Temple Baptist Church - 4-19-2026
John 20:15-17
Introduction:
A. Last week, I mentioned the two ascensions of Christ. Throughout all my years of sitting under fundamental preaching, I have never heard verse 17 explained or preached on, and yet it is one of the most important verses in the Bible!
B. In verse 17, we find the resurrected Jesus as a purified High Priest. So holy that Sinful man could not touch him! In one verse (There are others, but for time’s sake, I will only mention the following), we find the holiness of our resurrected High Priest.
Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
C. The blood of Christ that was shed paid the price for sin once, forever.
1. The Approval of Christ’s sacrifice.
Isaiah 53:10-11 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (11) He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
2. The Acceptance of Christ’s blood, which is now shed, would soon be offered.
Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
D. Some teach that salvation came through the shedding of blood, the death of Christ.
1. Some of these teach that the blood of Christ ran into the ground and perished. This is a cardinal theological error!
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. (25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
2. The Blood of Christ HAD to be applied; else His death-burial-resurrection would have been in vain. These men try to separate the shedding of Christ's blood from its application.
3. This false teaching concerning the lack of importance of the application of Christ’s blood destroys the Old Testament type. The High Priest’s work was not done on the day of atonement, when the paschal lamb was slain, until that blood was applied to the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies!
4. The Book of Hebrews explains the application of the blood clearly.
Hebrews 9:6-7 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. (7) But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
E. Having said these things, we find the work of Christ finished by our High Priest.
John 20:15-18 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. (16) Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. (17) 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. (18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
1. In verse 17, I do not doubt that Mary Magdalene, who loved her Lord so much, tried to touch Him by either falling at His feet or hugging His neck. These were expressions of love. She was not allowed to touch Christ.
2. The Old Testament priest was washed and clothed at the Laver. Then, as a purified high priest, he took the censor, got burning coals off the bronze altar, went into the holy place, placed incense on the hot coals, then, blood in hand, went in through the veil and applied the blood of the sacrifice to the mercy seat above the ark of the covenant.
F. Both of Christ’s ascensions were of great importance.
1. The First Ascension: As our High Priest, the Priestly work had to be done, and only Christ Jesus could do it.
a) From a purified High Priest who could not be touched - John 20:17 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.
Hebrews 9:11-12 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Hebrews 9:24-26 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; (26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
b) To a merciful High Priest who can be touched. Hallelujah! John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Matthew 28:9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
Hebrews 4:15-16 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
2. The Second Ascension: At the end of His appearance here on earth after the resurrection, Christ Jesus ascended back to heaven as our High Priest representing us to God, as our Intercessor making intercession for us to God, and as our Advocate speaking to God for us. Thus, the promise (John 14) that, if He went away, He would come again as King of kings and Lord of lords for His children.
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Hebrews 8:1-2 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; (2) A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
G. The Blood had to be applied. Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
(People continue to look for the Ark of the Covenant but cannot find it because it is now in heaven’s Temple.) Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.
H. Our sin had to be atoned. The only mention of “atonement” is in the New Testament, as well as the last mention of “atonement” found in the bible.
Romans 5:9-11 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (10) For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Atonement – restoration to reconciliation.
J. The Blood must then be Available. Christ’s blood was shed and applied for the redemption of all mankind, from Adam to the last person who will ever live. The Blood of Christ is AVAILABLE to all.
1 Peter 1:20-21 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
K. The Blood makes eternal life assured. It will always be there on the Mercy Seat. An eternal blood brings about an eternal salvation.
Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
1. The Price of The Blood – Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
2. The Purity of The Blood – Matthew 27:4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
3. The Purpose of The Blood – Colossians 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
4. The Product of The Blood – Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
5. The Preciousness of The Blood – Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
6. The Preeminence of The Blood – Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
7. The Permanence of The Blood – Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
8. The Power of The Blood – Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
9. The Pardoning of The Blood – Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
10. The Preaching of The Blood – 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
