Why Do the Four Gospel Accounts Have Different Details About the Events Following Jesus Christ’s Resurrection?

Why Do the Four Gospel Accounts Have Different Details About the Events Following Jesus Christ’s Resurrection?

It may seem confusing when you read the four different Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But, this article (with God’s help) hopefully should clear up that confusion. The events mentioned in the four Gospel accounts about Christ’s resurrection are not contradictory whatsoever because each writer had his own memory and perspective about the events. And, each picked up on details that other writers may have missed.

This article aims to present what happened chronologically from the time Mary Magdalene and her lady friends first reached the tomb of Jesus (after His resurrection) and up to the time Jesus Christ’s eleven disciples had been informed of the miraculous resurrection of the Lord Jesus. (Note: Judas Iscariot had killed himself at this time.) In the paragraphs below, we will give the account of what happened (with the help of God, for only He could discern fully how this happened).

(1.) Mary Magdalene and some other women (a woman named Salome and Mary the mother of James) came to the tomb of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, early in the morning. (2.) They found the tomb empty of the body of Jesus. But, they saw two angelic beings. One angel did most of the talking.

The books of Matthew and Mark refer to one angel speaking to the women. But, the book of Luke refers to two angels being present. The book of John also mentions that there were two young men (angels) who spoke with Mary briefly. The reason why these accounts mention a different number of angels is due to the fact that certain eyewitnesses paid more attention to the angel who spoke than to his companion, who listened more than he talked.

(Note: Eyewitness accounts of crimes or accidents differ slightly on details due to the fact that every person has his or her own perspective, understanding, and recognition of an event. So, eyewitnesses may differ a little on minor details. For instance, one eyewitness of a car accident may pay more attention to a black semi truck, and doesn’t mention that a green motorcycle was also involved in the accident. Another eyewitness might pay more attention to the green motorcycle because he owns a blue motorbike.)

(4.) After the angels had spoken to the women, the women left the tomb to tell the disciples. (3.) But, Mary Magdalene went a different way than the other women. (Note: The Gospel of John speaks of this, but doesn’t mention anyone else having gone with Mary Magdalene to the tomb originally because the apostle John was paying attention to certain details that the three other Gospel accounts did not mention, such as the words of Jesus in John, chapters 14 through 17. Eyewitness testimonies follow this pattern too. Some details are mentioned, and others are omitted.) (5.) Mary Magdalene ended up finding John and Peter and told them what she had seen. (6.) Then, she, Peter, and John went to the tomb of Jesus. Peter and John looked in and saw that Jesus Christ’s body was not in the tomb. So, they left.

But, Mary Magdalene remained behind at the empty tomb. She went to the door of the sepulchre and looked in and saw the two angels (who looked like “young men”) standing at each end of the stone slab on which Jesus Christ’s body had been laid. (Note: Evidently, Peter and John did not get to observe these angelic beings because angels can appear and disappear. The angels appeared to the women at the tomb, but not to the men, who came later. This could be because God was testing His disciples.) The two angels spoke briefly with Mary. (7.) Then, she turned back and saw Jesus standing outside the tomb. But, she thought He was a gardener, at first, due to her grief and unbelief. After Christ spoke with her and said her name, Mary’s eyes were opened and she recognized Jesus Christ. He spoke with her briefly. Then, she left the tomb to tell the other disciples about what she had seen and heard.

(8.) Meanwhile, as the other women were walking, Jesus met them and spoke with them. (Note: Mary Magdalene was likely younger than the other women, and could hurry faster. In the book of Mark, chapter 16, verse 1, we read that the mother of James accompanied Mary Magdalene to the tomb, along with a lady named Salome. This explains how Mary Magdalene could find Peter and John, and return to the tomb, and meet Jesus -- all in a fairly short time.) (9.) Then, the women went to the other disciples and told them what they had witnessed. (10.) After these women had spoken with the other disciples, Mary Magdalene arrived and told the disciples of what she had seen and heard.

These four Gospel accounts have shown clearly how Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior of all who will call upon His Name for salvation and forgiveness of sins. If all four Gospel accounts were manufactured, why would they seem to differ on a number of minor points and on the exact words spoken by Jesus Christ? Each Gospel account contains slightly different word orders in messages given by Jesus Christ. This proves that the eyewitnesses remembered what Jesus said and wrote down their memories (with God’s help).

So, you can be sure that Jesus Christ is God the Son and is real, is alive, is risen, and has ascended up to Heaven to be with His Father. Only by putting your trust in Jesus Christ and asking Him to save you can you be saved. Your own works cannot save you. Only Jesus Christ Himself can save you by His death on a cross and by His blood that was shed. He rose from the dead to prove that He has conquered sin, death, and Hell. (Note: Hell is a horrible place which is for to those who continually, defiantly, and stubbornly reject Jesus in favor of their own will). 

God longs for you to receive Jesus Christ and God wants you to be His beloved adopted son or daughter through Jesus. Turn to Jesus Christ today and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior and to save you from your sins. Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sins, and confess that He is now your Savior and Lord, and that His death paid the penalty for your sins, and His shed blood washed your sins away.

You can something like the following prayer if you want to know and befriend the Lord Jesus Christ and have eternal life (and be cleansed from sin). Or, you can say this prayer in your own words:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I want you to be the Lord of my life. I want you to live in me and give Me life through your Name. I want to be forgiven of all my sins and washed in your blood from all sin. I want you to make Me your child and give me a love for you. I want to serve you all the days of my life and have friendship with you. I trust in your death to pay for my sins and your blood to cleanse me of all sin in my heart. I trust that you died and rose from the dead to give Me life through your Spirit and eternal life now and in Heaven forever. Amen.”

Remember, your own works cannot save you or make you right with God. Only trusting in Jesus Christ’s death on the cross in your place gives you friendship with God, true freedom, and eternal life. Get a copy of the trusted and beloved King James Version of the Bible, and read it. It is the version that God has chosen for English-speaking people (God showed me). Seek God about this if you wonder what to do. He will show you.

Below, we give the Holy Scripture passages about the events following the resurrection of Christ, for your reference.

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LUKE 23:52-56 (KJV)

52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

LUKE 24:1-9

1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

8 And they remembered his words,

9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

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JOHN 20:1-18

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

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MATTHEW 28:1-10

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.

8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

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Mark 16:1-15

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

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🌍 ➠ If you would like to know Abba God the Father and Jesus Christ (God the Son), and be saved from sin, click here to read more. There is no other way of salvation than by trusting in Jesus Christ the Savior (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Our own works can never save us.

"[3] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour ; 
[4] who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus ; [6] who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." [1 Timothy 2:3-6.]


"[38] Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." [Acts 2:38.]