I put this narrative together using the Fourfold Gospels, and I did it solely as an experiment in writing a narrative that acounts for all the details of the different Gospels. Some skeptics say it cannot be done, but this demonstrates that that claim is false.
If anyone enjoyes the tale of that first Easter, then that is good, too, but it is not the purpose to entertain here, but to demonstrate a simple thing.
The Resurrection Morn
Mary Magdelene heard the rush of bare feet along the stone floor. The others were ready, but she was still gathering the herbs she was responsible for. Burial is not a common ritual, maybe twice a year with an average harvest and everyone well fed. But this was not an ordinary burial-they were finishing the burial of the Rabbi, who had been killed by the Romans last Friday. The Sabbath was closing in, and the law forbade contact with the dead on Sabbath, so he had to be laid to rest before the sun set and the Sabbath began. A tear suddenly ran down her cheek into the herbal jar, and she realized that she was crying. He had been such a wonderful Rabbi, so kind and wise. Why did they have to kill him?
She wiped her cheek and wrapped the herbs into large napkin. As she hurried to the doorway, she saw that several others had entered the street; there was Mary the mother of the Rabbi, Salome, and others of Mary's group of friends. It was still very dark, not a star was to be seen, and the torches the women held cast dancing shadows along the walls. They saw her, and began to walk slowly down the narrow twisting street. As she caught up, they all picked up the pace to get to the tomb and anoint the Rabbi.
The Rabbi's Mother smiled at her in a frail and soft way, and said, "Mary, do you think you can find the way in this darkness? My eyes are not young anymore."
And still full of tears, she thought. Mother Mary had wept so much for her son, but she said that this had been told to her years ago by an angel. She had always envied the Mother Mary so much. She was so respected, and must have been proud of her son the Rabbi.
"I can find it, Mary." She took Mary's hand and led her to find her son's tomb.
As they came to the gate, Mary Magdelene wondered how they would talk the guards at gate and the tomb into letting them complete their tasks. These soldiers were so crude, and might attack or rape them, and then lie to protect each other. No Roman judge would believe a Jewish woman over that of a soldier. But she loved the Rabbi so much she would risk anything to make sure he was properly buried with the traditional spices and ointments. There had simply been no time before.
She noticed the guards at the gate were agitated.
"What are you doing out at this hour?" one of the gate guards barked at them.
"Is it safe for us to pass?" Mother Mary asked.
"Yes, but what are YOU doing out?"
"We need to finish burying my son."
The guards eyes grew large with fright. There had been rumors that the night the Rabbi had died that evil omens had occurred across the city. The sky had darkened all that day, even at the noon hour. Some said that it was an eclipse, but Peter said that eclipses of the sun don't occur during Passover, because the moon is always full at Passover. The guard stepped back, "Go on about your business, woman. But be back here before my shift ends, or I will place it in my report."
That would be at noon Mary Magdelene knew. Not much time!
Mother Mary touched him gently on the shoulder, "We will be back before the first hour."
The guard seemed relieved and slowly walked back to the wall, wrapped his cloak tightly around himself, and leaned against the wall. "Did you feel the quake earlier this morning?" he asked.
"Yes," Mother Mary said softly.
"I saw a bright light from over there," he gestured toward the tomb area. "And I thought I heard men screaming." The guard took another drink from his wineskin, "It is not a good night to be about outside the walls. Go carefully."
Silently, the group of cloaked and hooded women made their way into the dark woods, yet more frightened from the guards words. They clutched their shawls tight and passed into the trees east of the city, and darkness seemed to engulf them despite the light from their torches.
Peter rolled over and saw John sleeping like a baby. How can he sleep after all that had happened? The Rabbi unjustly killed by his enemies, using the power of the Romans to do their own dirty deeds. The Rabbi's religious revival, the efforts to rid Israel of the hated Romans, to crown him Messiah (I know that He was, he thought), all that was gone, blown away in the Westerly winds. Dust into the Heavens. All he had hoped for was gone. But something else greatly troubled him, and he couldn't even put it into conscious thought.
He jumped to his feet, and threw on his cloak. John opened an eye.
"Must you be so noisy?"
"The women have already left to complete the burial."
John sat up. "I lost track of the time, it has been dark for so long."
"Yes. And we must hurry if we are to see him for the last time." And to ask his forgiveness.
John pulled his cloak around himself.
"Is that a new cloak?" Peter asked.
"Yes, it is"
"Well, what happened to the other one, the one that James gave you?"
"I lost it" John said irritably as he tugged a piece of bread from the fresh loaf the women had made that morning.
"Well, then how did you lose it?" Peter was not going to let it go.
John tore a big bite from the piece of bread and glared at Peter, "I shed it to elude some fellows at the trial."
Peter laughed, "Well, I hope the person who ended up with it appreciates your charity."
As Peter stepped through the doorway, he saw the sunrise in a breaking glow of light, and he heard a rooster crow, and his heart sank in his chest. John had been ready to make an angry retort, but saw Peter's sunken eyes, and walked up and embraced him instead. With his arm over Peter's shoulder, they walked toward the tomb.
Mary Magdelene crept up to the tomb area and looked for the guards. She wanted to get an idea of what their mood was before they entered. If they were drunk and wild, then only the Mother, Salome and she would go in and they would leave the others outside the area. But she hoped they would be in a better mood at the thought of leaving their shift and would roll the stone away for them. It was so big, that stone, and they would not be able to move it without help. The men had been so listless and saddened the last two days, and no one wanted to bother them. She was surprised to not hear the guards from where she was, and moved forward to see what was going on.
She was shocked by what she saw, and ran back to the Mother, "The guards are gone and the tomb lays open!"
Mother Mary was aghast, and hurried to the open tomb as the other women scurried behind her. Not one guard was around, and Mary looked into the Tomb itself. It was empty!
"Where have they taken my sons remains?" she cried. She looked around, "Where is Mary Magdelene?"
"Do not be afraid, Mary, nor amazed." Two young men in radiant white clothing had entered the tomb.
Mary became frightened and fell to her knees, as did the women behind her.
"I know that you look for Jesus, your son, but why look for the living among the dead? He is risen, as He had said. Remember how He had told you in Galilee that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men and be crucified? And that on the third day He would rise again?"
Then these things came back to Mother Mary's mind. Yes, she could recall His words now.
"Come, Mary, and see the place where they had laid Him!"
The second man said, "Yes, it is amazing that men would want to entomb the Lord of Life itself, and yet more amazing that He would allow it done, but hurry to Peter and the others that they might not grieve any more. Tell them that the Lord has risen and He will meet with all of you in Galilee."
Then the first one spoke again, "Yes, go now and tell them the good news; the Lord has conquered Death itself!"
The women slowly stood, first Mother Mary, then Salome and the others, and they hurried out. Though they were filled with fear, there was a great joy as well; could it be true? Could the Rabbi be alive again?
Mary Magdelene was running down the path they had taken to the tomb. Peter and John were just emerging from the city gate as she caught Peter by the arm, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him!"
Peter grew despondent. It wasn't enough that they murdered Him, now they must desecrate His grave as well? He and John started running toward the tomb, cutting across the groves and fields.
What other humiliation must that good man endure? he thought. John had gotten way ahead of him, and Peter redoubled his efforts to catch up.
John got to the tomb first and looked in as he leaned against the opening, catching his breath. Peter didn't hesitate and ran on inside and searched around. It was empty; only the linen clothes were left in a heap, and the head cloth was rolled up and at the place where His head had been laid. Mary Magdelene was telling the truth. What could this possibly mean? Disappointed at not seeing the Rabbi, Peter took the cloth and put it in his robe-at least he can remember the Rabbi when he looked on these. He and John stared at each other in confusion, why would someone steal His body and take the time to remove the burial garments? They walked back toward their house silently, trying to make sense of it all.
