by Timothy W. Burnett
All four Gospels record that certain women returned to Jesus' grave with ointments to complete the preparation of his body. According to Mark 16:1-2, they purchased the ointments after the special sabbath day, and returned to the grave early in the morning at sunrise after the weekly sabbath on the first day of the week which is our Sunday.
Mark 16:9 seems problematic until we remember that God's word never contradicts itself. The King James Bible has the word "Jesus" in italics which indicates that it was added by the KJV writers. Whether or not the word Jesus remains in the verse, there is still no contradiction. It either refers to the women seeing Jesus after they rose up early in the morning, or it parenthetically refers to them seeing him early in the morning and sometime after he was risen from the dead.
The first record of somebody arriving to the grave is found in John 20:1-17. Mary Magdalene got to the grave early in the morning while it was still dark. She found the door open and Jesus' body missing, and reported to the disciples that somebody had taken Jesus' body. Two of them ran to the grave and having seen it, they believed her report. According to verse nine, they did not yet know the scripture that Jesus had to rise again from the dead.
After the disciples returned, Mary stayed by the grave and saw two angels who told her that Jesus was alive. She then turned to leave and encountered a man who appeared as the gardener to her, only to soon discover that it was actually Jesus Christ. He stopped her from touching him because he had not yet ascended to his Father. God's word does not explain very clearly the dynamics and meaning of her not being allowed to touch him because he had not yet ascended to his Father. One school of thought suggests that he had to present himself to his Father as the first fruits from the dead. Something amazing must have happened after the above encounter with Mary, because at a later time he not only could be touched, but he could appear to people with the hole in his side and other wounds. Also, records show that others were allowed to touch him later. He was given a new and glorious body.
The rest of the Gospels about the women arriving to the grave fall chronologically behind that of John 20:1-17. They are found in Matthew 28:1, Luke 24:1 and Mark 16:1-2.
A very special thing that we learn from the above records is how God showed loving patience through his angels and first born son Jesus Christ. Even after all that Jesus taught them before he died, they still did not expect him to wake from the dead. Mary was convinced somebody took his body. After hearing the angels, she turned to the man who was Jesus and asked where he took the body.
God in heaven knows how difficult it is for some people to grasp the spiritual matters of life. And He is always ready to back His word with tender loving care for those who hunger for and believe it. He is able to help us learn to walk in close fellowship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ.
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