Mary Magdalene resurrection encounter

Resurrection – Did It Actually Happen?

Resurrection of Jesus has been debated for centuries spawning many questions and theories.^[1] People cannot easily wrap their minds around the impossible concept of being dead and buried, then coming back to life.

Medical or scientific tests cannot determine if a living individual was previously dead for days, thus a Resurrection cannot be ascertained scientifically. In the end, it makes no difference if the Resurrection occurred today or 2000 years ago.

Swirling are controversial attempts trying to explain the Resurrection. The tomb was not really empty; the witnesses visited the wrong tomb; the body of Jesus was misplaced or stolen; the third day prophecies are not a factor; the post-crucifixion person the witnesses encountered was just a spirit; etc.^[2]

Circular logic is a common criticism.^[3] In this case, the Gospels cannot be used as proof of the Resurrection because the only proof comes from the Gospels and if the believability of the Gospels is in question, then Gospels cannot be used as evidence.

Gospels are accounts or reports of what happened, not proof that something did or did not occur. Included are identities, statements and quotes of witnesses; and descriptions of events – some detailed, some paraphrased.

No statement or report by one person will ever completely provide all the details of a witessed incident. Some details may not have been as important to emphasize over other information or simply the information was not known to a particular writer.

Comparing one Gospel to another is one of the most effective ways to assessed overall content credibility of these accounts, reports or statements. As with any investigative case, gaps in one account may be detailed in another.

No resurrection case can be made without eyewitnesses who would have to bridge three separate events – life, an incontrovertible death, and evident life again. Credible witnesses would have to be able to say with certainty that the person whom they once knew, was then known to be dead and is now alive again behaving as before death.

Witnesses would be expected to attest to their ability to resume a pre-established personal connection with the resurrected person whom they knew before death occurred – the continuum of a shared personal relationship.

Visual recognition would not be enough to dispel the notion of having seen a vision or an apparition. Witnesses also would be expected to affirm activities of the resurrected person are associated with life itself such as a conversation, eating, drinking, walking, and other physical activities.

A prime example is the resurrection of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from being dead after four days. A week later, Lazarus came to a dinner event with Jesus days before his own death and resurrection.

The Witnesses

First of the eyewitness statements of the resurrected Jesus, aside from angels, comes from Cleopas accompanied by his traveling partner, most likely his wife.^[4] Characteristics described are several – walking; carrying on a conversation over a long period time; references to his own teachings before his death; reclining at the table; breaking the loaf of bread and…praying.

Next is the profound report of Mary Magdalene’s encounter.^[5] She recognized Jesus, whom she believed was dead and buried, exclaiming “Rabonni!” (teacher) and wanted to hug him.^[6]

Peter, who had witnessed the empty tomb with the folded burial linens, also met with the Resurrected Jesus. The only mention of Peter’s encounter is in Luke’s investigative Gospel account.^[7]

Ten Disciples, the Cleopas couple and other followers of Jess were in a locked room excitedly sharing stories of Resurrection encounters. Suddenly Jesus himself stood among them saying, “Peace be with you.”^[8]

Luke reports they were all startled and “terrified” thinking they were seeing a “ghost.”^[9] Jesus responded:

^{LK 24:38-39} “‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”_(NET)

Noticing they required further proof, Jesus asked, “‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in front of them.”^[10] Bridging back to the time before he was crucified, Jesus told them to think back to their experiences together:

^{LK 24:44, 47-48} “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled… ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” _(NASB)

Missing the occasion entirely was the Disciple Thomas.^[11] When he finally arrived that Sunday evening, Disciple John told him they had seen Jesus.

Skeptical, Thomas was not buying any of it. “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”^[12]

Eight days passed when the Disciples regathered in the same house with the door locked, but this time Thomas was present.^[13] Once again, Jesus suddenly appeared in the room and, after a brief greeting, got straight to the point.

