I’m sure that many of you have heard how there are some Atheists out there that tell Christians that they can disprove that Jesus Is the Son of God, because they say that the Bible is full of lies and inconsistencies, but is that really true?
I will do extensive research and analysis of the main passages related to Jesus’ empty tomb and who first saw that it was empty.
I will use the New King James Version [NKJV] of the Bible and internet resources, as needed. There are times that both he and him are used within the same Bible verse, so I will put within brackets who is speaking and who is being spoken to if I feel it may not be clear by the context. Additionally, I will put my analysis, evaluations, comments, and opinions within brackets and will try to let you know when I am sharing this information.
If you would like to read this research project further, you can go to either of these two blogs I felt led to create to post my research analysis and results: Biblical Proof! at https://BiblicalProof.blogspot.com or Do Biblical Inconsistencies Really Matter? at https://Biblicalinconsistencies.blogspot.com/
I will first include the related passages in their entirety and will then pull similar portions of them to together to further analyze them for inconsistencies and to determine whether they are even significant.
Matthew 28:1-10 says: Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they [women] went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Mark 16:1-11 says: Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. “But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Now when He [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Luke 24:1-11 says: Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ “And they remembered His [Jesus’] words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.
John 20:1-18 says: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved [John, this is the way he refers to himself], and said to them, they have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple [John], and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple [John] outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he [John], stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him [John], and went into the tomb; and he [Simon Peter] saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His [Jesus’] head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple [John], who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he [John] saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He [Jesus] must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples [Simon Peter and John] went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then 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.” Now 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?” She supposing Him [Jesus] to be the gardener, 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,”Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
[Who first saw that Jesus’ tomb was opened when they came on Sunday, the third day after His crucifixion?]
Matthew 28:1-6 says: Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:1-6 says: Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away-for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Luke 24:1-8 says: Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they [the angels] said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ “And they remembered His [Jesus’] words.
John 20:1 says: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
[The Gospel of Matthew says after the Sabbath (Sunday) that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had come to see the tomb. It goes on to say that there was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord whose countenance was like lightning and had clothing as white as snow came down from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. Additionally, it says that the guards were afraid and shaking for fear of him [the angel]. The Gospel of Mark says that when the Sabbath was past (Sunday) Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, that they might come and anoint Him [Jesus]. They were wondering on the way to the tomb who would roll the stone from the door of the tomb for them, but when they got there they realized that the large stone had already been rolled away. In Luke it says the first day of the week (Sunday), they and certain other women with them came to the tomb bringing spices they had prepared and found the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. The Gospel of John says that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early on the first day of the week (Sunday) and saw the stone had been taken away from the tomb.]
[All four Gospels are consistent that the large stone of Jesus’ tomb had been rolled away early on Sunday morning. They are inconsistent about which women went to the tomb with spices. Matthew says it was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Mark says Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, but Luke only says certain other women, while John says only Mary Magdalene. Are these inconsistencies significant?]
[Does it really matter if the first person or persons to the tomb happened to be Mary by herself, or if she was with one other woman or several others? Not really! This doesn’t change that one or more women went to the tomb early on Sunday, the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion and the stone was rolled away and Jesus wasn’t in the tomb!]
[Does it matter that the Gospel of Matthew said that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there while there was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord whose countenance was like lightning with clothing as white as snow came down from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it, but the other Gospels don’t mention the earthquake and say that the stone was already removed from the tomb door by the time they got there? Whether they were there when the large stone was removed from Jesus’ tomb or came after it had been removed, isn’t really relevant to whether the stone was removed from the tomb, which it was.]
[Although there are minor inconsistencies in wording, it basically says the same thing. You will find out if you watch this brief video by J. Warner Wallace, a L.A. Cold-Case Detective, who tells that witnesses rarely report things exactly the same way. Were the Gospels Written by Eye Witnesses? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siOcvLyKuEk (3 minutes 27 seconds) In my opinion, this video is really worth watching, because it clarifies so many things about the inconsistencies in the Gospel recordings, but proves that they are reliable witnesses.]
[What happened when they went to tell the disciples that Jesus has arisen from the grave on the third day like He said He would?]
