Jesus’ Resurrection: Do the Gospels Agree?

Concepts100It is noteworthy that in his account of the discovery of the empty tomb, John stated that when Mary looked into the tomb, she “saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying” (see John 20:12). Luke also mentioned two angels in His Gospel (see Luke 24:3-7); Matthew and Mark mentioned just one (see Matthew 28:2-7; Mark 16:5-7). 

Did the Gospel writers contradict one another? Actually, they did not. The resurrection accounts can be reconciled: “Matthew and Mark specify that one angel spoke, but they do not say there was only one angel present or that only one angel spoke. Quite possibly one of the angels served as the spokesman for the two, thus he was emphasized” by the writers of the first two Gospels (Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, Answers to Tough Questions skeptics ask about the Christian Faith, [San Bernardino, CA: Here’s Life Publishers, 1980], 53).

Numerous other details in the resurrection accounts of the Gospels appear to be inconsistent at first. For example, Mary Magdalene is the only woman John mentioned with regard to the initial discovery of the empty tomb (see John 20:1-18); Matthew, Mark, and Luke all indicated more than one woman (see Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 23:55–24:1). Even so, upon reflection we realize that no detail in any account directly contradicts a detail in another, and all the specific elements in all the accounts can be reconciled.

It helps us as well to understand that no writer recorded everything that happened. This is exactly the kind of testimony we would expect to be given by four eyewitnesses in court—testimonies highlighting different details and reflecting the different perspectives of the eyewitnesses, yet testimonies with no direct contradictions. Remember, too, that the thrust of every account provides the same “bottom line”: Jesus’ tomb was empty because He had risen from the dead!

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in SundaySchoolZone.com materials are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®,  Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

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