Question: How did the thief on the cross go to paradise with Jesus on that same day when Jesus himself did not ascend to heaven until a few days later? Jesus told Mary not to touch him for he had not ascended to his father. You need to dig a little deeper in the word.

Sheldon

Answer: Dear Sheldon,

Thank you for the reminder to dig more deeply into God’s Word – I need to do that very thing. Because of God’s gracious work in my life, not because of anything I have done, but because of the riches of his grace, I am happy to be his tool in giving you an answer.

The thief on the cross went wherever Jesus wanted him to go – and Jesus said that it would be to paradise.

Jesus was uniquely, the One and Only (I John 1) – the Godman. He was very man and very God. 100% divine and 100% human. He was human, touched with the pains, hurts, needs that we are. He lived life in the flesh just as we do. However, he was not just a human – he was God. He was the Eternal Son of God – and when he came to us, born of the virgin Mary, he added flesh to his divinity. He never stopped being what he was – God – for God cannot stop being who he is. God lives in eternity – outside of space and time.

When Jesus took on flesh, he added flesh to his divinity – becoming the Godman. He walked on water, he resurrected Lazarus, in fact, resurrected himself (John 2:18-22). As God, he did not do all the things that he could have (telling Peter to put away his sword when the soldiers came to arrest Christ after Judas betrayed him – for as God, Jesus could have called upon angels to deliver him) – but instead Jesus did not exercise his divinity when the plan of salvation called for him to suffer as a human (see Philippians 2:5-11).

With that in mind, why did the resurrected Jesus (his physical body, of course – for the man part died on the cross, not God – for God does not die, according to the Bible) – why did Jesus tell Mary not to touch him, for he had not yet ascended?

The word "touch" simply means "stop clinging to me – stop hindering me" – it has nothing to do with Mary not physically touching Jesus.

Jesus was not simply a human – but God in the flesh. He could resurrect Lazarus, give the thief on the cross salvation, atone for our sins on the cross, and resurrect his body from the tomb three days later.

May God bless you, Sheldon, as you study his Word and as you come to know him. Please let us know if we can be of further help.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht