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The Resurrection Appearances: One Harmonization



Outline by Robert M. Bowman, Jr.

This is a very brief run-down of one possible harmonization of the resurrection accounts in the Gospels and 1 Corinthians 15.  In reading these narratives concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, it becomes apparent that each of the apostles whose accounts were included in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as the apostle Paul who saw it by revelation from Jesus himself) each had a unique perspective on the events that at first glance seem contradictory, if not confusing.  Some accounts mention by name certain disciples - both male and female - and an order of events that vary between them.  

Many Christian scholars and leaders throughout history have sought to reconcile these differences, which many skeptics and atheists cite as proof of a supposed contradiction of New Testament doctrinal and historical truth. Such claims, however, don't take a proper consideration of the differences in  perspective held by the apostles; this is not surprising in lieu of the fact that many such "Bible difficulties" pointed out by them rely upon the same lack of attention to detail and a strong bias that refuses to believe evidence to the contrary shown to them.  However, Robert Bowman, one of the foremost Christian apologists of the day, in this brief outline, does what would seem to be the best work of harmonizing these accounts and provides a credible reconstruction of the order of events on that glorious morning over two thousand years ago when the first Christians beheld their salvation in an empty tomb and emptier grave clothes ..

a.  Very early in the morning, Mary Magdalene and the other women go to the tomb and find it empty (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1-4; Luke 24:1-3; John 20:1).


b.  Mary runs off to tell the men disciples that the body had been stolen(John 20:2).


c.  Meanwhile, the other women are told by the angels that Jesus has risen (Matt. 28:5-7; Mark 16:5-7; Luke 24:4-7).


d.  The women run away, wanting to tell the men disciples, but at first are too afraid to say anything (Mark 16:8).


e.  Mary Magdalene reaches Peter and John ("the other disciple"), both of whom go to the tomb to investigate; they do not see Jesus there, but John believes Jesus has risen (John 20:3-8; Luke 24:12, 24).


f.  Their joy overcoming their fear, the other women tell the men disciples (not including Peter and John), who do not believe their story (Luke 24:8-11).


g. Peter and John report to the other men disciples their confirmation of the empty tomb. This does not convince them, either, and they return to their homes. The eleven, along with some others, stay in Jerusalem (Luke 24:24; John 20:9-10, cf. 20:19).

h. Mary Magdalene, having returned to the tomb after Peter and John, sees Jesus (John 20:9-17).

i. Mary Magdalene goes to report her encounter with Jesus to the men disciples, who do not believe her (John 20:18; cf. Mark 16:11).

j. The other women also see Jesus, who tells them to tell the disciples to go to Galilee to meet Him (Matt. 28:8-10). The men do not leave, though, since they do not yet believe.

k. Jesus appears to Simon Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5a).

l. Two of the disciples who had left for their homes in Emmaus encounter Jesus on their way (Luke 24:13-32).

m.  They hurry back to the eleven and those gathered with them; hearing the news of Jesus' appearance to Peter, they share their own story (Luke 24:33-34).

n.  As they are talking, Jesus appears to them all, assuring them that he is risen physically, showing them his hands and feet (John 20:19-23; Luke 24:36-43; 1 Cor. 15:5b).

o.   Eight days later, Jesus appears to the disciples again, this time with Thomas present (John 20:24-29).

p.  The disciples then go to Galilee as Jesus had commanded them (Matt. 28:16a). Peter, though, insists on going fishing, and some of the disciples join him, including John, Thomas, and four others (John 20:1-3). The next morning, Jesus appears to them for the third time (John 20:4-23).

q.  The eleven disciples go up the mountain Jesus had designated, and there he appears to them (Matt. 28:16-20). Either at this time or soon afterward Jesus appears to over 500 people gathered together (1 Cor. 15:6).

r.  The disciples return to Jerusalem, where Jesus has already appeared to James, his half-brother (1 Cor. 15:7a). Jesus appears to the apostles again, and tells them to stay there until the promised Holy Spirit comes (Luke 24:44-49; Acts 1:4-8; 1 Cor. 15:7b).

s.  Jesus leads the disciples out to Bethany and ascends to heaven; the disciples return to Jerusalem (Luke 24:50-52; Acts 1:9-12).  

and the Church now awaits His Return in the clouds, and the End when He shall wipe away all tears from every eye and when all humanity shall behold Him, and all things are become new ..

(Revelation 1:7, 1 Thess. 4:14-18; Revelation 21:3-5)

Maranatha!


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