After Jesus had been crucified Mary went to the tomb and saw that he was not there and so quickly left to tell the Peter and John. Returning with Peter and John, Mary remained after they saw, believed, and apparently left without saying a word. Mary was at loss. Her savior, her messiah had been gruesomely taken from her, killed and placed in a tomb. Now she couldn't even see the dead body of the one she had trusted and loved so much. Her entire world was shattered. She was nowhere. Then who she supposed to be the gardener asked, "Why are you weeping?" After her response which was certainly muffled by a choked throat and tears, one word changed her life forever-- it was her name. "Mary", Jesus said, and her eyes were opened, her heart restored, nothing could shake her now. However Jesus made sure that the emotion of such a moment would not be what dictated her life's response.
The Instruction Jesus then gave was, "Do not cling (or 'touch' in KJV) to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father." Now to some this may sound completely rude as it once did to me. The key phrase here is not the "do not cling", but the fact that he had not yet ascended. The original word here for "cling" refers that holding on which takes place with one's heart. Why would Jesus not want Mary to cling to him with her heart? Well because he had not ascended to the Father. If Mary could only respond to the physical presence of Jesus she would never be able to endure any trial. She would never be able to remain faithful. She must not be dependent on the physical presence of Jesus. He was teaching her that he will always be with her.
Now Thomas was in a similar position when he missed Jesus' upper room visit and said to the disciples, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." Thomas too felt utter despair at the loss of his Savior and Lord in whom he had place all of his trust and all of his life. However, Thomas and Mary were two totally different people.
For Thomas Jesus' instruction was, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." To Mary, Jesus said, "Don't touch", to Thomas he says, "Touch". See and believe. He knew Thomas and what he needed to have a faith which could not be shaken.
Now why did Jesus tell Thomas "Put your finger here, and see my hands; put your hand and place it in my side"? How did Jesus now those were the conditions of Thomas' belief which he had spoken? He wasn't in the room when Thomas had said that to the other disciples. Or was he? :) He was teaching him that he will always be with him.
Look at Thomas' response, "My Lord, and My God." He was now unshakable. This too will be our response as we seek the Lord with our whole hearts. Notice where both Mary and Thomas were as Jesus met them. Mary was at the tomb and Thomas was with those who had seen him. They were seeking him. Seek the Lord and he will meet you wherever you are, he is the Good Shepherd. He is worthy, let us serve him.
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