“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6).

In comparing the Gospel accounts of the Garden Tomb experience some apparent differences appear. For example, the Matthew account says Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” came to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body (Matthew 28:10). Mark adds Salome (Mark 16:1), Luke includes Joanna and “other women” (Luke 24:1), and John mentions only Mary Magdalene (John 20:1). The following chart illustrates some of the differences.

Testimonies from the Four Gospels
Matthew (28:1-10)	Mark (16:1-8)	Luke (24:1-12)	John (20:1-18)
Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary”	Mary Magdalene, Mary (mother of James), and Salome	Mary Magdalene, Mary (mother of James), Joanna and “other women”	Mary Magdalene
An angel rolls away the stone, earthquake, guards faint	Found stone rolled away	Found stone rolled away	Found stone rolled away, Mary runs to tell Peter and John
One angel invites the women to “see the place …”	Enter tomb and find one angel sitting inside who speaks	Two angels standing inside tomb speak	Upon return, Mary sees two angels in tomb, seated one at head and one at foot
Women run to tell disciples	Women fled from tomb in fear and determined not to say anything to anyone	Women run to tell the eleven
Jesus meets them on the way and they worship him			Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene outside tomb

 

FIRST VISITORS TO THE TOMB

The first apparent difference involves the number of women who came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. The John account presents no conflict since it describes the second visit of Mary Magdalene. It is possible the other women never returned to the tomb since the apostles they informed did not believe their story (see Luke 24:11). Or, if they did return, it was some time after Mary Magdalene had left the first time with the others. Luke includes Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James), Joanna and “other women.” Though not listing Salome, as does the Mark account, by using the phrase, “other women,” Luke indirectly includes her. The phrase is plural. Wilson’s Diaglott simply says, “the others” and seems to be the correct rendering of the Greek. This suggests at least two other women were present at the first visit to the tomb. From such a general description it is clear the accounts are not endeavoring to provide a detailed listing of those present. Matthew only mentions Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary,” likely because these were more well known than the others. However, we can conclude that there were at least five women who first came to the tomb.

GREAT STONE ROLLED AWAY

Mark describes the women wondering who would roll the stone away for them. But when they arrived, the stone had already been moved. Luke and John both agree on this.

The Matthew account seems to describe the scene differently. “And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, ‘Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified’” (Matthew 28:4,5). This passage implies the women witnessed the earthquake and removal of the stone. This would contradict Mark and Luke who say the stone was rolled away when they arrived. However, with a careful reading this is easily resolved. Matthew does not specify that the stone was still in place when they arrived. This is incorrectly assumed because in verse 5 the angel is addressing the women, while in just the previous verse the guards shook in fear at the earthquake and sight of the angel. The resolution is simply that there was a brief time lapse between when the angel removed the stone, in verse 4, and when the women arrived, in verse 5. This would harmonize with the other accounts that the women found the stone already moved.

POSITION OF THE ANGEL

Another apparent discrepancy between the accounts is the location of the angel who addressed the women when they first arrived. Mark says upon seeing the stone rolled away the women simply entered the tomb and saw a young man sitting on the right side (Mark 16:4,5). Luke agrees with this description (Luke 24:3,4).

The Matthew account seems to suggest a problem. “Behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” (Matthew 28:2). This may suggest the angel was sitting on the rolled away stone when he addressed the women in verse 6. The angel said, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. ‘Come, see the place where the Lord lay’ ” (Matthew 28:6). Again, a careful reading of Matthew does not reveal where the angel was when speaking these words. Because of the proximity of the verses in Matthew, some may assume he was still sitting on the stone. But, in piecing the accounts together it appears the angel was likely already inside the tomb and invited them to come closer and see where Jesus’ body had lain. This would accord with Mark and Luke.

Women at the tomb

The earthquake, the rolling away of the stone, and the majestic appearance of the angel sitting on the stone terrified the guards. Soon after, the women arrived and found the stone removed. They entered the tomb and an angel invited them to come closer. The wording in Mark is strikingly similar to those in Matthew. “Behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6).

Another difference between the accounts is the number of angels that appeared to the women. Mark describes “a young man” (Mark 16:5), while Luke mentions “two men” (Luke 24:4). The solution may simply be that only one of the two angels spoke, while the other remained silent and was not mentioned by Mark.

REACTION OF THE WOMEN

Of particular interest is the reaction of the women once they saw the angel and heard his message. The Mark account says, “Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid” (Mark 16:8 NIV). What was it that these women feared? Describing the angel who spoke, Matthew says, “His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” (Matthew 28:3). At the sight, even the Roman guards trembled and “became as dead men” (Matthew 28:4). What they witnessed was truly astonishing. As the women ventured into the tomb, they saw the radiant angels sitting on Jesus’ burial platform. “He is risen,” the angel said, and invited them to see “the place where the Lord lay.” Having their natural senses overwhelmed, fear, confusion, and a reserved joy permeated their minds.

In this confused mental state, they determined not to say anything to anyone they met on their way to the apostles (Mark 16:8). Their confusion and fear may be the very reason Jesus appeared to them on the way. “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 and tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall see me’” (Matthew 28:10).

There was now no question in their minds regarding what they had witnessed at the tomb. Yes, Jesus was alive, and they were commissioned to spread the word. This personal interaction with Jesus removed their fear and bewilderment, leaving only a great sense of joy. What an honor bestowed upon these thoughtful servants.

MARY MAGDALENE

It is likely that Mary Magdalene was not present at this wonderful encounter on the road. In the Synoptic Gospels she is listed among those who first came to the tomb. However, John’s account primarily describes Mary’s second visit to the tomb. When she arrived with Peter and John, she was not aware of Jesus’ resurrection. Had she been with the other women as they returned to the apostles, she would have known about it. She went to tell Peter and John simply that the tomb was empty. She came back determined to find Jesus’ body and give it a proper burial. Believing she was speaking to the gardener, she said, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away” (John 20:15).

After the first visit to the tomb, Mary ran to Peter and John, who were likely in a different location than the other apostles. This would explain why the other apostles did not return with them. This distinction may take us back to the Garden of Gethsemane.

Upon Jesus’ arrest, nine of the apostles fled while Peter and John followed Jesus to the home of Caiaphas, in Jerusalem (John 18:15). After Peter denied Jesus in the courtyard of the High Priest, he “went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75). John, who had connections in the palace of the High Priest, went into the palace and likely overheard the interrogation of Jesus. This indicates Peter and John were separated from the other apostles and may have remained in Jerusalem on the night of Jesus’ arrest.

It is reasonable to assume that they were still in the vicinity of Jerusalem at the time of our Lord’s resurrection. They may have gone to the home of another Mary, the mother of John Mark, who lived in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12). This would explain why they arrived at the tomb first and why they came running. The other apostles may have gone back to Bethany, some two miles outside of Jerusalem.

SUMMARY

Putting the accounts together we may draw the following conclusions.

• There was a great earthquake and an angel rolled away the stone of the sepulcher.
• The Roman guards were terrified and went to tell the Chief Priests what they had seen (Matthew 28:4, 11).
• At least five women, including Mary Magdalene, came to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body.
• They entered the open tomb and an angel invited them to see the place where Jesus had laid.
• The women, afraid and bewildered, fled, determined not to say anything to anyone.
• Mary ran to tell Peter and John (possibly somewhere near Jerusalem) that the body of Jesus was gone. The other women sought out the remaining apostles.
• On their way, Jesus met the four women and they fell and worshipped him, finally believing he was alive.
• Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb with Peter and John, still unaware of Jesus’ resurrection.
• Mary encountered Jesus and finally understood he had been resurrected.

CONCLUSION

Though there appear to be some differences between the Gospel accounts, they are easily resolved. Even if a piecing together of the accounts is not exact as presented in this article, we can be sure these are only minor differences, and natural when multiple individuals share their eye-witness testimonies. Skeptics often seek such variations in order to impute contradictions and disparage the Bible. However, the sincere truth seeker will come with a desire to find agreement between the accounts. The harmony and power of these eye-witness statements should strengthen our faith in the reality of our Lord’s resurrection. The Apostle Paul provided a sound principle on which to base our faith: “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established” (2 Corinthians 13:1). In the Gospel narratives we have positive eye-witness accounts that can be fully relied upon.

The sequence of events described above reveals that the four women returning to the nine apostles were the first to see Jesus after his resurrection. Mary Magdalene, then, was the fifth to see him. Though Mark 16:9 states that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus, Mark 16:9-20 does not appear in the Sinaitic or Vatican manuscripts and has been determined to be a later addition.

This was an extraordinary experience for these dear women. Their desire to serve our Lord, even while his body laid in the tomb, is a tribute to their devotion and love for him. His personal contact with these quiet, humble supporters is important. It offers a profound message to any sincere believer. Jesus will never forget anyone who loves and serves him, no matter how insignificant they see themselves or their service. He must have known how these unassuming sisters would cherish their special moments with him.

— Br. Tom Ruggirello

 

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