Dr Paul Allen

What was the Upper Room? A room or chamber on the flat roof of a Palestinian house. Sometimes it was no more than a tent (2 Sam. 16:22) or a booth (Neh. 8:16–17), but it might be built as a second story (Judg. 3:20; Jer. 22:13–14; Dan. 6:10). Such rooms were often used for guests (e.g., 1 Kgs. 17:19; 2 Kgs. 4:10). It was in such an upper guest room in Jerusalem that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his twelve disciples (Mark 14:15; Luke 22:12;Matt. 26:18 “at your house”); it was a chamber large enough for thirteen guests to enjoy the Passover meal, reclining on cushions or carpets. This room and house have been variously identified with the house where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection (Luke 24:33, 36; John 20:19, 26), the upper room where the twelve apostles and others gathered following Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:13; hyperṓon), and the home of Mary the mother of John Mark (12:12). Two memorial meals were observed as they sat (lit. reclined) and ate....

What does Jesus mean?  20:17 Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended. Mary was expressing a desire to hold on to His physical presence for fear that she would once again lose Him. Jesus’ reference to His ascension signifies that He would only be temporarily with them and though she desperately wanted Him to stay, He could not. Jesus was with them only for 40 more days and then He ascended (Acts 1:3–11). After He went to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit (“The Helper”) so that they would not feel abandoned ( see note on 14:18, 19 ).  Mary had known Jesus personally as a Man. She had seen miracles happen when He was bodily present. So she concluded that if He was not with her in a visible way, then she could have no hope of blessing. The Lord must correct her thinking. He said, “Do not cling to Me simply as a Man in the flesh. I have not yet ascended to My Father . When I do return to heaven, the Holy Spirit will be sent down to the earth. When He come...