Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 24
? 24 Likewise, they differ concerning the events connected with Jesus’ resurrection which followed the crucifixion. 1. Who Came First to the Sepulchre, and When? —Matthew says that as it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre (28:1). Mark says: Early in the morning at the rising of the sun (16:2). Luke says: Very early in the morning (24:1). John’s account is: Early, when it was yet dark (20:1). Then Matthew (28:1) and Mark (16:1) say there were two Marys, and Luke (24:10) says there were Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women. But John’s account is that Mary Magdalene came alone (20:1). 2. The Earthquake and the Angel —Matthew 28:2 tells us: ‘And, 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. ’ The other three say nothing about this natural phenomenon of the earthquake, nor of the rolling back of the stone and the sitting upon it. According to their accounts no one was sitting on the stone. Mark (16:4–5) says that when the two Marys came they found the stone was already rolled away. And entering into the sepulchre they saw a young man sitting on the right side, and they were frightened. Luke (24:4) says there were two men not sitting but standing up. And John (20:12) says they were two angels both sitting in the sepulchre one at the head and the other at the feet.