The Source of the Story of the Resurrection (the Appearance of Jesus to the Disciples)

Chapter III

The Sources of the Gospels and the Way of Writing Them

Section VI

The Texts which were quoted from the Old Testament, but they have not been attributed directly to it

In this section will examine the texts which were quoted from the Old Testament, but they have not been attributed directly to it, as is the case in the previous sections, which I call it Storyline or Plot-story or screenplay of the Gospels, where we will review the most of the events and stories and sayings that mentioned in the Gospels, and comparing them with the Old Testament and with Jesus as was portrayed in the Gospels, and his attributes in the laws of the faith of the churches as well.

29 - The Source of the Story of the Resurrection (the Appearance of Jesus to the Disciples)

After the burial of Jesus' body, the Gospels authors have remained speechless and didn't mention anything about what happened with Jesus in the tomb, and how he came out of the tomb! And they began talking from the moment that had been discovered that the tomb was empty and the appearance of Jesus to the disciples, and each of them wrote a story different from the others in every detail, including the following events:

Who did go to the tomb?

Are they Mary Magdalene and the other Mary?!

Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

Or they were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome?

Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

Or they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, and then Peter?

Luke 24:9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

Luke 24:12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Or it was Mary Magdalene in the beginning, and then Simon Peter and John?

John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

John 20:2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

John 20:3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb.

John 20:4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

John 20:5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

John 20:6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there.

Did Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices when the Sabbath was over after buried Jesus, or they prepared spices and fragrant oils before the Sabbath, and they rested on the Sabbath?!

Mark 16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.

Luke 23:55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

Luke 23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Who was in the tomb?

Was it an angel?

Matthew 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

Or was it a young man?

Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away — for it was very large.

Mark 16:5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

Or was it two men?

Luke 24:4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

John 20:11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

Or was it two angels?!

John 20:12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Did the women tell the disciples what happened or not?

Mark 16:8 So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

Luke 24:11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Did Mary Magdalene touch Jesus or not?

Matthew 28:9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him.

John 20:17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God’."

Did the disciples see Jesus in Galilee or in Jerusalem?

Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them.

Matthew 28:17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted.

Luke 24:33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,

Luke 24:34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

Luke 24:35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."

Luke 24:37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."

John 20:20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

These differences and many others, confirm that the Gospels authors did not write their narratives according to the historical events that have been seen, or heard from trusted sources, but according to their method and approach of writing the Gospels, which is the quoting from the texts of the Old Testament and reformulating them in their narratives about Jesus, as is shown in this book. So what are the sources of this story?

In fact, there are several texts in the Old Testament talking about the appearance of the Lord to some people, which some people might understand of them, away from the principles and concepts of the Old Testament, that they refer to physical appearance directly. However, if this possible; it will be different from the appearance of Jesus, because the appearance of the LORD shows the greatness and the glory of Him, which could not be imagined, as we have read in the story of Elijah, which led to great and strong wind which tore apart the mountains, and broke the rocks in pieces and caused an earthquake, as in the following text:

1Kings 19:11 Then He said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;

1Kings 19:12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

While the appearance of Jesus, if it was true, is a kind of healing of death! Moreover, that the appearance of Jesus after his death does not refer to something special and miraculous, because the Gospels authors have mentioned three stories about some people who rose from the dead, and appeared to the people, (John 11:1-44), (Matthew 9:18-26) and (Luke 7:11-17), which is similar to what happened with Jesus and his appearance to his disciples!

Here are some texts that talk about the appearance of the LORD the Creator to some people:

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"

Genesis 3:10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

Genesis 3:11 And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"

This story is similar to what John has written about the appearance of Jesus to Mary in the garden, (John 20:11-18)!

Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.

Genesis 18:1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.

From all of the above, we conclude that the narratives of the Gospels concerning the Resurrection and the appearance of Jesus to his disciples are not reliable, which means that the law "do not accept the lying and false" applies to them.