Easter Time Again

[Michael]

Paul says in Romans (1:4) that the resurrection “proves” Jesus was the Son of God, and in 1 Corinthians (15:13-17) the Christians are told: “if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain,” so the resurrection is pretty important. If ever the gospellers were going to get the details just right, it would be in the stories of the resurrection - so let's see how they fared:


When did the women visit the tomb?
Mark: At the rising of the sun.
John: When it was yet dark.

Who came?
Matthew: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
John: Mary Magdalene alone
Mark: Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome
Luke: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary mother of James, and other women.

Was the tomb open or closed when they arrived?
Luke: Open
Matthew: Closed

Whom did they see at the tomb?
Matthew: An angel
Mark: A young man
Luke: Two men
John: Two angels

Were these men or angels inside or outside the tomb?
Matthew: Outside
Mark Luke John: Inside

Were they standing or sitting?
Luke: Standing
Matthew Mark John: Sitting

Did Mary Magdalene see the messengers?
John: No
Matthew Mark Luke: Yes

Who became frightened when they saw the messengers?
Matthew: The keepers
Mark Luke: The women

Did the women see Jesus?
Matthew: They did – just after they left the tomb
Luke: They did not.

Did the women tell the disciples what they had seen?
Luke: Yes
Mark: No

Did Mary Magdalene recognise Jesus when she saw him?
Matthew: Yes
John: No

How many disciples visited the tomb?
Luke: Peter alone
John: Peter and another

Was Mary Magdalene permitted to touch Jesus?
Matthew: Yes
John: No

Where did Jesus appear to the disciples?
Matthew: In Galilee
Luke: In Jerusalem

Were all the disciples convinced of the resurrection?
John: They were
Matthew: Some doubted

How did the disciples feel when they saw the resurrected Jesus?
John: Glad
Luke: Terrified and affrighted

[Source: The Bible Contradicts Itself – Ingersoll News, 1968]


You'd think the stories would have matched up a bit better than that - after all, the gospellers were supposedly inspired by none other the the God of Truth.

[Seti]

Interestingly, Mark is beleived to be the first gospel written, but in the original version stops before all that guff about the resurrection.

Also, it would be interesting to list all the other resurrected god-men from around that area and period of history - it was actually quite a common myth.

[sandyprice]

According to a painting in a church at Remmes le Chateau in the south of France. This painting is adorned in a strange manner; the moon is up, night has fallen, the Passover has begun. No one of the Jewish faith would be handling a dead body. Jesus is shown still living being carried out of his tomb rather than into it.

"The Jesus Papers" by Michael Baigent

Exposing the greatest cover-up in history.