Verse 17 is one which many have struggled to understand. One of the main problems, is Jesus saying that He has not as yet ascended to the Father. When He died did He not go to the Father in heaven? The answer is undoubtedly yes, because He said to the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”

What Jesus is talking about here is how in His body, He was yet to enter into heaven. Yes, when He died His soul entered heaven but 40 days after His resurrection Jesus would then enter heaven in both body and soul.

In saying for Mary not to cling unto Him, Jesus is saying that Mary and the other disciples must not rely on His physical presence with them, because very shortly He Is physically going to leave them. Jesus’ followers need to rely on Jesus not through sight but through faith. Jesus would send the Holy Spirit to enable this to happen for them and for us (John 16 v7, 13).

We must live not by sight, but by faith in the Word of God. Through the Spirit we can be more certain of the truth of scripture about Jesus, than if we had seen them with our own eyes. Pray for this to be true for you.