A Synthesis of The Easter Accounts by Darren Middleton
By Darren R Middleton: Teaching Elder, Caringbah Presbyterian Church, NSW, Australia.
Webmaster of www.pressiechurch.org Australian Home of Covenant Theology
A. The Women Of Galilee
1. Mary M, Mary J, Salome, are specifically mentioned with a reference to other women also (Mk 15:41)
2. Mk mentions these women of Galilee witnessed the crucifixion also (Mk 15:40)
3. In addition to specific names of the Galilean women, Luke adds Joanna (Lk 24:10)
4. These women (perhaps a dozen or so) had followed him & cared for him in Galilee & had come up with him to Jerusalem. (Mk 15:41)
B. The Burial Of Jesus The Christ
1. Joseph A boldly asked Pilate for his body (after Pilate had confirmed his death) which was granted (Mk 15:43-45)
2. John adds that Nicodemus accompanied him to collect Jesus body [although he was doing so in secret] (Jn 19:39a)
3. Nicodemus purchased about 75lbs (34 kilos) of myrrh & aloes (Jn 19:39b)
4. Joseph A purchased the linen cloth (Mk 15:46)
5. John informs us that the two men wrapped his body with the strips of linen & spices as was the custom (Jn 19:40) [though the other accounts seem to give priority to Joseph A as the instigator/leader – Matt 27:59; Mk 15:46; Lk 23:53]
6. John alludes to their haste because it was preparation day and the tomb was near by [time was an issue] (Jn 19:42)
7. Luke also notes time was an issue since the Sabbath was about to begin (Lk 23:54)
C. The Women of Galilee Witnessed The Burial
1. Mark tells us that Mary M, Mary J, saw where he was laid (Mk 15:47)
2. Matt adds to that they were sitting opposite the tomb (Matt 27:61)
3. Luke adds that the women of Galilee (many if not all of them) that followed Joseph A saw the tomb and how the body was laid in it (Lk 23:55)
4. Consequently, they (women of Galilee) went home and prepared spices & perfumes (Lk 23:56) [it seems obvious that Joseph A & Nicodemus had not been able to finish before the Sabbath commenced nor perhaps had enough spices or oils]
5. Mary M, Mary J and Salome purchased spices (probably oils) to anoint his body between Sat after 6pm & Sun prior to 6am (Mk 16:1) [Since there were many women, it appears that some had already prepared spices before the Sabbath began, whereas, the three mentioned in Mk purchased some either Sat night or very early Sat morn]
D. The Guard On The Tomb, The Earthquake And The Resurrection.
1. Unknown to the Disciples or the women of Galilee a guard & seal was placed on the tomb on the Fri night as a safeguard against the disciples stealing the body (Matt 27:62-66)
2. After an earthquake, the resurrection & the Angelic appearance who rolled away the stone (not to let Jesus out but that others might see in) Matt tells us the guard fled & reported everything to the chief priest (Matt 28:11)
E. The Women Of Galilee at the Tomb With The Spices
1. John tells us that Mary M left at dark for the tomb (Jn 20:1) [It is implicit that others were with her because Jn 20:2b she reports the missing body in the plural “..We don’t know they have put him”]
2. Mark says that Mary M, Mary J and Salome brought spices to anoint his body (Mk 16:1)
3. Matt names Mary M and Mary J as going to look at the tomb (Matt 28:1) [That they had spices with them is not mentioned by Matt but assumed; see C5]
4. Luke only mentions the women (no specific names) took spices they had prepared & went to the tomb (24:1) [see C5]
*A knowledge of Jewish burial practice is helpful here, since once placed in the tomb, the family were not supposed to go inside it again for 12 months. After this time (the 12 months) they would then collect the bones & place them in a box in the tomb. The preparation of the body used many spices (dry) which were packed with the linen, this also helped with the stench. Oils were used to anoint their heads, since the face and neck were not covered at all. That the women returned Sunday morning is best explained by the incomplete and rushed nature of Joseph A & Nicodemeus efforts. The need for further spices would have been to address the stench after a few days in the tomb & the oils/perfumes were for the anointing of the head, in accordance with Jewish custom.
