Thursday

"Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father?" (Jn 20:17)

A Name Jesus Used For The First Time

"Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father?" (Jn 20:17)

Mary reached for Him
and held Him tightly,
as if she could keep Him..

Jesus told her to let Him go
because He couldn't stay at that time.

A little later,
Jesus met the two women
who had lingered at the tomb
after Mary left.

"Greetings," He said,
and they took hold of His feet
and worshiped Him (Mt 28:9).

The contrast is striking.
Mary clung to Him.
The two women held Him
in worship.
Their different responses
say much about Mary's relationship
with Jesus.

Mary Magdalene had been delivered
from seven demons (Lk 8:2).
She traveled with Him (Jn 12:3)
She helped support Him (Lu 8:3).

And here's something
you may not know
about Jesus' words to Mary-

She was the first He told,
"Tell My brothers" (Jn 20:17).
The two women were the second
to hear that message (Mt 28:10).

The resurrection didn't just raise Him.
It redefined the disciples.

When He first called Peter and Andrew,
James and John,
He said, "Follow Me" (Mt 4:19).
And they became disciples.

Later,
after praying through the night,
He chose twelve
and named them apostles (Lk 6:12-13).

In the upper room,
He called them "friends" (Jn 15:15).

Friends,
not servants.

But on resurrection morning,
He used a word
He had never spoken over them before.

"Go to My brothers?" (Jn 20:17).

Family.

And soon,
the Spirit would seal it (Eph 1:13).

Paul wrote
that we received the Spirit of adoption-
the Spirit who cries out,
"Abba, Father" (Rom 8:15).

This is where the story was heading:
not followers,
not servants,
not even friends-

but sons and daughters
sharing His life,
His access,
His relationship with the Father.

You may not know this about Jesus,
But His resurrection didn't just raise Him.
It remade the disciples.
It brought them into His family.
It gave them His spiritual DNA.

We are brothers and sisters
of the King.

Where am I still living as a follower,
when Jesus has named me family?

His resurrection gives me a place
in the family of God.

Father, help me live
as Your child,
in Jesus' name.
Amen.