Answering The Atheist
February 4, 2007 / Volume 7, Issue 5
THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:
To whom did Jesus make his first post-resurrection appearance? The two Marys (Matthew 28:1,9), Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:11-14), Cleopas and another (Luke 24:13-31), or Cephas (1 Corinthians 14:4-5). Is there a contradiction?
RESPONSE:
The first two suggestions (the two Marys & Mary Magdalene) is where we will point our focus in a few moments, since the answer to whom Jesus made his first post-resurrection appearance to is in these verses. However, let us address the other suggestions for the present.
Since the first part of Luke 24 records the same events which are recorded in the beginning of Matthew 28 and Mark 16, it is not possible that Cleopas and his companion were the first to see the resurrected Christ. Neither is there a claim made anywhere in the text that they were the first to see Jesus raised from the dead. In fact, they reference the women's experience earlier that morning (v 22-24). Thus, this text points to the women who came to the tomb as being first to see the Christ raised from the dead.
In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he supplies a partial list of those who had seen the resurrected Christ. He writes, "...He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Again, this is a partial list of those who saw Jesus after His resurrection. The first in Paul's list is Cephas (Peter), but the apostles does not indicate that Peter was first to see the resurrection Christ.
What shall we make of the first few texts mentioned? Was it the two Marys together who first saw Jesus raised from the dead, or was it Mary Magdalene by herself? Let's investigate.
All four gospel writers indicate that Mary Magdalene was present at the tomb early in the morning on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 23:10; John 20:1). Three of the four gospel writers reveal to us that she was not alone (Matthew, Mark and Luke).
With regard to whom Jesus appeared to on that early morning, we find the following:
- Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (Matthew 28:9)
- Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9)
- Luke doesn't specifically mention a sighting
- Mary Magdalene (John 20:14-18)
We can certainly conclude that Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus following His resurrection. Was she alone? According to Matthew's account, no. At least Mary, the mother of James, was with her also, and perhaps other women also.
Is it contradictory that some texts mention Mary and the other women, while other texts only mention Mary Magdalene? No, certainly not. The omission of information in an account of an event does not constitute a contradiction with another account which supplies additional information.
There is no contradiction.
This article is a response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible
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