When we go through the resurrection accounts in the Gospel, we notice that they are not all identical. There is correspondence in some cases, and no correspondence in others. The important point to note is that none of the Gospel writers were actual eye-witnesses of what happened at the tomb, and even the apostle John (“the other disciple whom Jesus loved”) arrived at the tomb after being informed by Mary Magdalene. However, if all the accounts are compared (which were given by divine inspiration), we can certainly harmonize them as below:
1. The sixth day Sabbath was over (Matthew & Mark)
2. The women came to the sepulchre (tomb) very early in the morning on the first day of the week (Matthew, Mark, Luke) with sweet spices to anoint Christ (Mark and Luke).
3. All the women which came with Jesus from Galilee appeared at the tomb (Matthew mentions two, Mark mentions three, John mentions only one, but Luke mentions all).
4. Before the women arrived there was a great earthquake (only mentioned by Matthew).
5. Then an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and rolled away the huge (“very great”) stone which had been place at the door of the sepulchre to seal it off (only Matthew).
6. The angel was wearing a long white garment, and his face was radiating brilliant light (“as lightning”) (Matthew & Mark).
7. The appearance of the angel put fear into the hearts of the men guarding the tomb, who trembled severely, and then fell down as though they were dead (Matthew).
8. The first angel (called a “young man” by Mark) sat down on the stone which he had rolled away (Matthew & Mark), and was joined by another angel almost immediately (Luke).
9. The women entered the sepulchre, did not find the body of Jesus, and were perplexed (Luke).
10. Then the women saw the first angel sitting, who spoke to them and told them not to be frightened (Matthew & Mark).
11. Then the women saw the two angels standing within the tomb, were frightened, and bowed themselves to the earth (Luke). They were then told by the angels (1) they were not to fear, (2) the angels knew that they had come to see Jesus of Nazareth who had been crucified, (3) that He is not here, but is risen, (4) come see the place where the Lord lay, (5) they were to remember what He had told them in Galilee regarding His crucifixion and resurrection on the third day, (6) that they were to go quickly and tell the other disciples that He is risen from the dead (Matthew, Mark, & Luke).
12. All the women fearful, trembling, and very joyful at the same time, and ran quickly to tell the apostles (the eleven) and all the rest of the disciples the good news (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). However, they did not communicate this to anyone else for fear (Mark). The response by the disciples was disappointing, and the news was called “idle tales” (Luke).
13. It would appear that Mary Magdalene did not really believe the angels, ran quickly to Peter and John, and reported what the angels had said, but in her opinion “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him...” (Luke and John). But Peter was wondering as to what was true and decided to go to the sepulchre (Luke).
14. She then accompanied Peter and John back to the tomb (John). These two apostles saw the empty tomb and were convinced that Christ was risen, but Mary Magdalene still did not believe, and stood weeping outside the tomb (John).
15. The two angels then appeared to Mary and asked her why she was weeping. When she explained “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him”, Jesus was constrained to appear to Mary as soon as she turned around. Instead she thought He was the gardener, after which He called her by name, and she recognized Him. She was then warned to not touch Christ, but to go and tell the others that she had seen Him and spoken to Him. (John)
1. The sixth day Sabbath was over (Matthew & Mark)
2. The women came to the sepulchre (tomb) very early in the morning on the first day of the week (Matthew, Mark, Luke) with sweet spices to anoint Christ (Mark and Luke).
3. All the women which came with Jesus from Galilee appeared at the tomb (Matthew mentions two, Mark mentions three, John mentions only one, but Luke mentions all).
4. Before the women arrived there was a great earthquake (only mentioned by Matthew).
5. Then an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven and rolled away the huge (“very great”) stone which had been place at the door of the sepulchre to seal it off (only Matthew).
6. The angel was wearing a long white garment, and his face was radiating brilliant light (“as lightning”) (Matthew & Mark).
7. The appearance of the angel put fear into the hearts of the men guarding the tomb, who trembled severely, and then fell down as though they were dead (Matthew).
8. The first angel (called a “young man” by Mark) sat down on the stone which he had rolled away (Matthew & Mark), and was joined by another angel almost immediately (Luke).
9. The women entered the sepulchre, did not find the body of Jesus, and were perplexed (Luke).
10. Then the women saw the first angel sitting, who spoke to them and told them not to be frightened (Matthew & Mark).
11. Then the women saw the two angels standing within the tomb, were frightened, and bowed themselves to the earth (Luke). They were then told by the angels (1) they were not to fear, (2) the angels knew that they had come to see Jesus of Nazareth who had been crucified, (3) that He is not here, but is risen, (4) come see the place where the Lord lay, (5) they were to remember what He had told them in Galilee regarding His crucifixion and resurrection on the third day, (6) that they were to go quickly and tell the other disciples that He is risen from the dead (Matthew, Mark, & Luke).
12. All the women fearful, trembling, and very joyful at the same time, and ran quickly to tell the apostles (the eleven) and all the rest of the disciples the good news (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). However, they did not communicate this to anyone else for fear (Mark). The response by the disciples was disappointing, and the news was called “idle tales” (Luke).
13. It would appear that Mary Magdalene did not really believe the angels, ran quickly to Peter and John, and reported what the angels had said, but in her opinion “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him...” (Luke and John). But Peter was wondering as to what was true and decided to go to the sepulchre (Luke).
14. She then accompanied Peter and John back to the tomb (John). These two apostles saw the empty tomb and were convinced that Christ was risen, but Mary Magdalene still did not believe, and stood weeping outside the tomb (John).
15. The two angels then appeared to Mary and asked her why she was weeping. When she explained “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him”, Jesus was constrained to appear to Mary as soon as she turned around. Instead she thought He was the gardener, after which He called her by name, and she recognized Him. She was then warned to not touch Christ, but to go and tell the others that she had seen Him and spoken to Him. (John)
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