Chapter XXV: Part IX: Our Lord’s Resurrection, His Subsequent Appearances, And His (1)

Ascension.

TIME. _Forty days_.

§ 159. The morning of the Resurrection. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Matthew. Mark. CH. XXVIII. 2-4. CH. XVI. 1. And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the _mother_ of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 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. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead _men_.

§ 160. Visit of the women to the Sepulchre. Mary Magdalene returns. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Matthew. Mark.
CH. XXVIII. 1. CH. XVI. 2-4.
In the end of the sabbath, as 2 And very early in the
it began to dawn toward the morning, the first _day_ of
first _day_ of the week, came the week, they came unto the
Mary Magdalene, and the other sepulchre at the rising of the
Mary to see the sepulchre. sun:
3 And they said among
themselves, Who shall roll us
away the stone from the door
of the sepulchre?
4 (And when they looked, they
saw that the stone was rolled
away,) for it was very great.

Luke. John. CH. XXIV. 1-3. CH. XX. 1-2. Now upon the first _day_ of The first _day_ of the week the week, very early in the cometh Mary Magdalene early, morning, they came unto the when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices sepulchre, and seeth the stone which they had prepared, and taken away from the sepulchre. certain _others_ with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and 2 Then she runneth, and cometh found not the body of the Lord to Simon Peter, and to the Jesus. other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

§ 161. Vision of angels in the Sepulchre. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Matthew. Mark. CH. XXVIII. 5-7. CH. XVI. 5-7. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 5 And the angel answered and 6 And he saith unto them, Be said unto the women, Fear not not affrighted: ye seek Jesus ye: for I know that ye seek of Nazareth, which was Jesus, which was crucified. crucified: he is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his 7 But go your way, tell his disciples, that he is risen disciples and Peter, that he from the dead, and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee: goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he there shall ye see him: lo, I said unto you. have told you.

Luke. CH. XXIV. 4-8. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down _their_ faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words,

§ 162. The women return to the city. Jesus meets them. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Matthew. Mark. CH. XXVIII. 8-10. CH. XVI. 8. 8 And they departed quickly 6 And they went out quickly from the sepulchre, with fear and fled from the sepulchre; and great joy; and did run to for they trembled, and were bring his disciples word. amazed: neither said they any thing to any _man_; for they were afraid. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Luke. CH. XXIV. 9-11. 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary _the mother_ of James, and other _women that were_ with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

§ 163. Peter and John run to the Sepulchre. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Luke. John.
CH. XXIV. 12. CH. XX. 3-10.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran 3 Peter therefore went forth,
unto the sepulchre, and and that other disciple, and
stooping down, he beheld the came to the sepulchre.
linen clothes laid by
themselves, and departed,
wondering in himself at that
which was come to pass.
4 So they ran both together:
and the other disciple did
outrun Peter, and came first
to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, _and
looking in_, saw the linen
clothes lying; yet went he not
in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter
following him, and went into
the sepulchre, and seeth the
linen clothes lie;
7 And the napkin that was
about his head, not lying with
the linen clothes, but wrapped
together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other
disciple which came first to
the sepulchre, and he saw, and
believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the
scripture, that he must rise
again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went
away again unto their own
home.

§ 164. Our Lord is seen by Mary Magdalene at the Sepulchre. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

John. Mark. CH. XX. 11-18. CH. XVI. 9-11. 11 But Mary stood without at 9 Now, when _Jesus_ was risen the sepulchre weeping: and as early, the first _day_ of the she wept she stooped down _and week, he appeared first to looked_ into the sepulchre, Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 12 And seeth two angels in white, sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch 10 _And_ she went and told me not: for I am not yet them that had been with him, ascended to my Father: but go as they mourned and wept. to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and _to_ my God and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and 11 And they, when they had told the disciples that she heard that he was alive, and had seen the Lord, and _that_ had been seen of her, believed he had spoken these things not. unto her.

§ 165. Report of the watch. (First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Matthew. CH. XXVIII. 11-15. 11 Now, when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him _away_ while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

§ 166. Our Lord is seen of Peter; then by two disciples on the way to Emmaus. (First Day Of The Week.) _Emmaus_.

Mark. Luke.
CH. XVI. 12, 13. CH. XXIV. 13-35.
12 After that, he appeared in 13 And behold, two of them
another form unto two of them, went that same day to a
as they walked, and went into village called Emmaus, which
the country. was from Jerusalem _about_
threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of
all these things which had
happened.
15 And it came to pass, that,
while they communed
_together_, and reasoned,
Jesus himself drew near, and
went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden,
that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What
manner of communications _are_
these that ye have one to
another, as ye walk, and are
sad?
18 And the one of them, whose
name was Cleopas, answering,
said unto him, Art thou only a
stranger in Jerusalem, and
hast not known the things
which are come to pass there
in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What
things? And they said unto
him, Concerning Jesus of
Nazareth, which was a prophet
mighty in deed and word before
God, and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests
and our rulers delivered him
to be condemned to death, and
have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had
been he which should have
redeemed Israel: and besides
all this, to-day is the third
day since these things were
done.
22 Yea, and certain women also
of our company made us
astonished, which were early
at the sepulchre.
23 And when they found not his
body, they came, saying, that
they had also seen a vision of
angels, which said that he was
alive.
24 And certain of them which
were with us, went to the
sepulchre, and found _it_ even
so as the women had said: but
him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O
fools, and slow of heart to
believe all that the prophets
have spoken!
26 Ought not Christ to have
suffered these things, and to
enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses, and
all the prophets, he expounded
unto them in all the
scriptures the things
concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the
village whither they went: and
he made as though he would
have gone further.
29 But they constrained him,
saying, Abide with us: for it
is toward evening, and the day
is far spent. And he went in
to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he
sat at meat with them, he took
bread, and blessed _it_, and
brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened,
and they knew him: and he
vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to
another, Did not our heart
burn within us while he talked
with us by the way, and while
he opened to us the
scriptures?
13 And they went and told _it_ 33 And they rose up the same
unto the residue: neither hour, and returned to
believed they them. Jerusalem, and found the
eleven gathered together, and
them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen
indeed, and hath appeared to
Simon.(308)
35 And they told what things
_were done_ in the way, and
how he was known of them in
breaking of bread.

§ 167. Jesus appears in the midst of the Apostles, Thomas being absent. (Evening Following The First Day Of The Week.) _Jerusalem_.

Mark. CH. XVI. 14-18. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven,(309) as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief, and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues: 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Luke. John. CH. XIV. 36-49. CH. XX. 19-23. 36 And as they thus spake, 19 Then the same day at Jesus himself stood in the evening, being the first _day_ midst of them, and saith unto of the week, when the doors them, Peace _be_ unto you. were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace _be_ unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my 20 And when he had so said, he feet, that it is I myself: shewed unto them _his_ hands handle me, and see; for a and his side. Then were the spirit hath not flesh and disciples glad when they saw bones, as ye see me have. the Lord. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them _his_ hands and _his_ feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honey-comb. 43 And he took _it_, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, 21 Then said Jesus to them These _are_ the words which I again, Peace _be_ unto you: spake unto you, while I was _as my_ Father hath sent me, yet with you, that all things even so send I you. must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and _in_ the prophets, and _in_ the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their 22 And when he had said this, understanding, that they might he breathed on _them_, and understand the scriptures, saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 46 And said unto them, Thus it 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, is written, and thus it they are remitted unto them; behoved Christ to suffer, and _and_ whose soever _sins_ ye to rise from the dead the retain, they are retained. third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

§ 168. Jesus appears in the midst of the Apostles, Thomas being present. (Evening Following First Day Of Week After Resurrection.) _Jerusalem_.

John. CH. XX. 24-29. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: _then_ came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace _be_ unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust _it_ into my side; and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed _are_ they that have not seen and _yet_ have believed.

§ 169. The Apostles go away into Galilee. Jesus shows himself to seven of them at the Sea of Tiberias. _Galilee_.

Matthew. John.
CH. XXVIII. 16. CH. XXI. 1-24.
16 Then the eleven disciples After these things Jesus
went away into Galilee, shewed himself again to the
disciples at the sea of
Tiberias; and on this wise
shewed he _himself_.
2 There were together Simon
Peter, and Thomas called
Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana
in Galilee, and the _sons_ of
Zebedee, and two other of his
disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them,
I go a fishing. They say unto
him, We also go with thee.
They went forth, and entered
into a ship immediately; and
that night they caught
nothing.
4 But when the morning was now
come, Jesus stood on the
shore; but the disciples knew
not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them,
Children, have ye any meat?
They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast
the net on the right side of
the ship, and ye shall find.
They cast therefore, and now
they were not able to draw it
for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom
Jesus loved saith unto Peter,
It is the Lord. Now when Simon
Peter heard that it was the
Lord, he girt _his_ fisher’s
coat _unto him_, (for he was
naked) and did cast himself
into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came
in a little ship (for they
were not far from land, but as
it were two hundred cubits)
dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were
come to land, they saw a fire
of coals there, and fish laid
thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them,
bring of the fish which ye
have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and
drew the net to land full of
great fishes, an hundred and
fifty and three: and for all
there were so many, yet was
not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come
_and_ dine. And none of the
disciples durst ask him, Who
art thou? knowing that it was
the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and
taketh bread, and giveth them,
and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time
that Jesus shewed himself to
his disciples, after that he
was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined,
Jesus saith to Simon Peter,
Simon, _son_ of Jonas, lovest
thou me more than these? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord:
thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my
lambs.
16 He saith to him again the
second time, Simon, _son_ of
Jonas, lovest thou me? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord:
thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my
sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third
time, Simon, _son_ of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Peter was
grieved because he said unto
him the third time, Lovest
thou me? And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest all things;
thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my
sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto
thee, When thou wast young,
thou girdest thyself, and
walkedst whither thou
wouldest: but when thou shalt
be old, thou shalt stretch
forth thy hands, and another
shall gird thee, and carry
_thee_ whither thou wouldest
not.
19 This spake he, signifying
by what death he should
glorify God. And when he had
spoken this, he saith unto
him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about,
seeth the disciple whom Jesus
loved, following; (which also
leaned on his breast at
supper, and said, Lord, which
is he that betrayeth thee?)
21 Peter seeing him, saith to
Jesus, Lord, and what _shall_
this man _do_?
22 Jesus saith unto him, if I
will that he tarry till I
come, what _is that_ to thee?
Follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying
abroad among the brethren,
that that disciple should not
die: yet Jesus said not unto
him, He shall not die; but, if
I will that he tarry till I
come, what _is that_ to thee?
24 This is the disciple which
testifieth of these things,
and wrote these things: and we
know that his testimony is
true.

§ 170. Jesus meets the Apostles and above five hundred brethren on a mountain in Galilee. _Galilee_.

Matthew. CH. XXVIII. 16-20. 16 into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him,(310) they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came, and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, _even_ unto the end of the world. Amen.

§ 171. Our Lord is seen of James; then of all the Apostles. _Jerusalem_.

The title of this section in inserted, for the sake of preserving the series of Dr. Robinson, whose arrangement has been followed in this Harmony; but as the appearances of Jesus which are here referred to, are related only by Luke in Acts, i. 3-8, and by Paul in 1 Cor. xv. 7, the particular insertion of those passages is omitted, for the reasons already given. See § 137, note. The subject of this and the eleven preceding sections, respecting the resurrection of Jesus, is discussed in the Note on the Resurrection.

§ 172. The Ascension. _Bethany_.

Mark. Luke. CH. XVI. 19, 20. CH. XXIV. 50-53. 19 So then, after the Lord had 50 And he led them out as far spoken unto them, he was as to Bethany:(311) and he received up into heaven, and lifted up his hands, and sat on the right hand of God. blessed them. 20 And they went forth, and 51 And it came to pass, while preached every where, the Lord he blessed them, he was parted working with _them_, and from them, and carried up into confirming the word with signs heaven. following. Amen. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

§ 173. Conclusion of John’s Gospel.

John. CH. XX. 30, 31. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. CH. XXI. 25. 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

NOTE ON THE RESURRECTION.

The accounts of the Resurrection and of the subsequent appearances of our Lord, have been harmonised in various methods; of which the latest, and probably the best, is that of Professor Robinson, in an article published in the Bibliotheca Sacra for February 1845, vol. ii. pp. 162-189. As the best service the present writer could do to the English reader, he has therefore here abridged that article, by omitting the introduction, and such parts as relate to the Greek text, and a few other passages, which it seemed might be spared without injury to the narrative itself.

§ 1. _The Time of the Resurrection._

Matt. 26: 1, 2. Mark 16: 1, 2, 9. Luke 24: 1. John 20: 1.

That the resurrection of our Lord took place before full daylight, on the first day of the week, follows from the unanimous testimony of the Evangelists respecting the visit of the women to the sepulchre. But the exact time at which he rose is nowhere specified. According to the Jewish mode of reckoning, the Sabbath ended and the next day began at sunset; so that had the resurrection occurred even before midnight, it would still have been upon the first day of the week, and the third day after our Lord’s burial. The earthquake had taken place and the stone had been rolled away before the arrival of the women; and so far as the immediate narrative is concerned, there is nothing to show that all this might not have happened some hours earlier. Yet the words of Mark in another place render it certain, that there could have been no great interval between these events and the arrival of the women; since he affirms in v. 9, that Jesus “had risen _early_, the first day of the week;” while in v. 2, he states that the women went out “_very early_.” A like inference may be drawn from the fact, that the affrighted guards first went to inform the chief priests of these events, when the women returned to the city (Matt. 28: 11); for it is hardly to be supposed, that after having been thus terrified by the earthquake and the appearance of an angel, they would have waited any very long time before sending information to their employers.—The body of Jesus had therefore probably lain in the tomb not less than about thirty-six hours.

§ 2. _The Visit of the Women to the Sepulchre._

Matt. 28: 1-8. Mark 16: 1-8. Luke 24: 1-11. John 20: 1, 2.

The first notices we have of our Lord’s resurrection, are connected with the visit of the women to the sepulchre, on the morning of the first day of the week. According to Luke, the women who had stood by the cross, went home and rested during the sabbath (23:56); and Mark adds that after the sabbath was ended, that is, after sunset, and during the evening, they prepared spices in order to go and embalm our Lord’s body. They were either not aware of the previous embalming by Joseph and Nicodemus; or else they also wished to testify their respect and affection to their Lord, by completing, more perfectly, what before had been done in haste; John 19: 40-42.

It is in just this portion of the history, which relates to the visit of the women to the tomb and the appearance of Jesus to them, that most of the alleged difficulties and discrepancies in this part of the Gospel narratives are found. We will therefore take up the chief of them in their order.

I. _The Time_. All the Evangelists agree in saying that the women went out _very early_ to the sepulchre. Matthew’s expression is, _as the day was dawning_. Mark’s words are, _very early_: which indeed are less definite, but are appropriate to denote the same point of time. Luke has the more poetic term: _deep morning_, i. e. early dawn. John’s language is likewise definite: _early, while it was yet dark_. All these expressions go to fix the time at what we call _early dawn_, or _early twilight_; after the break of day, but while the light is yet struggling with darkness.

Thus far there is no difficulty; and none would ever arise, had not Mark added the phrase, _the sun being risen_; or, as the English version has it, _at the rising of the sun_. These words seem, at first, to be at direct variance both with the _very early_ of Mark himself, and with the language of the other Evangelists. To harmonise this apparent discrepancy, we may premise, that since Mark himself first specifies the point of time by a phrase sufficiently definite in itself, and supported by all the other Evangelists, we must conclude that when he adds, _at the rising of the sun_, he did not mean to contradict himself, but used this latter phrase in a broader and less definite sense. As the sun is the source of light and of the day, and as his earliest rays produce the contrast between darkness and light, between night and dawn, so the term sunrising might easily come in popular language, by a metonymy of cause for effect, to be put for all that earlier interval, when his rays, still struggling with darkness, do nevertheless usher in the day.

Accordingly, we find such a popular usage prevailing among the Hebrews; and several instances of it occur in the Old Testament. Thus in Judg. 9: 33, the message of Zebul to Abimelech, after directing him to lie in wait with his people in the field during the night, goes on as follows: “and it shall be, in the morning, as soon as the sun is up thou shalt rise early and set upon the city;” yet we cannot for a moment suppose that Abimelech with his ambuscade was to wait until the sun actually appeared above the horizon, before he made his onset. So the Psalmist (104: 22), speaking of the young lions that by night roar after their prey, goes on to say: “The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.” But wild animals do not wait for the actual appearance of the sun ere they shrink away to their lairs; the break of day, the dawning light, is the signal for their retreat. See also Sept. 2 K. 3:22. 2 Sam. 23:4. In all these passages the language is entirely parallel to that of Mark; and they serve fully to illustrate the principle, that the rising of the sun is here used in a popular sense as equivalent to the _rising of the day_ or early dawn.