Speaking directly to Thomas, Jesus said “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.^[14] Do not doubt but believe.”^[15]

Thomas touched the physical body of Jesus and witnessed the proof of his miraculously healed pierced hands and side. Thomas’ excited utterance was telling: “My Lord and my God!”^[16]

John’s eyewitness Gospel continued beyond where Matthew, Mark and Luke left off. Describing the third appearance of the resurrected Jesus to some of the Disciples, he describes the scene on the shore of the Sea of Tiberas (Sea of Galilee, Sea of Gennesaret or Sea of Kinneret).^[17]

Seven disciples, five identified by name as Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee (James and John) encountered Jesus who teased them; performed another fishing miracle recognized by the author; and met the Disciples at a campfire, cooked breakfast, ate and conversed with them.^[18]

Recognition by his own family – his mother, Mary, and brother, James – are better witnesses than any other.^[19] According to Jewish historian Josephus, James the brother of Jesus, died a martyr’s death at the hands of the Sanhedrin for proclaiming to the end that Jesus is the Messiah who had been resurrected.^[20]

Gospel accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus came in the form of witnesses, actions, words and behavior of the various others. Witnesses include angels, women of Galilee, the koustodia, members of the Jewish leadership, Disciples and others.

Do the Gospels meet the criteria for demonstrating a genuine Resurrection had occurred – did Jesus actually rise from the dead?

Updated March 31, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Habermas, Gary R. “Resurrection Research from 1975 to the Present: What are Critical Scholars Saying?” 2005. Dr. Gary R. Habermas. <http://garyhabermas.com/articles/J_Study_Historical_Jesus_3-2_2005/J_Study_Historical_Jesus_3-2_2005.htm> Saifullah, Usman Sheikh, et. al. “Textual Reliability / Accuracy Of The New Testament.” Islamic Awareness. 2007. <http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Bible/Text/Bibaccuracy.html> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “Independent Confirmation and the Historicity of Jesus (1997).” The Secular Web. n.d. <https://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/indconf.html> Seidensticker, Bob. “Contradictions in the Resurrection Account.” Patheos.com. April 2, 2012. <https://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2012/04/contradictions-in-the-resurrection-account-2>
[2] “Resurrection.” Infidels.org. n.d. <http://infidels.org/library/modern/theism/christianity/resurrection.html> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “Historical Evidence and the Empty Tomb Story.” Infidels.org. <http://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “How Not to Argue Against the Historicity and Resurrection of Jesus.” The SecularWeb. n.d. <https://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/edelen.html> “New Testament.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11498-new-testament> Holding, James Patrick. “Please Pardon This Interruption.” Creation Ministries International. 2009. <http://creation.com/review-jesus-interrupted-by-bart-ehrman> Steinhart, Eric. “Some Resurrection Theories.” Eric Steinhart. n.d. http://www.ericsteinhart.com/articles/reztheories.pdf> Qu’ran. An-Nisa 157, Al-Maeda 110. <http://search-the-quran.com> “Did Jesus Resurrect From the Dead in an Invisible Spirit-Body?” 4Jehovah.org. 2014. <http://4jehovah.org/the-resurrection-of-jesus-a-spirit-body> “Was Jesus Resurrected as an Invisible Spirit?” Tower to Truth Ministries. n.d. Archived URL. <http://www.towertotruth.net/dialoguept2.htm>
[3] “Circular Reasoning.” Logically Fallacious. 2020. <https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Circular-Reasoning> Van Der Zee, Tim. “Circular arguments are perfectly valid.” The Skeptical Scientist. 2017. <http://www.timvanderzee.com/circular-arguments> Andrews, Ben. Atheist Republic. 2020. <https://www.atheistrepublic.com/blog/ben-andrews/circular-reasoning>
[4] Luke 24:13-27.
[5] John 20:16. “Centuries later, archaeologists opened the tomb of Jesus.” News24hours. photo. 2016. <https://news24hours.in/2016/10/31/centuries-later-archaeologists-opened-the-tomb-of-jesus-christ>
[6] John 20:18.
[7] Luke 24:34.
[8] Luke 24:36 – NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV. John 20:19 – NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, NASB, NKJV.
[9] Luke 24:36-37. NET. CR Mark 16:14.
[10] Luke 24:38-43. NET. CR Mark 5:43; Luke 8:55.
[11] John 20:24.
[12] John 20:25. NET. CR Matthew 28:17.
[13] John 20:26.
[14] John 20:27
[15] John 20:27. NRSV.
[16] John 20:28. NET, NIV, NASB, NRSV, NKJV.
[17] “The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret).” Jewish Virtual Library. 2020. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-sea-of-galilee> “Gennesaret.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6583-gennesaret-lake-of>
[18] John 21:4-14.
[19] Acts 1:14
[20] Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XVIII, Chapter III.3.n.d <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false >

