13. She saith. She is so absorbed in her grief and love that she is not appalled by the supernatural manifestation which, under ordinary circumstances, would have terrified her, but enters into conversation as if addressed by a human being.
14. Turned herself back. Canon Westcott, with that beautiful subtilty of perception which so eminently character- izes him, remarks: “ We can imagine also that she became conscious of another Presence, as we often feel the approach of a visitor without distinctly seeing or hearing him. It may be, too, that the angels, looking toward the Lord, showed some sign of His coming.”
Saw (Jewpe?). Present tense. Rev., deholdeth. She looks at Him steadfastly and inquiringly as at a stranger. The ob- servance of these distinctions between verbs of seewg, is very important to the perception of the more delicate shading of the narrative.
Knew not (#dec). Indicating a knowledge based on spiritual fellowship and affinity, an inward, conscious, sure conviction of His identity.
16. Saith unto Him, Rabboni. Insert, as Rev., after Hum, in Hebrew.
17. Touch me not (4 pod a&rrov). The verb, primarily, means to fasten to. Hence it implies here, not a mere mom- entary touch, but a clinging to. Mary thought that the old relations between her Lord and herself were to be renewed ; that the old intercourse, by means of sight, sound, and touch, would go on as before. Christ says, “ the time for this kind of intercourse is over. Henceforth your communion with me will be by faith through the Spirit. This communion will be- come possible through my ascending to the Father.”
My Father. The best texts omit the pronoun and read the Father. See on xii. 26. This expression, emphasizing the re-