II. _The Number of the Women._ Matthew mentions Mary Magdalene and the other Mary; v. 1. Mark enumerates Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome; v. 1. Luke has Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and others with them; v. 10. John speaks of Mary Magdalene alone, and says nothing of any other. The first three Evangelists accord then in respect to the two Marys, but no further; while John differs from them all. Is there here a real discrepancy?

We may at once answer, No; because, according to the sound canon of Le Clerc:(312) “_Qui plura narrat, pauciora complectitur; qui pauciora memorat, plura non negat._” Because John, in narrating circumstances with which he was personally connected, sees fit to mention only Mary Magdalene, it does not at all follow that others were not present. Because Matthew, perhaps for like reasons, speaks only of the two Marys, he by no means excludes the presence of others. Indeed, the very words which John puts into the mouth of Mary Magdalene, (v. 2), presupposes the fact, that others had gone with her to the sepulchre. That there was something in respect to Mary Magdalene, which gave her a peculiar prominence in these transactions, may be inferred from the fact, that not only John mentions her alone, but likewise all the other Evangelists name her first, as if holding the most conspicuous place.

The instance here under consideration is parallel to that of the demoniacs of Gadara, and the blind men at Jericho; where, in both cases, Matthew speaks of two persons, while Mark and Luke mention only one.(313) Something peculiar in the station or character of one of the persons, rendered him in each case more prominent, and led the two latter Evangelists to speak of him particularly. But there, as here, their language is not exclusive; nor is there in it anything that contradicts the statements of Matthew.

III. _The Arrival at the Sepulchre._ According to Mark, Luke, and John, the women on reaching the sepulchre found the great stone, with which it had been closed, already rolled away. Matthew, on the other hand, after narrating that the women went out to see the sepulchre, proceeds to mention the earthquake, the descent of the angel, his rolling away the stone and sitting upon it, and the terror of the watch, as if all these things took place in the presence of the women. The angel too (in v. 5) addresses the women, as if still sitting upon the stone he had rolled away.

The apparent discrepancy, if any, here arises simply from Matthew’s brevity in omitting to state in full what his own narrative presupposes. According to v. 6, Christ was already risen; and therefore the earthquake and its accompaniments must have taken place at an earlier point of time, to which the sacred writer returns back in his narration. And although Matthew does not represent the women as entering the sepulchre, yet in v. 8, he speaks of them as going out of it; so that of course their interview with the angel took place, not outside of the sepulchre, but in it, as narrated by the other Evangelists. When therefore the angel says to them in v. 6, “Come, see the place where the Lord lay,” this is not said without the tomb to induce them to enter, as Strauss avers; but within the sepulchre, just as in Mark v. 6.

IV. _The Vision of Angels in the Sepulchre._ Of this John says nothing. Matthew and Mark speak of one angel; Luke of two. Mark says he was sitting; Luke speaks of them as standing. This difference in respect to numbers is parallel to the case of the women, which we have just considered; and requires therefore no further illustration.

There is likewise some diversity in the language addressed to the women by the angels. In Matthew and Mark, the prominent object is the charge to the disciples to depart into Galilee. In Luke this is not referred to; but the women are reminded of our Lord’s own previous declaration, that he would rise again on the third day. Neither of the Evangelists here professes to report _all_ that was said by the angels; and of course there is no room for contradiction.

§ 3. _The return of the Women to the city, and the first appearance of our Lord._

Matt. 28: 7-10. Mark 16: 8. Luke 24: 9-11. John 20: 1, 2.

John, speaking of Mary Magdalene alone, says that having seen that the stone was taken away from the sepulchre, she went in haste (ran) to tell Peter and John. He says nothing of her having seen the angels, nor of her having entered the sepulchre at all. The other Evangelists, speaking of the women generally, relate that they entered the tomb, saw the angels and then returned into the city. On their way Jesus meets them. They recognize him; fall at and embrace his feet; and receive his charge to the disciples.—Was Mary Magdalene now with the other women? Or did she enter the city by another way? Or had she left the sepulchre before the rest?

