John 20:17 Meaning and Explanation
“Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The risen Jesus tells a weeping woman that His Father is now her Father too, and sends her out as the first to carry the news.
The Context of John 20:17
Easter morning in the garden by the empty tomb, just outside Jerusalem. Mary Magdalene has come grieving, found the stone rolled away, and a moment earlier heard the risen Jesus speak her name (John 20:16). This is His first word to her after she recognizes Him.
What Does John 20:17 Mean?
Mary has just lost and found Him in the space of a breath. Her instinct is to hold on, to keep Him from ever being taken again, and Jesus gently tells her not to cling, for He has not yet gone up to the Father. Then He turns her grip into a commission: go to my brethren. He could have called them servants or disciples; He calls them brethren, family, even now, after they had scattered and fled. And He gives Mary the message to carry, making this grieving woman the first voice to announce that He is alive.
Then comes the line that opens heaven: I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. He does not say our Father, blurring the two, yet He binds them together in one breath. His Father is now their Father. The relationship He has always had, He is bringing them into. Through the risen Christ, the God He calls Father becomes our Father too, and we are folded into the family He was never ashamed to call His own.
John 20:17 in the Original Language
adelphos (ἀδελφός), 'brethren' -- brother, kin; here Jesus claims His scattered disciples as family.
How to Apply John 20:17 Today
Whatever has scattered or shamed us, the risen Jesus still says brethren, and brings us into the family bond He has with the Father. His God becomes our God, His Father our Father. Like Mary, we are not only met by name in our grief but sent out with good news to carry.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 20:17
What does John 20:17 mean?
The risen Jesus tells a weeping woman that His Father is now her Father too, and sends her out as the first to carry the news.
What is the context of John 20:17?
Easter morning in the garden by the empty tomb, just outside Jerusalem. Mary Magdalene has come grieving, found the stone rolled away, and a moment earlier heard the risen Jesus speak her name (John 20:16). This is His first word to her after she recognizes Him.
How can I apply John 20:17 today?
Whatever has scattered or shamed us, the risen Jesus still says brethren, and brings us into the family bond He has with the Father. His God becomes our God, His Father our Father. Like Mary, we are not only met by name in our grief but sent out with good news to carry.