HARMONY OF THE RESURRECTION ACCOUNTS
JACK COTTRELL
My effort to harmonize these accounts assumes that the people who are described as being at the tomb and encountering Jesus there did not all leave together from their homes or arrive together at the tomb. I suggest the following possible schedule of events. (Originally there were drawings with #1-8.)
1. After midnight, early hours of the morning, before dawn. Two or more groups of women begin to make their way toward the tomb to complete the burial, with one group including Mary Magdalene, who proceeds more quickly than the others and continues on her own. Luke 24:1 can be one group; Mark 16:1 can be another. See Matt. 28:1 also.
2. Before dawn. The resurrection occurs, with the earthquake and rolling away of the stone. Matt. 28:2-4.
3. Early dawn. The Lukan group arrives, perhaps having just a short way to travel. They arrive at the tomb, and are confronted by the angels, and are told to tell the apostles. They leave. Luke 24:2-8.
4. Just dawning; still a bit dark. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb, sees the stone removed, and runs to tell the apostles. She catches up with the Lukan group and joins them. They all go together to report to the apostles. John 20:1-2; Luke 24:9-11.
5. Daylight. After the women report to the apostles, three persons run back toward the tomb: Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John. Peter and John arrive first, see nothing, and leave. Luke 24:12; John 20:3-10.
6. Early morning, around 7 a.m. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb for her second time, sees the angels, and weeps. Then Jesus appears to her. Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18.
7. A bit later, around 7:30 a.m. The second group of women (who left in the early hours with Mary Magdalene but were delayed) finally arrive at the tomb. An angel reports to them, and they leave. Mark 16:2-8; Matt. 28:5-8.
8. About 7:45 a.m. Jesus appears to this second group of women. Matt. 28:9-10.
9. About 8 a.m. The Roman guard reports. Matt. 28:11-15.
10. Late morning. Jesus appears to Peter. Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5.
11. Late afternoon. Jesus appears to two men on the road to Emmaus. Mark 16:12-13; Luke 24:13-35.
12. Evening. Jesus appears to all the apostles and others. Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25.
This is great! Timelines fascinate me.
See Tabi’s translation of this into Spanish at preguntasteologicas.com .
Brother Cottrell,
I have been reading your book, “Set Free” and I just want to say thank you for such a wonderful work. I do have some questions I would like to ask for clarification. Could you please e-mail me? I have included my e-mail in the private section.
Dr. Cottrell,
What is the evidence that the two on the road to Emmaus were men? I’ve become rather partial to the notion that they were “Mr. & Mrs. Cleopas” and that they invited Jesus in with them when they arrived home. Could this be possible?
I don’t see anything in the text that would rule this out, but there is nothing to point us in that direction either. The one thing that might be a hint is in Luke 24:25. Here the NASB translates Jesus’s words to these two disciples as “O foolish men . . . .” However, the Greek text does not use a word for “men.” But it does use an adjective meaning “foolish” (“anoetos”), and the adjective has the MASCULINE PLURAL ending. This is why the NASB indicates they are men. I don’t believe that is conclusive, though.
Correction: “appearances” plural.
It was not his purpose to compile a complete list of all the appearance, but simply to mention enough that we would know his resurrection was a well-established fact. Note he does not mention the two on the road to Emmaus either; nor does he mention John specifically. We must be careful not to create a problem where there is none.
Brother Jack ,
In Paul’s list of those seen in 1 Cor.15:5 why were the women not listed?
Thanks, Dave