It is evident that Mary Magdalene was not with the other women when Jesus thus met them. Her language to Peter and John forbids the supposition, that she had already seen the Lord: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.” She therefore must have entered the city by another path and gate; or else have left the sepulchre before the rest; or possibly both these positions may be true. She bore her tidings expressly to Peter and John, who would seem to have lodged by themselves in a different quarter of the city; while the other women went apparently to the rest of the disciples. But this supposition of a different route is essential, only in connection with the view, that she left the tomb with the other women. That, however, she actually departed from the sepulchre before her companions, would seem most probable; inasmuch as she speaks to Peter and John only of the absence of the Lord’s body; says nothing in this connection of a vision of angels; and when, after returning again to the tomb, she sees the angels, it is evidently for the first time; and she repeats to them as the cause of her grief her complaint as to the disappearance of the body; John 20: 12, 13. She may have turned back from the tomb without entering it at all, so soon as she saw that it was open; inferring from the removal of the stone, that the sepulchre had been rifled. Or, she may first have entered with the rest, when, according to Luke, “they found not the body of the Lord Jesus,” and “were much perplexed thereabout,” before the angels became visible to them. The latter supposition seems best to meet the exigencies of the case.

“As the other women went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came, and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said unto them, Be not afraid; go, tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” The women had left the sepulchre “with fear and great joy” after the declaration of the angels that Christ was risen; or, as Mark has it, “they trembled and were amazed.” Jesus meets them with words of gentleness to quiet their terrors; “Be not afraid.” He permits them to approach, and embrace his feet, and testify their joy and homage. He reiterates to them the message of the angels to his “brethren,” the eleven disciples; see v. 16.

This appearance and interview is narrated only by Matthew; none of the other Evangelists give any hint of it. Matthew here stops short. Mark simply relates that the women fled from the tomb; “neither said they anything to any one, for they were afraid.” This of course can only mean, that they spoke of what they had thus seen to no one while on their way to the city; for the very charge of the angels, which they went to fulfil, was, that they should “go their way and tell his disciples;” v. 7. Luke narrates more fully, that “they returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.—And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.” We may perhaps see in this language one reason why the other Evangelists have omitted to mention this appearance of our Lord. The disciples _disbelieved the report of the women_, that they had seen Jesus. In like manner they afterwards disbelieved the report of Mary Magdalene to the same effect; Mark 16: 11. They were ready, it would seem, to admit the testimony of the women to the absence of the body, and to the vision of angels; but not to the resurrection of Jesus and his appearance to them; Luke 24: 21-24. And afterwards, when the eleven had become convinced by the testimony of their own senses, those first two appearances to the women became of less importance and were less regarded. Hence the silence of three Evangelists as to the one; of two as to the other; and of Paul as to both; 1 Cor. 15: 5, 6.

§ 4. _Peter and John visit the Sepulchre. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene._

John 20: 3-18. Luke 24: 12. Mark 16: 9-11.

The full account of these two events is given solely by John. Matthew has not a word of either; Luke merely mentions, in general, that Peter, on the report of the women, went to the sepulchre; while Mark speaks only of our Lord’s appearance to Mary Magdalene, which he seems to represent as his _first_ appearance.

According to John’s account, Peter and the beloved disciple, excited by the tidings of Mary Magdalene that the Lord’s body had been taken away, hasten to the sepulchre. They run; John outruns Peter, comes first to the tomb, and stooping down, sees the grave-clothes lying, but he does not enter. The other women are no longer at the tomb; nor have the disciples met them on the way. Peter now comes up; he enters the the tomb, and sees the grave-clothes lying, and the napkin that was about his head not lying with the rest, but wrapped together in a place by itself. John too now enters the sepulchre; “and he saw and believed.”

What was it that John thus believed? The mere report of Mary Magdalene, that the body had been removed? So much he must have believed when he stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. For this, there was no need that he should enter the tomb. His belief must have been of something more and greater. The grave-clothes lying orderly in their place, and the napkin folded together by itself, made it evident that the sepulchre had not been rifled nor the body stolen by violent hands; for these garments and spices would have been of more value to thieves, than merely a naked corpse; at least, they would not have taken the trouble thus to fold them together. The same circumstances showed also that the body had not been removed by friends; for they would not thus have left the grave-clothes behind. All these considerations produce in the mind of John the germ of a belief that Jesus was risen from the dead. He believed _because_ he saw; “_for_ as yet they knew not the Scripture;” (v. 9). He now began more fully to recall and understand our Lord’s repeated declaration, that he was to rise again on the third day;(314) a declaration on which the Jews had already acted in setting a watch.(315) In this way, the difficulty which is sometimes urged of an apparent want of connection between verses 8 and 9, disappears.

