As we approach Easter you will see on TV or in movies, perhaps in your own church, various depictions of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and resurrection. Now, getting arrested and crucified by the Romans was nothing special: they crucified thousands of people. But rising from the dead: that is obviously something special. In fact, the apostle Paul says that the resurrection of Jesus is the core belief of Christianity: “…if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14). So, Christianity hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. That makes it pretty important. The most important story in the Bible I might say. So, let me ask you a simple question about Jesus’ resurrection: Who was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus? (I’ll give you a moment to decide on your answer.)
The Crucifixion
Fra Angelico, ca. 1420–23
I’m guessing that many of you answered ‘Mary Magdalene.’ Well, it turns out that the answer depends on who you ask.
Our earliest New Testament writer is Paul, who wrote his letters to various churches before the Gospels were written. Here is what he says about Jesus’ resurrection appearances:
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 1st Corinthians 15:2-8
So, Paul says Jesus first appeared to Cephas (pronounced kee-fas), which is thought to be an alternative translation of ‘Peter,’ both words meaning ‘rock.’ Then to ‘the twelve,’ which is curious: does that include Judas? More likely ‘the twelve’ simply was a term referring to Jesus’ chosen disciples, not a strict numerical count. Note that no women are mentioned.
The earliest gospel is ‘Mark.’ I will use the traditional names of the four Gospels, even though scholars recognize they were written anonymously and later had disciples’ names assigned to them. Now, we have to be careful with the end of Mark: those darn scholars have also advised us that the Gospel originally ended at chapter 16 verse 8, with the longer ending added later. (If you read that chapter the transition to verse 9 is awkward, and I am told that in the original Greek the transition is even more awkward.) Here is what ‘Mark’ says:
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right, wearing a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, “Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He told you.’” They went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had gripped them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Mark 16:1-8
So, if this is the original ending Mark leaves us hanging: the women are afraid to tell anyone and no one actually sees Jesus! This seems to be consistent with the Gospel’s theme that no one seemed to really understand who Jesus was and what was to happen. Now, in the add-on it says, “Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping.” Mark 16:9, 10. (Your Bible may have brackets around this section, denoting that it is only found in later manuscripts.) So, contrary to verse 8 it says Mary Magdalene saw Jesus and did report it to the disciples. This is also contrary to Paul, who says Peter/Cephas was the first. If nothing else it reflects the tradition that developed that this Mary was the first one to see Jesus after his resurrection.
The Women at Christ’s empty tomb
Peter Paul Rubens, ca. 1640
The Gospel of John, the last Gospel to be written, says this:
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” John 20:1,2
So Peter and the other disciple go to the tomb and find it empty. Then this happens:
But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. John 20:11-18
So ‘John’ contends that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb alone, and a little later meets the resurrected Jesus, and tells the disciples about it. Clearly this is not in agreement with how Paul and Mark describe it, although the ending added to Mark may have been based on John’s account, to make Mark’s ending consistent with its description of Mary Magdalene seeing Jesus.
Noli me Tangere (Touch Me Not)
Callisto Piazza, ca. 1560?
You sometimes see Jesus holding a hoe in such paintings, perhaps to
emphasize the part of the story in which Mary mistakes Jesus for a gardener.
What about Matthew? He says “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary” are the ones who go to the tomb and find it empty (Matthew 28:1). (Was the ‘other Mary’ Jesus’ mother?) But they do find one angel, who tells them, “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.” And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. Matthew 28:7, 8
So, unlike Mark they overcome their fear and run to give the disciples the message. But: “Behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.” (v.9) So Matthew says it was two Marys who first encountered the resurrected Jesus, not just one. And the disciples do not see Jesus until they return to Galilee (28:16, 17). And most curious, even upon seeing Jesus it says “some doubted.” Tough audience! It is interesting to me that all four Gospels introduce the element of doubt to their stories. (For more on this you might want to check out post #45: Did the twelve become only three?)
Finally, what about Luke? He reports that “Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them…” visited the tomb and found it empty, but no mention of any sighting of Jesus (Luke 24:1-12). So, not just one woman or two, but a whole group went to the tomb. They did meet two “men,” presumably angels. Note that Luke tweaks what the angels say: instead of telling them that Jesus will meet the disciples in Galilee they simply remind the women: “Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” Because in Luke’s version the disciples stay in Jerusalem instead of meeting up with Jesus in Galilee, as in Mark and Matthew.
Luke then tells of two disciples traveling on the road to the town of Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem (24:13-35). Jesus joins them, “But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.” They talk about the recent events in Jerusalem, including the women finding an empty tomb, and then Jesus explains how these events were foretold in the Scriptures. They stop to eat, and when Jesus breaks and blesses the bread they suddenly recognize him as Jesus. And Jesus vanishes!
They rush back to the other disciples (Luke says “the eleven” not “the twelve”) in Jerusalem and are told: “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” Is this meant to be consistent with Paul that Jesus first appeared to Simon Peter? Although it does not specifically say that Jesus appeared to Peter before these other two disciples. It’s rather ambiguous. And why didn’t Luke record the story of the appearance of Jesus to Peter? That seems like an important part of the story that he just glosses over. I find that odd. And Jesus goes on to tell them, “you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (24:49). This seems directly contrary to what Mark and Matthew say about Jesus meeting the disciples in Galilee, and John has Jesus appearing to the disciples both in Jerusalem and in Galilee.
Christ’s Appearance to the two Disciples journeying to Emmaus
John Linnell (1792–1882)
Now, there are various details that differ in the accounts, like what time of day the women went to the tomb, which women were in the group, how many men/angels were there, what did they tell the women, did the disciples see Jesus in Jerusalem or Galilee or both, and more. But let’s get back to the core question: Who was the first person to see the resurrected Jesus?
Paul: it was Cephas/Peter.
Mark: no one in the original, although the addendum says it was Mary Magdalene.
Matthew: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.
Luke: two disciples on the road to Emmaus, but possibly Simon Peter.
John: Mary Magdalene.
So, we have the most important story in the Bible, and yet our five authors can’t agree on how it transpired and who was the first to see the resurrected Jesus. Does that have any relevance or meaning? Does it bother you? I have to admit: it bothers me. According to traditional Christianity it is crucial for everyone’s salvation that they understand the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection and believe in it. Yet the five accounts we have of this do not line up well with each other. Of course the five writers may have reasons for emphasizing or highlighting different parts of the story; there is no problem with that. Yet to create scenarios that appear to be not just out of line but even contradictory – in the most important event of the Bible – it just strikes me as puzzling. It is almost as if those telling the story did not have definitive information about the event. Perhaps different traditions had developed about what happened and who saw what and the authors were recording the particular traditions that they knew, or believed to be correct.
Still, if God was the mind behind the stories, inspiring the authors as they wrote as many Christians believe, and the goal is to foster belief in the resurrection, the critical point of Christianity – wouldn’t God want some more consistency in the stories? So they would be more believable? Less subject to skepticism? Is the idea to get people to believe and be saved, or is the idea to weed out those who read too closely and question the details? Does God favor the gullible over the discerning?
Is it possible that the discrepancies are intentional? The idea is to look at the big picture, not the details? Do the differences actually enhance the credibility, in that the five are not all reading off the same script, simply mimicking one another, but are passing along actual stories of the resurrection that had been passed down to them?
As usual I have more questions than answers. What do you think of the different stories of Jesus’ resurrection? And does it matter to you who was first? Should it matter?
Scroll down to make comments and ask questions. For more on the Easter story, see last year’s posts #40 through 45.
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