Continued....
If anyone enjoyes the tale of that first Easter, then that is good, too, but it is not the purpose to entertain here, but to demonstrate a simple thing.
The Resurrection Morn
Mary Magdelene heard the rush of bare feet along the stone floor. The others were ready, but she was still gathering the herbs she was responsible for. Burial is not a common ritual, maybe twice a year with an average harvest and everyone well fed. But this was not an ordinary burial-they were finishing the burial of the Rabbi, who had been killed by the Romans last Friday. The Sabbath was closing in, and the law forbade contact with the dead on Sabbath, so he had to be laid to rest before the sun set and the Sabbath began. A tear suddenly ran down her cheek into the herbal jar, and she realized that she was crying. He had been such a wonderful Rabbi, so kind and wise. Why did they have to kill him?
She wiped her cheek and wrapped the herbs into large napkin. As she hurried to the doorway, she saw that several others had entered the street; there was Mary the mother of the Rabbi, Salome, and others of Mary's group of friends. It was still very dark, not a star was to be seen, and the torches the women held cast dancing shadows along the walls. They saw her, and began to walk slowly down the narrow twisting street. As she caught up, they all picked up the pace to get to the tomb and anoint the Rabbi.
The Rabbi's Mother smiled at her in a frail and soft way, and said, "Mary, do you think you can find the way in this darkness? My eyes are not young anymore."
And still full of tears, she thought. Mother Mary had wept so much for her son, but she said that this had been told to her years ago by an angel. She had always envied the Mother Mary so much. She was so respected, and must have been proud of her son the Rabbi.
"I can find it, Mary." She took Mary's hand and led her to find her son's tomb.
As they came to the gate, Mary Magdelene wondered how they would talk the guards at gate and the tomb into letting them complete their tasks. These soldiers were so crude, and might attack or rape them, and then lie to protect each other. No Roman judge would believe a Jewish woman over that of a soldier. But she loved the Rabbi so much she would risk anything to make sure he was properly buried with the traditional spices and ointments. There had simply been no time before.
She noticed the guards at the gate were agitated.
"What are you doing out at this hour?" one of the gate guards barked at them.
"Is it safe for us to pass?" Mother Mary asked.
"Yes, but what are YOU doing out?"
"We need to finish burying my son."
The guards eyes grew large with fright. There had been rumors that the night the Rabbi had died that evil omens had occurred across the city. The sky had darkened all that day, even at the noon hour. Some said that it was an eclipse, but Peter said that eclipses of the sun don't occur during Passover, because the moon is always full at Passover. The guard stepped back, "Go on about your business, woman. But be back here before my shift ends, or I will place it in my report."
That would be at noon Mary Magdelene knew. Not much time!
Mother Mary touched him gently on the shoulder, "We will be back before the first hour."
The guard seemed relieved and slowly walked back to the wall, wrapped his cloak tightly around himself, and leaned against the wall. "Did you feel the quake earlier this morning?" he asked.
"Yes," Mother Mary said softly.
"I saw a bright light from over there," he gestured toward the tomb area. "And I thought I heard men screaming." The guard took another drink from his wineskin, "It is not a good night to be about outside the walls. Go carefully."
Silently, the group of cloaked and hooded women made their way into the dark woods, yet more frightened from the guards words. They clutched their shawls tight and passed into the trees east of the city, and darkness seemed to engulf them despite the light from their torches.
Peter rolled over and saw John sleeping like a baby. How can he sleep after all that had happened? The Rabbi unjustly killed by his enemies, using the power of the Romans to do their own dirty deeds. The Rabbi's religious revival, the efforts to rid Israel of the hated Romans, to crown him Messiah (I know that He was, he thought), all that was gone, blown away in the Westerly winds. Dust into the Heavens. All he had hoped for was gone. But something else greatly troubled him, and he couldn't even put it into conscious thought.
