The Easter Story - A Challenge for Christians

New Testament Book / Author	Statement / Witness	Verse(s)
The Visitors to the Tomb
Matthew	"Mary Magdalene and the other Mary".	28:1
Mark	"Mary Magdalene, the mother of James, and Salome".	16:1
Luke	"Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women".	24:10
John	"Mary Magdalene".	20:1
Their Purpose in Visiting the Tomb
Matthew	They came "to see the tomb". Doesn't previously mention that the body was already spiced, but only "wrapped" (27:59).	28:1
Mark	They "brought spices" in order to "anoint him". Doesn't previously mention that the body was spiced, but only "wrapped" (15:46).	15:47, 16:1
Luke	To bring "the spices which they had prepared". Previous to this it mentions that the body was "wrapped" (23:53) and that the women "prepared spices" (23:56).	24:1
John	No reason stated, but the body was "bound" with "spices" by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus on one of the day(s) previous to Sunday . Notice that Luke 23:55 says that "the women" observed the tomb and "how the body was laid" - but later had to return to bring the "spices which they had prepared" (24:1)!!!	19:38-40
The Time of the Visit to the Tomb
Matthew	As it "began to dawn".	28:1
Mark	It was "very early in the morning . . . at the rising of the sun" (KJV); "when the sun had risen" (NKJV); "when the sun had risen" (NRSV); "just after sunrise" (NIV).	16:2
Luke	It was "very early in the morning" (KJV); "very early in the morning" (NKJV); "at early dawn" (NRSV).	24:1
John	It was "early, while it was still dark".	20:1
The Status of the Entrance of the Tomb
Matthew	Closed, but opened by an angel after a "great earthquake".	28:2
Mark	Open, since "the stone had been rolled away". They entered the tomb.	16:4-5
Luke	Open, since "they found the stone rolled away". Seemingly their first visit to the tomb, since they were "greatly perplexed about this".	24:2-4
John	Opened, and Mary runs to "Simon Peter, and to the other disciple".	20:1-2
The Angel(s)/Messenger(s) at the Tomb
Matthew	One "angel of the Lord".	28:2-7
Mark	One "young man clothed in a long white robe".	16:5
Luke	Two "men" who "stood by them in shining garments".	24:4
John	Two angels "in white" appear to Mary after "Simon Peter" and to the "other disciple" depart.	20:12
The Location of the Angel(s)/Messenger(s) at the Tomb
Matthew	Angel spoke while sitting on the stone.	28:2
Mark	Sitting inside the tomb, on the "right side".	16:5
Luke	Standing "beside them" inside the tomb.	24:3-4
John	Sitting "one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain".	20:12
The Statment(s) of the Angels(s)/Messenger(s)
Matthew	"Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and indeed he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him: Behold, I have told you."	28:5-7
Mark	"Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples - and Peter - that he is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he said to you."	16:6-7
Luke	"Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"	24:5-7
John	"Woman, why are you weeping?", Mary then turns around and sees Jesus, but doesn't recognize him.	20:13-14
Did the Visitors to the Tomb Tell Others?
Matthew	Yes, since they "ran to bring his disciples word".	28:8
Mark	No, since "they said nothing to anyone". Later it says that Mary Magdalene "went and told those who had been with him".	16:8; 16:10
Luke	Yes, since "they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest".	24:9, 22-24
John	Yes, since "Mary Magdelene came and told the disciples".	20:18
*Did "Mary"* Know That Jesus was Resurrected?**
Matthew	Yes.	(28:7-8
Mark	Yes.	16:10,11
Luke	Yes.	24:10, 22-23
John	No.	20:2, 14
Who was the "First" to see Jesus?
Matthew	Apparently Mary Magdalene and Mary, since they "met" Jesus on the way to tell the disciples.	28:9
Mark	Mary Magdalene was "first".	16:9
Luke	Apparently the two on the road to Emmaus.	24:13
John	Mary Magdalene.	20:14
When did "Mary" First See Jesus?
Matthew	On her way to tell the disciples.	28:9
Mark	Before she returned to the disciples.	16:9, 10
Luke	Doesn't say.	---
John	At the tomb, after the angel(s) spoke to her - "Simon Peter, and to the other disciple" had "went away"..	20:10, 14
Was Jesus in a Spiritual or Physical Body After the Resurrection?
