Throughout the world many don't know that there were two ascensions of Jesus Christ after His resurrection. The commonly known is the one recorded in Acts 1:9 which states, "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight". This was after He had given the apostles instructions by the Holy Spirit and He levitated before their eyes into heaven from the Mount of Olives. They all saw Him ascend to heaven until the clouds received Him. Aside this ascension, Jesus had the first ascension after He rose from the dead and that is what John captured in our opening scripture. Mary wanted to embrace Jesus but Jesus denied saying He had to first ascend to the Father. Interestingly, a few moments after, Matthew 28:9-10 records, "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. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me". This time the women held His feet and He doesn't reject the embrace. Furthermore, the words "All hail" which are an exclamation of Joy, signaled that something significant had happened. Closely relating the two references, John 20:17 and Matthew 28:9-10, it is clear that in between Jesus ascended to the Father in a quick and secrete style. He went there as the High Priest of God to offer His own blood. Hebrews 9:12 NLT states, "With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever". His blood poured at the Calvary's cross had to be presented by Himself in the Holy of Holies in heaven to ratify the New Testament. This ascension served as a consummation of His works as God's High Priest of our salvation. That blood was a signature or seal of the New Testament. This means the approval seal of all the blessings of His vicarious death is in heaven not on earth. You can be assured of walking in the blessings of His death and resurrection.