Do the Resurrection Accounts Conflict?
Suppose we have a general knowledge that there is going to be funeral tomorrow morning at our church. Several groups of people will potentially be involved. Communication between these groups is primitive to nonexistent. Our church members live in various locations and are coming from different directions and at different times.
The first people arrive at the church and are unable to get into the church because for some unknown reason the key will not work in the door lock. After a certain amount of discussion and attempts at using other keys, the decision is made to leave and go get some different keys from another church member. In the meantime another group shows up and are wondering where everybody is. They expect the church to be open and decide to leave and try to contact others who might know what is going on. The first group arrives at the home of some people who did not plan to attend the funeral but decide to rush down to the church to see if they can get the door open. The original group follows behind them, but are slower and cannot keep up. The non-attending bunch get to the church, cannot get the door open and decide to go find a locksmith to get the lock open.
The group that showed up expecting to find the church already open and who went seeking info, run across the folks who now have a locksmith with them and they all return to the church just as the slow group also show up. The church get opened up, everybody is at the church and the funeral proceeds.
Now if each group were to give their own version of the incident, can you see how if all the individual stories were contrasted, it might seem like we had contradictory untruthful stories. Each group has no idea what the others were doing and it would take a certain amount of investigation and reconstruction to make sense out of the different version.
Let us look at one possible scenario which might harmonize what might appear to be conflicting resurrection accounts.
Very early on Sunday morning the resurrection took place, the earthquake followed, the angel descended and rolled away the stone (Matthew 28:2-4) and the guard fled (Matthew 28:11)
Matthew 28:2-4 (NASB) 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
Matthew 28:11 (NASB) 11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
A little later Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome hastened to the sepulcher while another group of women follow with the spices. Mary Magdalene reaches the sepulcher first, sees that that it is empty and immediately goes to inform Peter and John.
John 20:1 (NASB) 1 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.
The other Mary and Salome approaches and see the angel (Matthew 28:5). Thereafter the other women with Joanna among them come along, they see the two angels and receive the message that Jesus has risen (Luke 24:1)
Matthew 28:5 (NASB) 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
Luke 24:1 (NASB) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
In the meantime Mary Magdalene reaches Peter and John, and they hasten to the sepulcher (John 20). Mary Magdalene also follows them again and arrives at the sepulcher after the others have departed.
John 20:2-10 (NASB) 2 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.”3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;5 and stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.6 And so Simon Peter also *came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he *saw the linen wrappings lying there.
(She weeps at the sepulcher (John 20:2) and sees the two angels, who ask her why see is weeping. After this she sees Jesus herself who she mistakes for the gardener.) (John 20:14),
7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
John 20:14 (NASB) 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
In the meantime the other women had gone to the other disciples (which do not include Peter and John) disciples and told them their experiences, but their words are regarded as idle tales, until Peter and John confirm them.
When the women were afterwards probably again on their way to the sepulcher, Jesus meets them (Matthew 28:9)
Matthew 28:9 (NASB) 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
Later in the day the savior appears to Peter alone (Luke 24:34) and 1 Cor. 15:5). Toward evening he appears to the men on the road to Emmaus, and a little later to the whole group of disciples, with the exception of Thomas. (Luke 24:36-43), (John 20:19-24)
Luke 24:34 (NASB) 34 saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.”
1 Corinthians 15:5 (NASB) 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Luke 24:35-43 (NASB) 35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. 36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?39 ”See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish;43 and He took it and ate it before them.
John 20:19-24 (NASB) 19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be with you.”20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.23 ”If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
A week later he again appeared to the disciples, including Thomas, who was convinced of the certainty of the resurrection (John 21:1-23)
John 21:1-23 (NASB) After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.3 Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing.4 But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.5 So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.”6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was strippedfor work), and threw himself into the sea.8 But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.10 Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”11 Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.12 Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.13 Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise.14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.”16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.18 ”Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.“19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He *said to him, “Follow Me!”20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, “Lord, and what about this man?”22 Jesus *said to him, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!”23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, “If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?”
And during the 40 days before his ascension the Lord also appeared in Galilee to the seven disciples at the Sea. Obviously the Galilean disciples, especially after Jesus’ command that they should go there, left Jerusalem after a few weeks for Galilee.
He also appeared to the 500 hundred of His followers in Galilee (as a result of the command of mark 16:7 they would probably, after the reports concerning Jesus’ resurrection had been brought to them, have assembled spontaneously in expectation of His appearance). When Paul wrote 1 Cor. 15:6, most of the 500 were still living witnesses of the fact of the resurrection.
Mark 16:7 (NASB) 7 ”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.’”
1 Corinthians 15:6 (NASB) 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
From Acts 1:3-4 and from the whole history from the commencement of Christianity, it appears that during the 40 days before His ascension Jesus often appeared to His followers and spoke to them about many things in order to prepare them as builders of His church.
Acts 1:1-3 (NASB) 1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach,2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Toward the end of the 40 days he commanded them to go to Jerusalem and to remain there until the promise of the Holy Spirit.
After their return to Judaea the Savior also appeared to James (1 Cor:15:7) and to the apostles. After His ascension he appeared to Paul near Damascus (Acts 9:3-6), and again in the temple (Acts 22:17-22)
1 Corinthians 15:7 (NASB) 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
Acts 9:3-6 (NASB) 3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.”
Acts 22:17-22 (NASB) 17 ”It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, 18 and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me.’19 ”And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves understand that in one synagogue after another I used to imprison and beat those who believed in You.20 ~’And when the blood of Your witness Stephen was being shed, I also was standing by approving, and watching out for the coats of those who were slaying him.’21 ”And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’”22 They listened to him up to this statement, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he should not be allowed to live!”
Also Stephen, the first martyr, saw Jesus after His resurrection (Acts 7:55).
Last of all Jesus appeared to John, the gray haired exile on the isle of Patmos (Rev. 1:10-19)
Acts 7:55 (NASB) 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;
Revelation 1:9-19 (NASB) 9 I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.19 ”Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
Do the Resurrection Accounts Conflict and what Proof is there that Jesus Rose from the Dead. John Ankerberg and Dr. John Weldon ,pages 87-88
“Fair Use “ Notice – Title 17 U.S.C. section 107
The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, social justice, for the purpose of historical debate, and to advance the understanding of Christian conservative issues. It is believed that this constitutes a ”fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the Copyright Law. In accordance with the title 17 U.S. C. section 107, the material in this post is shown without profit to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to make civil comment. Divergent views encouraged,