Matthew 28 versus John 20

[John81]

If you need to, read a harmony of the Gospels. Taken together, there is no contradiction. When you set out to find problems or errors, you will always find something you think you can argue about. Stop straining at gnats and deal with the fundamentals first.

[Pastorj]

This thread has bothered me since I first read it and tonight the Lord gave me the answer

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
Mat 28:2 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.
Mat 28:3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
Mat 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
Mat 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Mat 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mat 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
Mat 28:8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Mat 28:9 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.
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
Joh 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the 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.
Joh 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
Joh 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.


The chronology of the these two passages is the piece that makes it clear

Matt. 28: verses 1-8 and John 20:1 are parrallel passages
John 20:2-3 come next when she meets Peter and John as she is heading to tell the disciples. At this point she has only talked to the Angel.

Matt 28:9-10 follow and they meet Jesus and now know where he is.

When they talked to Peter and John and told them they didn't know where Jesus was laid it was because Mary and the other Women hadn't talked to Jesus yet.

Hope that helps.

[rstrats]

Pastorj,

re: “Matt. 28: verses 1-8 and John 20:1 are parrallel passages John 20:2-3 come next when she meets Peter and John as she is heading to tell the disciples. At this point she has only talked to the Angel.”


What do you suppose she was joyful about in verse 8?

[Pastorj]

They were rejoicing over what they angel had told them.

[Pastorj]

If you read the Birth of Christ. Mary, the mother of Jesus had a similar response. She rejoiced but didn't fully understand the Angel. I believe this is why Jesus made a physical appearance to make sure the women fully understood.

[rstrats]

Pastorj,

re: “They were rejoicing over what they angel had told them.”


So why do you suppose she told Peter in John 20:2 that someone had taken the Messiah’s body away from the tomb and that she didn’t know where they had taken Him?

[Pastorj]

Because the angel didn't say where Jesus was and Jesus hadn't shown himself to the women.

[rstrats]

Pastorj,

re: “Because the angel didn't say where Jesus was and Jesus hadn't shown himself to the women.”


Now you’re just messin’ with me.

[Pastorj]

How am I messin with you.

Chronology
Women go to tomb and meet Angel.
Angel says that Jesus is not here and to go tell the disciples
On the way, they meet Peter and John and tell them that they don't know where Jesus is
They meet Jesus
They tell the rest of the disciples what Jesus told them.

[John81]

How am I messin with you.

Chronology
Women go to tomb and meet Angel.
Angel says that Jesus is not here and to go tell the disciples
On the way, they meet Peter and John and tell them that they don't know where Jesus is
They meet Jesus
They tell the rest of the disciples what Jesus told them.

Indeed, the Gospels are in harmony.

[rstrats]

Pastorj,

re: “On the way, they meet Peter and John and tell them that they don't know where Jesus is”


But Mary M. was joyful because she had just been told that the Messiah was alive and that he would see them in Galilee.

Also, under your explanation, why do you suppose Peter went to the tomb a second time?

[Pastorj]

Peter wouldn't have gone to the tomb a 2nd time. Peter would have gone to the tomb once, after the women told them that Jesus was alive.

We aren't told much about what the women were thinking, but here is my best conjecture.
The women were told that he was not in the tomb and that he was alive.
The women didn't fully understand what the angel was saying, but rejoiced because the angel had given them good news
They see Peter and John and tell them that they don't know where the body is and what the angel told them.
Peter and John run to the tomb and the ladies continue to go and tell the other disciples.
The women meet Jesus and now know where he is and fully understand now what the Angel was telling them.
They arrive where the other disciples are and tell them.

I can't say this any other way, so hopefully this clears it up for you.

[HappyChristian]

This is an interesting thread. Thanks, PastorJ, for clarifying some things - things that I never really even thought about, but have quite a bit in the last couple of days! rstrats - thanks for starting the thread, too! I love to see how things dovetail.

[rstrats]

Pastorj,

re: "Peter wouldn't have gone to the tomb a 2nd time."
　
John 20:2 has Mary M. telling Peter that "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid Him." Mary does not say that the Messiah is alive. Her use of "we do not know where they have laid Him" implies that she considers Him to still be dead. Then John 20:3-4 has Peter going to the tomb. He sees for himself that the Messiah is not there and then returns home.
　
However, Luke 24:9-10 has Mary M. telling Peter that she had been told by two men that the Messiah has been resurrected. And she apparently believed that He was indeed alive since Matthew 28:8 says that she left with "great joy". Then Luke 24:12 says that Peter gets up and goes to the tomb. This would have to be the second time.

Edited July 22, 2011 by rstrats

[rstrats]

Pastorj,

re: "...but rejoiced because the angel had given them good news"
　
What good news caused Mary M. to be joyful?