The two disciples went their way, “wondering in themselves at what was come to pass.” Mary Magdalene who had followed them back to the sepulchre, remained before it weeping. While she thus wept, she too, like John, stooped down and looked in, “and seeth two angels, in white, sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.” To their inquiry why she wept, her reply was the same report which she had before borne to the two disciples: “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him,” v. 13. Of the angels we learn nothing further. The whole character of this representation seems to show clearly, that Mary had not before seen the angels; and also that she had not before been told, that Jesus was risen. We must otherwise regard her as having been in a most unaccountably obtuse and unbelieving frame of mind; the very contrary of which seems to have been the fact. If also she had before informed the two disciples of a vision of angels and of Christ’s resurrection, it is difficult to see, why John should omit to mention this circumstance, so important and so personal to himself.

After replying to the angels, Mary turns herself about, and sees a person standing near, whom, from his being present there, she takes to be the keeper of the garden. He too inquires, why she weeps. Her reply is the same as before; except that she, not unnaturally, supposes him to have been engaged in removing the body, which she desires to recover. He simply utters in reply, in well-known tones, the name Mary! and the whole truth flashes upon her soul; doubt is dispelled, and faith triumphs. She exclaims: “Rabboni!” as much as to say, “My dearest Master!” and apparently, like the other women,(316) falls at his feet in order to embrace and worship him. This Jesus forbids her to do, in these remarkable words: “Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God;” v. 17.

There remains to be considered the circumstance, that Mark, in v. 9, seems to represent this appearance of Jesus at the sepulchre to Mary Magdalene, as his first appearance: “Now, being risen early the first of the week, he appeared _first_ to Mary Magdalene.” In attempting to harmonize this with Matthew’s account of our Lord’s appearance to the other women on their return from the sepulchre, several methods have been adopted; but the most to the purpose is the view which regards the word _first_, in Mark v. 9, as put not absolutely, but relatively. That is to say, Mark narrates three, and only three, appearances of our Lord; _of these three_, that to Mary Magdalene takes place _first_, and that to the assembled disciples the same evening occurs _last_, v. 14. A similar example occurs in 1 Cor. 15: 5-8, where Paul enumerates those to whom the Lord showed himself after his resurrection, viz. to Peter, to the twelve, to five hundred brethren, to James, to all the apostles, and _last of all_ to Paul also. Now had Paul written here, as with strict propriety he might have done, “he was seen _first_ of Cephas,” assuredly no one would ever have understood him as intending to assert that the appearance to Peter was the first absolutely; that is, as implying that Jesus was seen of Peter before he appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other women. In like manner when John declares (21: 14) that Jesus showed himself to his disciples by the lake of Galilee for the _third_ time after he was risen from the dead; this is said relatively to the two previous appearances to the assembled apostles; and does by no means exclude the four still earlier appearances, viz. to Peter, to the two at Emmaus, to Mary Magdalene, and to the other women,—one of which John himself relates in full.

In this way the old difficulty in the case before us disappears; and the complex and cumbrous machinery of earlier commentators becomes superfluous.

After her interview with Jesus, Mary Magdalene returns to the city, and tells the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things unto her. According to Mark (vs. 10, 11), the disciples were “mourning and weeping;” and when the heard that Jesus was alive and had been seen of her, they believed not.

§ 5. _Jesus appears to two disciples on the way to Emmaus. Also to Peter._

Luke 24: 13-35. Mark 16: 12, 13. 1 Cor. 15: 5.

This appearance on the way to Emmaus is related in full only by Luke. Mark merely notes the fact; while the other two Evangelists and Paul (1 Cor. 15: 5) make no mention of it.

