Resurrection and the Senses

John 20:11-31

MARY MAGDALENE IN THE GARDEN

The First Resurrection Appearance (John 20:14-18)

What did Jesus say to Mary Magdalene? (Jn 20:17)

• ‘Do not hold onto me’ (NRSV)• ‘Touch me not’ (KJV)• ‘Stop clinging to me’ (NAS)

• Mē mou haptou (Greek)

• Noli me tangere (Latin)

Palla, ca. 1520, Antwerp, Museum Mayer van den Bergh

Carolignian, 11th century

Titian, Noli me tangere, ca. 1514National Gallery, London

DISCIPLES IN THE CLOSED ROOM

The Second Resurrection Appearance (John 20:19-23)

Duccio, Appearance behind Locked Doors, 1308

‘DOUBTING’ THOMASThe Third Resurrection Appearance (John 20:24-29)

Magdalene and Thomas(Lower left/centre)

Western German, late 14th century, Köln Wallraf-Richartz-Museum – Fondation Corboud

Duccio,Doubting Thomas,

1308-11

Caravaggio, The Incredulity of St Thomas, 1601-02, Sanssouci, Potsdam

Needlework by Marianne von Watteville, ca. 1750. Collection of Moravian Archives, Herrnhut, Germany.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,Let me hide myself in Thee;Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,Be of sin the double cure;

Save from wrath and make me pure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM7gt_cSxjw

One of the soldiers pierced his side with his spear, and there came out at once blood and water.And one who has seen has testified and his testimony is true and he knows that he speaks the truth, so that even/also you might believe.

(John 19:34-35)

Further Reading

• B. Baert, ‘Noli me tangere. Six Exercises in Image Theory and Iconophilia’, http://www.imageandnarrative.be/inarchive/iconoclasm/baert.htm

• Aquinas on why the Christ rose with scars: http://www.newadvent.org/summa/4054.htm (this reference thanks to Taylor Marshall)

• M. O’Rourke Boyle, Senses of Touch: Human Dignity and Deformity from Michaelangelo to Calvin (googlebooks preview here)

• S. Schneiders, ‘Touching the Risen Jesus: Mary Magdalene and Thomas,’ http://www.ctsa-online.org/pdf/60/013_035.pdf