Matthew	Physical, since they "came and held him by the feet", even though he managed to get out of the tomb before the stone was rolled away.	28:9
Mark	Like a spirit, since he "appeared" to Mary Magdalene, but "appeared" in "another form" to the two men on the road.	16:9, 12
Luke	Physical, since Jesus says "a spirit does not have flesh and bones" and he eats.	24:39, 43
John	Seemingly spiritual, since Jesus says "do not cling to me". However, Thomas later touches Jesus.	20:17, 27
The First Appearance of Jesus (After the Women)
Matthew	To the "eleven disciples".	28:16
Mark	To "two" disciples "in the country", but later he appears to "the eleven".	16:12,14
Luke	To the two disciples travelling on the road to Emmaus, and later to "the eleven".	24:13,36
John	A number is not stated, but Thomas - "one of the twelve" - was absent (along with Judas), so apparently only ten.	20:19, 24
Paul - I Corinthians	To "Cephas" (i.e. Peter), and then to "the twelve" (even though all of the Gospels only mention "eleven", since Judas was already dead!!!)	15:5
The Location of Jesus’ First Appearance
Matthew	On a mountain in Galilee, which is, at a minimum, between 60 and 70 miles away!!!.	28:16-17
Mark	"In the country" to two disciples, but to the eleven "as they sat at the table".	16:12,14
Luke	On the road to Emmaus (about seven miles from Jerusalem), and later to the disciples in a room in Jerusalem in the "evening".	24:29, 31, 33, 36
John	In a room, during the "evening".	20:19
*Did the Disciples of Jesus Believe the "Two Men"?*
Matthew	Not mentioned..	---
Mark	No, since "they did not believe them either".	16:13
Luke	Yes; since "the eleven" were saying "The Lord is risen indeed . . . " - as if they already knew.	24:34
John	Two men not mentioned. Doesn't say if they believed Mary.	---
What Happened at the Appearance of Jesus?
Matthew	The disciples "worshipped him", though "some doubted", Jesus speaks.	28:17-18
Mark	Jesus "rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart".	16:14
Luke	Jesus, unrecognizable to any of them, materializes out of nowhere, and the discipes "thought they had seen a spirit". Jesus questions "the eleven", eats, and then "led them out as far as Bethany".	24:36-50
John	Jesus appears "in their midst" (even though the "doors were shut") and the disciples were "glad" to see him. Jesus speaks, but does not reprimand them.	21:19-23
Did Jesus Stay on Earth for Very Long After the Ressurection?
Matthew	Doesn't say.	28:17-18
Mark	No, since he was "received up into heaven" after he had spoken. Note that John 20:19 says that the meeting took place on "the first day of the week" - i.e. Sunday..	16:19
Luke	No, since he ascends on Sunday evening - the same day of his resurrection. This can be deduced because on "that same day" (24:13), which was "the third day since" the crucifixion (24:20-21), he met the two on the road to Emmau and continued with them until it was "toward evening" (24:29). After recognizing Jesus that evening, the two "rose up that very hour and returned to Jeruslam" (24:33), where they met "the eleven". Jesus appeared to them as "they said these things" (24:36). Jesus speaks to them and then accompanies them "as far as Bethany" (24:50), where he then ascends (24:51).	24:13, 20-21, 29, 33, 36, 50-51
John	Yes, at least "eight" days.	20:26
Acts	Yes, since it specifies "forty" days.	1:3
The Location of Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven
Matthew	No ascension reported and the book ends on the mountain in Galilee.	---
Mark	In "Galilee", after meeting "the eleven".	16:7; 16:14
Luke	In Bethany, near Jerusalem.	24:50-51
John	Jesus' ascension is not mentioned.	---
Acts	From the Mount of Olives.	1:9-12
Paul	Never mentions the ascension.	---
Did Jesus Tell His Disciples to Stay in Jerusalem?
Matthew	Not mentioned, but apparently not since they went to Galilee (a minium of 60-70 miles away).	---
Mark	Not mentioned, but apparently he did not, since they went to Galilee (a minium of 60-70 miles away).	---
Luke	Yes, he told them "tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high". After the ascension, they returned from Bethany "to Jersalam" and "were continually in the temple". The "power from on high " came fifty days after the resurrection on Pentecost (Acts 1 and 2).	24:50-53
John	Not mentioned.	---
Acts	Yes, he told them "not to depart from Jerusalem".	1:4