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After Jesus’ death on the cross, unlike most criminals, his
body was taken down and prepared for burial, with all the rights and rituals of
the Jewish religion. Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man who was a follower of
Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus so it could be placed in
a tomb. Guards were placed in front of the tomb because the Pharisees and chief
priests recalled Jesus saying he would rise on the third day, and they didn’t want
any heist to take place. Three days after his death, his followers (different people
in each gospel) go to his tomb and discover that Jesus isn’t there anymore.
Each gospel has a different story of how Jesus made himself known to his
followers, whether it be Jesus telling them himself or angels sent to tell the
news. Once the chief priests had heard that Jesus was gone, they told their
followers to spread the rumor that Jesus’ disciples stole him from the tomb in
the night so there would not be an uprising.
Differences in the Gospels
MT 27:57-28:15 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb (MT 28:1) A great earthquake occurred because an angel of the lord came down and rolled the stone away. His appearance scared the guards and they became like dead men (MT 28:3-4) The angel told them that Jesus had been raised and they were to tell the other disciples of the news. They met with Jesus on the way back. JN 19:39-20:18 In this gospel, Mary Magdelane comes alone to Jesus' tomb, unlike all the others where there are several visitors. When she saw that Jesus wasn't in the tomb, she wept. Two angels came down in the tomb, and then Mary turned around and saw Jesus, but didn't recognize him. Once she did, she was overjoyed, and Jesus sent her to tell the others of the news. Katie Mahoney, Jillian Harb, Pat Ryan, Thomas McLarney |
Similarities in the Gospels
In all four gospels, there is the misunderstanding that Jesus has been stolen. Each evangelist tells of people going to the tomb and seeing that Jesus wasn't there, and then an angel coming down to tell them the news. They tell the witnesses to spread the word and tell the disciples. Two Main Similarities: Angels; grief over Jesus' stolen body. |