He jumped to his feet, and threw on his cloak. John opened an eye.
"Must you be so noisy?"
"The women have already left to complete the burial."
John sat up. "I lost track of the time, it has been dark for so long."
"Yes. And we must hurry if we are to see him for the last time." And to ask his forgiveness.
John pulled his cloak around himself.
"Is that a new cloak?" Peter asked.
"Yes, it is"
"Well, what happened to the other one, the one that James gave you?"
"I lost it" John said irritably as he tugged a piece of bread from the fresh loaf the women had made that morning.
"Well, then how did you lose it?" Peter was not going to let it go.
John tore a big bite from the piece of bread and glared at Peter, "I shed it to elude some fellows at the trial."
Peter laughed, "Well, I hope the person who ended up with it appreciates your charity."
As Peter stepped through the doorway, he saw the sunrise in a breaking glow of light, and he heard a rooster crow, and his heart sank in his chest. John had been ready to make an angry retort, but saw Peter's sunken eyes, and walked up and embraced him instead. With his arm over Peter's shoulder, they walked toward the tomb.
Mary Magdelene crept up to the tomb area and looked for the guards. She wanted to get an idea of what their mood was before they entered. If they were drunk and wild, then only the Mother, Salome and she would go in and they would leave the others outside the area. But she hoped they would be in a better mood at the thought of leaving their shift and would roll the stone away for them. It was so big, that stone, and they would not be able to move it without help. The men had been so listless and saddened the last two days, and no one wanted to bother them. She was surprised to not hear the guards from where she was, and moved forward to see what was going on.
She was shocked by what she saw, and ran back to the Mother, "The guards are gone and the tomb lays open!"
Mother Mary was aghast, and hurried to the open tomb as the other women scurried behind her. Not one guard was around, and Mary looked into the Tomb itself. It was empty!
"Where have they taken my sons remains?" she cried. She looked around, "Where is Mary Magdelene?"
"Do not be afraid, Mary, nor amazed." Two young men in radiant white clothing had entered the tomb.
Mary became frightened and fell to her knees, as did the women behind her.
"I know that you look for Jesus, your son, but why look for the living among the dead? He is risen, as He had said. Remember how He had told you in Galilee that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men and be crucified? And that on the third day He would rise again?"
Then these things came back to Mother Mary's mind. Yes, she could recall His words now.
"Come, Mary, and see the place where they had laid Him!"
The second man said, "Yes, it is amazing that men would want to entomb the Lord of Life itself, and yet more amazing that He would allow it done, but hurry to Peter and the others that they might not grieve any more. Tell them that the Lord has risen and He will meet with all of you in Galilee."
Then the first one spoke again, "Yes, go now and tell them the good news; the Lord has conquered Death itself!"
The women slowly stood, first Mother Mary, then Salome and the others, and they hurried out. Though they were filled with fear, there was a great joy as well; could it be true? Could the Rabbi be alive again?
Mary Magdelene was running down the path they had taken to the tomb. Peter and John were just emerging from the city gate as she caught Peter by the arm, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him!"
Peter grew despondent. It wasn't enough that they murdered Him, now they must desecrate His grave as well? He and John started running toward the tomb, cutting across the groves and fields.
What other humiliation must that good man endure? he thought. John had gotten way ahead of him, and Peter redoubled his efforts to catch up.
John got to the tomb first and looked in as he leaned against the opening, catching his breath. Peter didn't hesitate and ran on inside and searched around. It was empty; only the linen clothes were left in a heap, and the head cloth was rolled up and at the place where His head had been laid. Mary Magdelene was telling the truth. What could this possibly mean? Disappointed at not seeing the Rabbi, Peter took the cloth and put it in his robe-at least he can remember the Rabbi when he looked on these. He and John stared at each other in confusion, why would someone steal His body and take the time to remove the burial garments? They walked back toward their house silently, trying to make sense of it all.
Continued....