F. The Women Of Galilee And What They Saw.
1. Mark tells us that on their way to the tomb they were concerned about who would move the stone since they did not know about the tomb guard (16:3)[see D1,2]
2. John gives particular details only about one of the women, namely Mary M. He informs us that she did not go into the tomb, but on seeing the stone rolled away returned running to Peter & John (John 20:2) [the other women obviously investigated the empty tomb while Mary had already run off to inform the disciples]
3. Mark notes that the women entered the tomb and saw a young man in white (Mk 16:5) [he does not mention Mary running off, but then he doesn’t mention any specifics concerning individual women once they had set off]
4. Luke only speaks in general terms (he doesn’t mention individual women) and states that they found the stone rolled away, they entered and did not find his body (24:2-3)
5. Mark mentions only one angel who was sitting on the right side who spoke to (presumably) Mary J & Salome (Mk 16:5)
6. Matt also mentions only one Angel who spoke to (presumably) Mary J (Matt 28:5)
7. Luke states that two Angels appear before the women whilst they were wondering about Jesus missing body in the tomb (Lk 24:4) [It would seem that Mary M Mary J and Salome were ahead of the other women, Mary M immediately upon seeing the stone removed run to tell Peter and John, Mary J & Salome apparently went inside & one of the Angels spoke to them, and the other group of women of Galilee went in afterwards as Luke records and they are spoken to by two Angels.]
8. John also mentions that Peter & John run to the tomb in response to Mary M’s report (Jn 20:3-9)
9. Luke also records Peter running to the tomb but makes no mention of John specifically, but he is probably referred to when Luke says “Then some of our companions went to the tomb..” (Lk 24:12; 24:24a)
10. Mary M gets there later and as the disciples return to their lodgings, weeping she looks in the tomb where she too sees two Angels (Jn 20:11-12)
11. Mary then turns to be met by the Risen Lord (Jn 20:14-17)
12. Mary return to the Disciples to inform them she has seen the risen Lord (Jn 20:18)
G. The Angelic Instructions
1. Go to Galilee & you will see him there (Matt 28:7; Mk 16:7)
[Luke neglects to mention the Galilee appearances & is only concerned with Jerusalem, the many appearances to the disciples that Luke records in Acts over the 40 days before his ascension he does not bother to list in his Gospel, but must have happened between his initial appearances in Jerusalem and his final appearance in Jerusalem that begin at Lk 24:44]
H. The Resurrection Appearances
1. Mary saw him first on that first Sunday (Jn 20:18)
2. Jesus appeared to the women (Mary J and the others not Mary M see F2) on their return to Jerusalem to see the disciples (Matt 28:9)
3. He appears to two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus - 11 Klms from Jerusalem (Lk 24:13)
4. He appears to Peter (Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5a)
5. Then the disciples and the two from the road to Emmaus on that Sun night (Jn 20:19; LK 24:36; 1 Cor 15:5b)
5. A week later he appears to Thomas (Jn 20:26; 1 Cor 15:5)
6. He appears to them again in Galilee (Matt 28:16; Jn 21:1)
7. He appears to five hundred brothers then James (1 Cor 15:6) [There is no certainty when this happened but perhaps in Galilee in Matt 28:16]
8. Luke testifies that Jesus he appeared to them over forty days and on one occasion , while eating with them he told them not to leave Jerusalem until the Spirit was poured out (Acts 1:3-4) [Clearly the Apostles left Jerusalem after the resurrection since most lived in Galilee, furthermore, many of the appearances are shown to have occurred there. Luke records Jesus words that they are to stay in Jerusalem (Lk 23:44), so at some stage during the forty days they must have returned (Luke makes no mention of the Galilee appearances which occur between 24:43 and 24:44), perhaps in preparation for Pentecost (?). Consequently, Luke records this imperative to remain & then ascends]