content of a dead Christ, much more of a Christ living and risen again, Christ allowes them greater newes of a Christ glorified in heaven, I ascend, &c. 8. Whatever carnal hearts do think of a bodily presence of Christ; yet his removal and exaltation in heaven is beleevers great advantage, and the ground of their comfort; As proving their surety to stand in right tearmes with the Father, after he hath had the price to Justice; That it is his Father and God with whom he is to deal on their behalfe; and, That he being thus exalted, is able to do for them, and save them to the utmost, Heb. 7.25. for, however the disciples doated on his bodily presence, yet he sends these as good newes, I ascend, and that, to my Father and to my God, and so he is accepted having satisfied justice, and stands on good tearms of acceptance, because of these relations. 9. Christs exaltation, and interest in the Father, as Mediatour, is also comfortable unto beleevers in this expect, that they share with him in his interests, and what he is, he makes them to be through him, in their own proportion and measure; for, so are the newes sent, I ascend to my Father and to your Father, and to my God and your God. He is his Father and God in a peculiar way, and ours through him, and because he is so to him. 10. God hath dignified beleevers with that neere and warm relation of his being a Father to them in his Son; So that, as they ought to carry themselves as children to him, by subjection, Heb. 12.7, 9. and obedience, Mal. 1.6. 1 Pet. 1.14.15. So, they may expect that in all his dealing, he will retain a fatherly affection toward them, will allow them humble confidence in prayer, Gal. 4.6. will spare and pity them, Mal 3.17. Psal. 103.13. will provide for them, Mat. 6.25, 32. will protect and preserve them, 1 Pet. 1.3, 5. and, will give them a [Kingdome], Luke 12.32. as being Sons and joint Sons with Christ, and so joint heirs with him, Rom. 8.17. and being begotten to that hope, 1 Pet. 1.3, 4. Therefore is this held out for their encouragement, that God is my Father and your Father; And this is premitted to the other, because of the warmnesse of the relation, and that we may look upon his God-head through this perspective. 11. He who is the Father of beleevers, is true God also, and doth gift himselfe unto them in that relation of being their God through his Son; That as they should make him their God indeed, and depend upon him only; so they may expect all the fulnesse that is in God to be theirs, as they need it; Therefore also is it added, my God and your God; A priviledge and interest, whereof all the particular promises are but a Commentary, and which contains in it more then we can ask or think, or conceive, Eph. 3.20. 1 Cor. 2.9. and more then every beleever can see at first, as Christ instanceth in the matter of the resurrection, Matth. 22.31, 32.