Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

Noli Me Tangere (Touch Me Not)

PPT 1 Message Title

Noli Me Tangere is the the Latin form of touch me not. Most modern versions translate the verse, stop clinging to me, it should be noted that same versions translate the word as touch the other 32 times it is used in Scripture (Strongs #680)

Last week in my message I mentioned that I did not know why Jesus said, "touch Me not." It troubled me afterwards that I didn't know the answer, so I set out to resolve that issue. In the process I had to sort out and harmonize the 4 gospel accounts of the Resurrection events, here for your instruction are the fruits of that study.

Harmony of the Gospels. Gospel means good news.

4 men wrote at different times for different reasons. I believe there were more than 4 gospels written, but the rest God did not see to it that they were perserved.

PPT 2 Text

Lu 1:1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,

Lu 1:2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us,

Lu 1:3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write [it] out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;

Notice the word many in verse 1, that is why I said there were probably more than 4 gospels written.

The gospels that have been handed down to us all contain a fair amount of material that overlaps, but they all have places where there are slightly different angles of the same story are told. John's gospel contains the most unique material of stories not covered in the other 3 gospels. For good reason, the other gospels were all written in the 50's and 60's John's was written 30 years later, and for a very specific purpose. To show that Jesus was both God and man, by telling many of His miracles, and that in showing and telling those stories people would come to have eternal life.

PPT 3

John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

With that general understanding in mind, I want to go through the different Gospels and show the resurrection of Jesus, and put the whole narrative together, in what I believe is chronological order. While doing that I want to answer 1 simple question, why on the day of His resurrection did Jesus tell Mary Magdalene not to touch Him. You might say, what's the big deal about that, you'll see.

Let's dig in

PPT 4

Mr 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Mr 16:2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Mr 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

Mr 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

There are 3 women in this story, and the stone is rolled away, giving them access to the tomb, We pick up in Matthew:

PPT's 5-7 text

Mt 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

Mt 28:2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

Mt 28:3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow;

Mt 28:4 and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Mt 28:5 And the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

Mt 28:6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

Mt 28:7 "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going before you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

Mt 28:8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

Mt 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.