Matthew 28:8-10 says: So they [women] went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Mark 16:8-10 says: So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Now when He [Jesus] rose early on the first day of the week, He [Jesus] appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Luke 24:9-10 says: Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
John 20:14-18 says: Now 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?” She supposing Him [Jesus] to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.
[These basically say the same thing, except some of the passages include more people, as additional information. The most significant part is that both the Gospels of Matthew and John say that Jesus made Himself known to the woman/women who were going to tell the disciples that He [Jesus] had arisen on the third day, as He said He would, and Jesus would see them in Galilee. Is it significant that the Gospels of Mark and Luke don’t say this? As you heard in the J. Warner Wallace video, sometimes witnesses don’t report things exactly the same, but are still valid witnesses.]
[What happened when the disciples were told by the women that Jesus had arisen from the grave on the third day?]
Matthew 28:9-12 says: And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Now while they [women] were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. [Verses 28:13-16 talks about the guard, but verse 17 goes on to say:] Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.
Mark 16:10-11 says: She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
Luke 24:9-12 says: Then they [women] returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
John 20:1-10 says: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved [John, this is the way he refers to himself], and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple [John], and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple [John] outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he [John], stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him [John], and went into the tomb; and he [Simon Peter] saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His [Jesus’] head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple [John], who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he [John] saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He [Jesus] must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples [Simon Peter and John] went away again to their own homes.
John 20:18 further says: Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He [Jesus] had spoken these things to her.
[The Gospel of Matthew doesn’t say how the disciples reacted, while the Gospels of Mark and Luke say that the disciples didn’t believe it when they were told the woman/women saw Jesus. The Gospel of John tells of the two times that Mary went to the tomb. The first time, in John 20:2, she told Simon Peter and John who ran to the tomb. John 20:3-8 goes on to say: Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple [John], and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple [John] outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he [John], stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him [John], and went into the tomb; and he [Simon Peter] saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His [Jesus’] head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple [John], who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he [John] saw and believed. [In that, this portion says that John saw and believed, implies that he had been doubtful before seeing the proof of the empty tomb and the linen cloths and handkerchief being folded together and set in place by itself.]
[The passage in John above is when Mary first told Peter and John that the tomb was empty. It was later when Mary was weeping in John 20:13-18 , when Jesus told her to tell the disciples that He would see them in Galilee. It doesn’t say what their response was when she told them. Does that mean that all the disciples believed the report that Jesus had arisen, since the Gospels of Matthew and John didn’t say otherwise? No, it’s more evident further on that the disciples didn’t believe when they were initially told this. I think that relates to John 20:9 which says: For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He [Jesus] must rise again from the dead.]
[So, the disciples were doubtful that Jesus had arisen when they first heard about the empty tomb from the woman/women. What caused them to actually believe that Jesus had arisen from the grave on the third day?]
Matthew 28:11-16 says: Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him [Jesus], they worshipped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Mark 16:14-18 says: Later He [Jesus] appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
When Cleopas and Simon talked to the disciples about meeting Jesus on the way to Emmaus, Luke 24:33-49 says: So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He [Jesus] said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? “Behold My hands and My feet that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He [Jesus] had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him [Jesus] a piece of broiled fish and some honey comb, And He took it and ate in their presence. Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” And He [Jesus] opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, “and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “And you are witnesses of these things. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with the power from on high.”
John 20:19-23 says: Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He [Jesus] showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He [Jesus] had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
[They didn’t believe the witness of others, even disciples they trusted, but when they saw Jesus Christ our risen Lord and Savior alive, they finally believed that He had arisen from the grave on the third day. Here’s additional proof.]
[Jesus appeared to His disciples again eight days after Easter.] John 20:24-31 says: Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he [Thomas] said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, ``My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
[Jesus appeared to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias before He ascended into heaven.] John 21:1-14 says: After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He [Jesus] showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” And He [Jesus] said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved [John] said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”- knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
[In my opinion, an interesting point is related to all the times that Jesus foretold of His betrayal, death and resurrection on the third day, but the disciples didn’t understand it. It didn’t make sense to them, so when it does happen they don’t even connect it to what Jesus had told them beforehand, thus they don’t believe it, at first, when it happens.]
The important thing to remember is when Jesus says in John 3:16-21: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him [Jesus] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
[My advice is to focus on Jesus Christ our Lord, the Light of the World!]