On the afternoon of the same day on which our Lord arose, two of his disciples, one of them named Cleopas, were on their way on foot to a village called Emmaus, sixty stadia or seven and a half Roman miles distant from Jerusalem,—a walk of some two or two and a half hours. They had heard and credited the tidings brought by the women, and also by Peter and John, that the sepulchre was open and empty; and that the women had also seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive. They had most probably likewise heard the reports of Mary Magdalene and the other women, that Jesus himself had appeared to them; but these they did not regard, and do not mention them (v. 24); because they, like the other disciples, had looked upon them “as idle tales, and they believed them not;” v. 11. As they went, they were sad, and talked together of all these things which had happened. After some time Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But they knew him not. Mark says he was in another form; Luke affirms that “their eyes were holden, that they should not know him;” v. 16. Was there in this anything miraculous? The “another form” of Mark, Doddridge explains by “a different habit from what he ordinarily wore.” His garments, of course, were not his former ones; and this was probably one reason why Mary Magdalene had before taken him for the keeper of the garden.(317) It may be, too, that these two disciples had not been intimately acquainted with the Lord. He had arrived at Jerusalem only six days before his crucifixion; and these might possibly have been recent converts, who had not before seen him. To such, the change of garments, and the unexpectedness of the meeting, would render a recognition more difficult; nor could it be regarded as surprising, that under such circumstances they should not know him. Still, all this is hypothesis; and the averment of Luke, that “their eyes were holden,” and the manner of our Lord’s parting from them afterwards, seem more naturally to imply that the idea of a supernatural agency, affecting not Jesus himself, but the eyes or minds of the two disciples, was in the mind of the sacred writer.

Jesus inquires the cause of their sadness; chides them for their slowness of heart to believe what the prophets had spoken; and then proceeds to expound unto them “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” They feel the power of his words; and their hearts burn within them. By this time they drew nigh to the village whither they went; it was toward evening, and the day was far spent. Their journey was ended; and Jesus was about to depart from them. In accordance with oriental hospitality they constrained him to remain with them. He consents; and as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed and brake, and gave unto them. At this time, and in connection with this act, their eyes were opened; they knew him; and he vanished away from them. Here too the question is raised, whether the language necessarily implies anything miraculous? Our English translators have rendered this passage in the margin, “he ceased to be seen of them;” and have referred to Luke 4: 30, and John 8: 59, as illustrating this idea. They might also have referred to Acts 8: 39. Still, the language is doubtless such as the sacred writers would most naturally have employed in order directly to express the idea of supernatural agency.

Full of wonder and joy, the two disciples set off the same hour and return to Jerusalem. They find the eleven and other disciples assembled; and as they enter, they are met with the joyful exclamation: “The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared unto Simon;” v. 34. They then rehearse what had happened to themselves; but, according to Mark, the rest believed them not. As in the case of the women, so here, there would seem to have been something in the position or character of these two disciples, which led the others to give less credit to their testimony, than to that of Peter, one of the leading apostles.

This appearance to Peter is mentioned by no other Evangelist; and we know nothing of the particular time, nor of the attending circumstances. It would seem to have taken place either not long before, or else shortly after, that to the two disciples. It had not happened when they left Jerusalem for Emmaus; or, at least, they had not heard of it. It had occurred when they returned; and that long enough before to have been fully reported to all the disciples and believed by them. It may perhaps have happened about the time when the two disciples set off, or shortly afterwards.

Paul, in enumerating those by whom the Lord was seen after his resurrection (1 Cor. 15: 5), mentions Peter first; passing over the appearances to the women, and also that to the two disciples; probably because they did not belong among the apostles.

§ 6. _Jesus appears to the Apostles in the absence of Thomas; and afterwards when Thomas is present._

Mark 16: 14-18. Luke 24: 36-48. John 20: 19-29. 1 Cor. 15: 5.

The narrative of our Lord’s first appearance to the apostles is most fully given by Luke: John adds a few circumstances; and Mark, as well as Luke, has preserved the first charge thus privately given to the apostles, to preach the Gospel in all the world,—a charge afterwards repeated in a more public and solemn manner on the mountain in Galilee. When Paul says the Lord appeared to _the twelve_, he obviously employs this number as being the usual designation of the apostles; and very probably includes both the occasion narrated in this section. Mark and Luke speak in like manner of _the eleven_; and yet we know from John, that Thomas was not at first among them; so that of course only _ten_ were actually present.