To the Father

After the resurrection, Jesus says to Mary:

“Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father…”— Gospel of John 20:17

This is an important distinction.

Jesus has risen.

The tomb is empty.

Death has been defeated.

And yet He says He has not yet ascended to the Father.

So resurrection is not the completion of glorification.

In John’s Gospel, glorification begins at the cross, continues through resurrection, and reaches its fullness in the return to the Father.

Resurrection is victory over death. Glorification is the completion of that victory in shared glory with the Father.

What Resurrection Is

Resurrection is life restored.

• The body that died is now alive

• Death no longer has authority

• The tomb no longer governs

But resurrection is still embodied life within creation.

The risen Jesus:

• Eats

• Walks

• Is touched

• Speaks in time and space

He is no longer subject to death — but He is still present in the world.

Resurrection answers the problem of death.

What Glorification Is

Glorification is the completion of reconciliation.

It is not about power. It is about shared glory and restored relationship.

Glorification is:

• The Son returning to the Father

• Humanity brought into restored communion

• Union without loss of distinction

• Life fully aligned with its source

It is not humanity dissolving into God.I t is humanity perfected in relationship with God.

This is why Jesus says He has not yet ascended — because resurrection is real victory, but the story is not yet complete.

Glorification answers not only death, but the fullness of restored communion.

Why This Matters

Jesus shows something profound:

• You can overcome death

• You can walk in resurrected life

• And still be moving toward fullness

Which means:

• Resurrection is a stage

• Glorification is the completion

This aligns with sovereignty.

Sovereignty, Resurrection, and Glorification

Resurrection restores order within the human being.

Sovereignty belongs to resurrected life.

It is:

• Inner order restored

• Nothing ruled by fear

• Obedience flowing naturally

• No divided self

Sovereignty is life no longer governed by death.

But glorification is beyond inner order.

Glorification is when reconciliation is fully unveiled — when humanity stands whole before the Father.

Scripture speaks of:

• Reigning with Christ

• Until all things are gathered

• And then God being “all in all”

  — First Epistle to the Corinthians 15:28

Reigning is not abolished —but opposition is. What ends is resistance, not identity.

Why Jesus Tells Mary Not to Cling

Mary wants to hold onto Him as He now is.

But Jesus is indicating:

This is not the final stage.

If she clings to resurrection without recognizing ascension, she mistakes the victory for the completion.

The movement is always toward the Father.

Jesus’ Stated Intention

Jesus says:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” — Gospel of John 14:6

The word through matters.

He is not a temporary doorway we move beyond. We come to the Father through Him, and remain in Him.

Union with the Father is always in the Son.

Presented, Not Merely Forgiven

Paul makes this clear:

Christ loved the church to present her glorious.

— Epistle to the Ephesians 5:27

And:

He reconciled you to present you holy and blameless.

— Epistle to the Colossians 1:22

The goal is presentation.

Not rescue alone. Not authority alone. Not service alone.

Presentation.

What “Present” Means

To be presented is:

• To be fully gathered

• To be undivided

• To be no longer fragmented by sin or fear

• To stand without defence

This is not merely courtroom language. It is relational completion.

The Full Arc

Resurrection restores life. Sovereignty restores inner order. Glorification completes reconciliation.

And Scripture says:

“He brings many sons to glory.”— Epistle to the Hebrews 2:10

Not to domination. Not to hierarchy. But to shared glory — in the Father, through the Son.

One Sentence That Holds It All

Jesus overcomes death, restores order, reconciles humanity, and gathers us — so He may present us to the Father whole.

Presentation was always the goal.