The Bewilderment of Mary Magdalene

Women of Galilee ran from the empty tomb terrified by their angelic encounter – Gospel authors collectively identified them as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, Salome and “the other women.” Breathlessly arriving at the location of two of the mourning disciples, Peter and John, Mary Magdalene blurted out:^[1]

^{JN 20:2} “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” ₍_{NIV, NET)}

A credible eyewitness statement, as opposed to an investigative report, is expected to begin at the point when the witness becomes personally involved in the sequence of events. The author of the Gospel of John’s personal involvement that Sunday morning began when the women burst into the room with their frantic news.

John and Peter were confused by Mary Magdalene’s excited statement. Faced with the group of excited women saying the body of Jesus had been taken was… dumbfounding.

^{LK 24:11} “But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.”_(NASB)^[2]

Secured in a tomb behind a large stone held the mutilated, decomposing body of Jesus, tightly bound in linens with 75 pounds of spices – who would want it? Romans certainly didn’t want a body from a crucifixion which they typically discarded unburied, according to Josephus.^[3]

Undoubtedly Jewish leadership didn’t want to lend any credence to a Resurrection especially since Jesus predicted he would rise from the dead after 3 days. Such a claim would be even worse, they told Pilate.

Maybe John and Peter knew of the armed Roman-Jewish koustodia guarding the sealed tomb, too. Additionally, a body snatching would have broken several Jewish Laws with at least a 7-day defilement consequence and no legitimate Jew wanted this.^[4]

Mary’s blurted statement uses the Greek word airo meaning “to lift up,” translated into English as “have taken” in the context of the body had been taken by someone.^[5] It conflicts with the actual angelic message in the accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke who used the Greek word egeiro translated into English as “has been raised,” “has risen” or “is risen”: ^[6]

^{MT 28:6} “He is not here; for he has been raised [egeiro]”_{(NET, NLT, NRSV)}

^{MK 16:6} “He has risen [egeiro]; He is not here.”_(NASB,_NIV)

^{LK 24:6} “He is not here, but is risen! [egeiro]”_(NKJV)

Mary Magdalene did not relay the same message the angels had given to the women! Compounding the Disciples’ confusion, use of the plural pronoun “we” indicates she was not alone in this thinking – the other women with her did not dispute Mary’s assessment when she said “they have taken” his body.

How did the message get twisted? Mary Magdalene’s exclamation indicates her state of mind trying to reconcile what she had just experienced at the tomb with what she knew to be true – Jesus was dead, his body was missing and she didn’t know where it was.

Two Greek words, egeiro and airo, have similar meanings; the first being the movement action of a person and the second being the movement action of an inanimate object. Distinctions can be seen when both words were actually used together in a sentence by Jesus after he had performed one of his miracles. His words were reported by three different authors:

^{MT 9:6} “…He said to the paralytic, “Arise [egeiro], take up [airo] your bed, and go to your house.””_(NKJV)

^{MK 2:11} “”I say to you, arise [egeiro], take up [airo] your bed, and go to your house.””_(NKJV)

^{JN 5:8} “Jesus said to him, “Rise [egeiro], take up [airo] your bed and walk.””_(NKJV)

Miraculously healed, the paralytic – the person – was commanded to rise [egeiro] on his own power without assistance and take up [airo] his bed, an inanimate object. Applying these word usage definitions to the two scenarios brings clarity to the contexts.

