Bible Study Seattle

There’s a curious comment in John 20:17.  “But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb.  She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.”  Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.

“Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying?  Who is it you are looking for?”

Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”

Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”—which means “Teacher.”

“Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God.”  John 20:11-17

Why does Jesus appear to Mary, then tell her not to cling to him because he has not yet ascended to the Father?  Probably because he had to sprinkle his blood in holy of holies in the heavenly temple!  Only then would atonement be fulfilled.  But why does Jesus make a pitstop to show the disciples that he had risen before he has completed the atonement?  Does this have any application for the church? 

Does this show that the church has a work on earth to do after their resurrection but before their perfection?  This author is still unsure.