Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Who carried the cross?

Simon of Cyrene (27:32)

Simon of Cyrene   (15:21)

Simon of Cyrene (23:26)

Only Jesus himself carried the cross.  (19:17)

At what time was Jesus crucified?

Not mentioned in Matthew

9:00 a.m.  -- “It was the third hour when they crucified him.”        (15:25)

Not mentioned in Luke

12:00 p.m.  -- Jesus was not crucified until after the sixth hour!    (19:14-15)

On which day of the month was Jesus crucified?

On the first day of Passover, the 15th day of Nissan¹       (26:20-30)

On the first day of Passover, the 15th day   of Nissan¹                   (14:17-25)

On the first day of Passover, the 15th day of Nissan¹     (22:14--23)

On the day before Passover, the 14th day of Nissan¹         (13:1, 29, 12:28, 19:14)

¹ Because all three synoptic insist that the Last Supper was a Passover Seder, they must therefore maintain that the crucifixion occurred on the first day of Passover, rather than the eve of Passover, as John would have us believe.  (see accompanying article, “The Crucifixion Date: On Which Day Was Jesus Crucified?”)

Did Jesus drink while on the cross?

Yes

No

Not mentioned in Luke

Yes

Did either one of the two thieves on the cross believe   in Jesus?

Neither one of the thieves believed in Jesus.

(27:44)

Neither one of the thieves believed in Jesus.

(15:32)

In Luke’s story only one thief does not believe, but the other thief does. (23:39-41)

Not mentioned in John

What were Jesus’ last dying words on the cross?

“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”  that is, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”                 (27:46)

“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”  meaning, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”   (15:34)

“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”      (23:46)

“It is finished.”     (19:30)

When did Mary prepare the spices?

Not mentioned in Matthew

Mary prepared the spices after the Sabbath was over.      (16:1)

Mary prepared the spices before the Sabbath started.      (23:56)

Nicodemus, not Mary, prepared the spices before the     Sabbath.              (19:39)

Had the sun yet risen when the women came to the tomb?

It was toward dawn of the first day of the week.                 (28:1)

Yes -- They came to the tomb when the sun had risen.          (16:2)

At early dawn they went to the tomb.

(24:1)

No -- Mary came early to the tomb, while it was still dark.        (20:1)

How many days and how many nights was Jesus in the tomb?

3 days and 2 nights² (28:1)

3 days and 2 nights²     (16:2)

3 days and 2 nights² (24:1)

2 days and 2 nights²     (20:1)

² Although Jesus had prophesied that he would be in the tomb for three days and three nights!  -- Matthew 12:40

How many people came to the tomb Sunday morning following the crucifixion?

Two                     (28:1)

Three                 (16:1)

More than four (24:10)

One                   (20:1)

Who were the women who came to the tomb?

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary       (28:1)

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome  (16:1)

Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, Joanna, and other women             (24:10)

Only Mary Magdalene came to the tomb (20:1)

Was the stone removed when the women arrived at the tomb?

No -- After the women arrive at the tomb, an angel rolls back the stone.                   (28:1-2)

Yes -- When they arrived, the stone had already been rolled away.                 (16:4)

Yes -- When they arrived, the stone had already been taken away.                 (24:2)

Yes -- When Mary arrived, the stone had already been taken away.                 (20:1)

How many angels were at the tomb?

One                     (28:2)

One                    (16:5)

Two                   (24:4)

Two                   (20:1-2, 12)

What was the angel (s) doing at the tomb and where was he  (they)?

He was sitting on the stone that he had rolled away from the tomb.      (28:2)

He was sitting on the right side, inside the tomb.                 (16:5)

They were standing by the women, inside the tomb.                 (24:4)

In the Book of John, there are no angels when Mary comes to the tomb.  When Mary arrives at the tomb a second time, however, she finds two angels sitting inside the tomb.  One is at the head and the other is at the feet (see accompanying article, “Can Both of  These Stories Be True?”)               (20:1-2, 12)

What were the angels’ instructions to Mary and the others* at the tomb?

*No others in the Book of John

“He is not here; for he has risen .  .  .  go quickly and tell his disciples he is going before you to the Galilee!”³                  (28:6-7)

“Do not be amazed      .  .  .  he has risen .  .  .  tell his disciples and Peter he is going before you to Galilee!”³            (16:6-7)

In Luke’s post- resurrection story (chapter 24), the women at the tomb are specifically instructed not to go to the Galilee, but to “Stay in Jerusalem!”     (24:49)³

This is also the case in the Book of Acts, which was written by the author of Luke, where “He commanded them that they should not leave Jerusalem!”          (Acts 1:4)         

Luke’s post-resurrection story does not allow for any of Jesus’ followers to leave Jerusalem because Luke must have the apostles stay in Jerusalem for the Pentecost.           (Acts 2:1)