At the tomb, the angels’ message said Jesus had risen [egeiro] under his own power without any assistance – not possible for a dead man to do. In Mary Magdalene’s exclamation, she thought the inanimate body of Jesus had been “take[n] up” [airo] in the context of being “picked up” by a person or persons unknown and taken away.

Mentally processing their thoughts, suddenly a light bulb moment struck Peter and John at about the same time.^[7] They raced to the tomb, John arriving first but paused while Peter charged straight inside.^[8]

Still distraught over the death of Jesus and his missing body, Mary Magdalene followed John and Peter to the empty tomb.^[9] Containing only the burial linens, the two Disciples marveled at what they had seen, then went back home leaving Mary behind weeping and trying to make sense of what had happened.

Looking back inside the empty tomb, Mary Magdalene once again saw two angels who were seated on each end of the place where the body of Jesus had lain. She had witnessed this earlier as it was prepared with burial spices by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.^[10]

In her second angelic encounter that morning, this time Mary spoke to the angels who seemed perplexed as to why she was distraught asking her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”^[11] She reiterated to the angels her missing body observation by repeating what she had told to Peter and John still using the word airo:

^{JN 20:13} “They have taken [airo] my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!”_{(NET, NIV)}

Use of “they” rather than “you” in both of Mary’s statement suggests she believed these other persons who took away the body of Jesus were not present. By using the singular personal pronoun “I,” she is now speaking only for herself, not the other women.

Another voice asked Mary why she was crying. Maybe, she thought, he might be the person responsible for carrying away (bastazo – to lift up) the body of Jesus. Believing this new voice to be the gardener of the tombs, her demeanor and response intensified directly asking:^[12]

^{JN 20:15} “”Sir, if You have carried (bastazo) Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take (airo) Him away.””_(NJKV)₎^[13]

“Mary!” – he called her by name. Not expecting this stranger to know her name and saying it in a familiar way that she immediately recognized, it snapped her to attention.

Clearly seeing Jesus, Mary cried out, “Rabboni!” meaning “my master, my teacher.”^[14] Her excited utterance indicates a before and after death recognition of Jesus of Nazareth.

Overwhelmed with joy, Mary wanted to hug Jesus, but he told her to wait because he had not yet ascended “to My Father.”^[15] Did Mary believe she was speaking to the same personage of Jesus whom she had known before he was crucified and buried?

Updated May 27, 2024.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

NET = NET Bible translation; NASB = New American Standard Version; NIV = New International Version; NKJV = New King James Version translation; NLT = New Living Translation; NRSV = New Revised Standard Version.

[1] CR Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24.
[2] CR Mark 16.
[3] Josephus, Flavius. Wars of the Jews. Trans. and commentary. William Whitson. The Complete Works of Josephus. 1850. Book IV, Chapter V.2. <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
[4] Exodus 23, 31; Leviticus 23, Numbers 19. Soncino Babylonian Talmud. “Shabbath.” The Babylonian Talmud. Trans. Rodkinson. Book 1, Sabbath, Chapter I; Book 2, Tract Erubin; Book 3, Tract Pesachim, Book 3, Chapter IV. “Shabbat” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://jewishencyclopedia.com> “Festivals.” Jewish Encyclopedia.
[5] Net.bible.org. Greek text. Strong. “airo” <142The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=142>
[6] Net.bible.org. Matthew 28:11. Greek text. “egeiro” <1453>” <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=1453>
[7] Mark 9; Luke 18.
[8] Luke 24; John 20.
[9] John 20. CR Luke 24. “Centuries later, archaeologists opened the tomb of Jesus.” News24hours. photo. 2016. <https://news24hours.in/2016/10/31/centuries-later-archaeologists-opened-the-tomb-of-jesus-christ>
[10] Matthew 27; Mark 15; John 3, 7, 19.
[11] John 20. NET.
[12] Net.bible.org. Greek text. “bastazo <941>.” <http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=941>
[13] NKJV.
[14] John 20:16. Net.bible.org. Greek text. NASB, NIV. “rhabboni <4462>” and “didaskalos <1320>. CR Matthew 23:8.
[15] John 20. CR Matthew 28.