Stop Clinging To The Past

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“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17

Jesus addressed the words cited above to Mary Magdalene (hereafter referred to as “Mary M”).

In each of the biblical accounts of the Resurrection, Mary M’s name is listed first in the group of women who first discovered that Jesus’s body was not in the tomb. In John’s version of the incident, Mary M’s name stand alone. But whether alone or part of a small group, the fact that she is listed first is an indicator of how she was perceived by the earliest believers. Mary M was considered Jesus’s closet follower and most loyal friend.

Their relationship was so intimate that several attempts have been made to suggest that they were married, or may have been involved in what might be called today a “situationship.” LOL. But those attempts to make Mary M’s loyalty to Jesus about anything other than her trust in his Lordship and appreciation of his grace are patently false.

Mary M was lovingly loyal to Jesus because of the radical impact that his ministry had on her life. The evidence of that impact is proved by her presence (either alone or as the leader of the group) at the tomb. It is also proved (and perhaps more so), by her reaction when she discovers that his body is not there. We are told that Mary M begins to weep.

While she is weeping, Jesus meets her. Their interaction is illuminating. At first, Mary M is so overwhelmed with grief that she does not even recognize Jesus.

Grief is blinding.

Then, Jesus calls her name. Hearing his voice broke the spell of her grief and Mary M immediately began to embrace him. The Greek word used to describe her action is haptomai, which means to fasten, adhere or cling to.

You would think that given Mary M’s loving loyalty to Jesus, he would have welcomed and even reciprocated her affection. Instead, he corrects it. He says “don’t cling to me.”

Geesh.

Seems Insensitive, does it? Maybe even harsh. But I think Jesus’ response was immediately and ultimately helpful to Mary M and to us. He understood that Mary M was trying to cling to who and what he was. Jesus needed Mary M to shift her focus from the past to the present, from yesterday’s memories to today’s responsibilities, from what happened then to what needed to happen now. Jesus needed Mary M to understand that he was still going to be with her, just not the way he used to be.

Here’s the point: we all have a tendency to think that success means going back to the way things were (in whatever period of the past we had the most fun, experienced the most success, or had best adjusted to). But Jesus offers a radical (and necessary) corrective to that idea. He warns us not to cling to the past.

I think this incident is quite helpful as we prepare to emerge from the pandemic. There are signs of hope on the horizon. We are not out of the crisis yet, but there are signs. Death rates have peaked and dropped dramatically, and Infection rates have plummeted. Schools, stores, and restaurants are opening, and most of us are excited to get back to normal.

But I want to caution all of us that life after this crisis will never be like it was before. Life has changed, and I am fairly certain that it won't be like it was. Change is the only constant.

Two Takeaways:

First, don’t get stuck in a season.

The good old days were never that good. LOL. Every season has its’ own unique set of trial, temptations and tests. Solomon put it this way:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Second, always remember that your best days are ahead of you!

Whenever the present is painful and future is uncertain we cling to the past.

All of us have books on our shelves, pictures on our walls, and outfits in our closets that are memorials to a bygone era. But remember,

Your best days are ahead of you!

Miracles are ahead of you!

Favor is ahead of you!