The angels only ask Mary “Why are you weeping woman?”  As Mary responds, she turns around and sees Jesus, who she thinks is the gardener, standing there.  Completely contradicting all three synoptic Gospels, John’s story (20:2) has Mary clueless as to what happened to Jesus’ body when she returns to the disciples after departing the tomb.  There are no angels giving instructions to the Mary in John’s story.  On the contrary, in the fourth Gospel, it is Jesus, not the two angels, who tells Mary about the resurrection.  John’s post-resurrection narrative also lacks the Roman solders that Matthew places at the tomb.  Without the presence of the guards at the tomb, John’s Mary concludes that Jesus’ body had been removed from the tomb.  (see accompanying article, “Can Both of These Stories Be True?”)             (20:13-17)

³ Luke contradicts Matthew (28:16) and Mark (16:7), whose post-resurrection tale has the apostles depart Jerusalem, and going to the Galilee, which is about an 80-90 mile journey.  Luke, on the other hand, insists that the apostles were never told to, and never did, leave Jerusalem and go to the Galilee!  -- Luke 24:5-7, 49; Acts 1:4

Does Mary wish to tell the disciples what happened?

Yes -- “They departed quickly .  .  .  and ran to tell the disciples.”      (28:8)

No -- “.  .  .  they said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid.”  (16:8)

Yes -- “Returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven .  .  .  .”   (24:9)

Yes -- Mary Magdalene tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”          (20:12)

After seeing the angels, whom does Mary meet first, Jesus or the disciples?

Jesus⁴                  (28:9)

Jesus⁴                 (16:9)

The disciples⁴     (24:4-9)

Jesus⁴                     (20:14)

⁴ Entirely contradicting Luke’s post-resurrection story, Matthew, Mark, and John all insist that Mary met Jesus before she was able to tell any of the disciples what had happened (Matthew 28:8; Mark 16:9; John 20:14), whereas Luke asserts that Mary revealed all to the disciples before ever encountering Jesus!  --                 Luke 24:4-10

To whom does Jesus make his first post- resurrection appearance?

The two Marys_.

Only Mary  Magdalene_.

Cleopas and another⁵

Only Mary Magdalene_.

Where does the first post- resurrection appearance take place?

On the way to Jerusalem, after leaving the tomb.              (28:9)

Mark’s story does not indicate where this appearance takes place.  It is quite clear, however, that it occurs sometime after Mary fled the tomb.       (16:8-9)

Emmaus⁵            (24:13, 12)

At the tomb₅      (20:1, 11-14)

⁵ Contradicting Mark, Luke maintains that when the two followers who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus returned to Jerusalem and informed the eleven about their encounter, the disciples declared, “It is true!”  (Luke 24:34) whereas Mark insists that when the two reported their encounter, the disciples did not believe (16:13).

Is Mary permitted to touch Jesus after the resurrection?

Yes – “.  .  .  they came and held him by his feet, and worshiped him.”                   (28:9)

Not mentioned in Mark  

YES -- “Behold my hands and my feet .  .  .  handle me and         see .  .  .  .”                       (24:39; 1 John 1:1)

No -- Jesus said to her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my  Father .  .  .  .”                (20:17)

How many times does Jesus appear after the resurrection?

Two Times

1) 28:9-10
2) 28:17-20₅

Three Times

1) 16:9
2) 16:12⁵
3) 16:14-12

Two Times

1) 24:13-31
2) 24:36-51₅

Four Times

1) 20:14-17
2) 20:19-23⁶
3) 20:26-29₅
4) 21:1-23

⁶ Contradicting Luke’s post-resurrection story entirely, John has the apostles receive the Holy Spirit on the first Easter Sunday (John 20:22), whereas Luke insists that the Holy Spirit was bestowed on the Pentecost, fifty days latter!  -- Acts 1:5, 8; 2:1- 4

Before whom, and  in what chronological order do these appearances take place?

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary      (28:9)

11 disciples     (28:16)

Mary Magdalene   (16:9)

Two strolling followers ⁵    (16:12)

11 disciples⁷          (16:14)

Cleopas and another unknown follower.  (24:13)

Eleven disciples⁷        “.  .  .  and them that were with them.”  (24:33)

Mary Magdalene (20:14)

Ten disciples⁷
(Thomas was not there)               (20:24)

Eleven disciples (20:26)

Peter, Thomas, the two sons of Zebedee (James and John), Nathaniel and two other disciples.   (21:2)

⁷ According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus made this appearance to all the eleven surviving disciples.  Paul has this event take place in the presence of all twelve apostles (Corinthians 15:5) although Judas had long since died, having committed suicide (Matthew 27:5; Acts 1:12).  Contrary to all this, John’s story places only ten disciples at the scene, Thomas being absent!  --           John 20:24

Where do these appearances take place?

Leaving the tomb, going to the disciples.        (28:8)

On a mountain in the Galilee.               (28:16)

(But some doubted it!) (28:17)

After fleeing the tomb               (16:8-9)

As they walked to the country             (16:12)

At a meal               (16-:14)

Emmaus            (24:13)

Jerusalem          (24:33, 49),

At the tomb     (20:14)

In Jerusalem, behind closed doors.     (20:12-29)

The Sea of Tiberias (21:1)