Resurrection narratives and the ascension

Introduction to the Resurrection and Ascension

Welcome! You have reached the final and most exciting part of Paper 1: The Four Gospels. In this chapter, we explore the Resurrection narratives and the Ascension. For Christians, these events are the "heart" of their faith—the moment where hope overcomes despair.

In previous chapters, we looked at the trials and the crucifixion. Here, we look at how each of the four Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) describes the discovery of the empty tomb and Jesus’ appearances to his followers. While they share the same big message, they each highlight different details. Don’t worry if the differences seem confusing at first; we will break them down together!

The Empty Tomb: Four Perspectives

The story begins on the first day of the week (Sunday) when women go to the tomb. This is a common thread in all four Gospels, but the details vary according to each writer's focus.

Matthew 28:1-8: The Dramatic Event
Matthew includes a great earthquake and describes an angel descending from heaven to roll back the stone. The guards are so terrified they "became like dead men." The angel tells the women that Jesus has risen and instructs them to tell the disciples to meet him in Galilee.

Mark 16:1-8: The Original Ending
In the earliest manuscripts of Mark, the story ends at verse 8. Three women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome) find the stone already rolled away. Inside, they see a young man in a white robe who tells them Jesus is risen. Interestingly, Mark 16:8 says the women fled in terror and told no one because they were afraid.

Luke 24:1-12: The Perplexed Disciples
Luke mentions two men in dazzling clothes. They remind the women of Jesus’ own prophecy: that he must be crucified and rise on the third day. When the women tell the eleven apostles, the men think it is an "idle tale." However, Peter runs to the tomb and sees the linen cloths, wondering what had happened.

John 20:1-10: The Race to the Tomb
John’s account focuses on Mary Magdalene, who finds the stone removed and runs to find Peter and the "other disciple" (the Beloved Disciple). The two men race to the tomb. The Beloved Disciple arrives first, but Peter enters first. They see the burial cloths folded neatly, which suggests the body wasn't stolen in a hurry.

Quick Review: Common Elements

• The event happens on the first day of the week.
• Women are the first to discover the empty tomb.
• A messenger (angel or man) explains that Jesus is risen.

The Resurrection Appearances

The syllabus requires you to study the appearances in detail across all four Gospels. These stories prove that Jesus was not just a "ghost," but was physically alive in a new, glorified way.

Matthew’s Narrative: Authority and Mission

Meeting the Women (28:8-10): As the women run to tell the disciples, Jesus meets them. They worship him by grabbing his feet—this shows he has a physical body.

The Guards' Report (28:11-15): This is unique to Matthew. The guards tell the chief priests what happened. The priests bribe the soldiers to say the disciples stole the body while they slept. Matthew includes this to address rumors circulating in his own time.

The Great Commission (28:16-20): On a mountain in Galilee, Jesus appears to the eleven. He declares he has "all authority" and commands them to "go and make disciples of all nations." This is a key text for the mission of the early church.

Mark’s Narrative: The Longer Ending

Mark 16:9-18: Most scholars agree these verses were added later. They summarize appearances to Mary Magdalene and two disciples walking in the country. Jesus upbraids the eleven for their lack of faith and commissions them to preach the gospel, promising signs like healing and speaking in new tongues.

Luke’s Narrative: Recognition and Proof

The Road to Emmaus (24:13-35): Two disciples are walking and talking about Jesus’ death. Jesus joins them, but they don't recognize him. He explains how the Old Testament scriptures predicted the Messiah must suffer. They finally recognize him during the breaking of bread.

Appearance in Jerusalem (24:36-49): Jesus appears to the group. To prove he isn't a ghost, he shows his hands and feet and eats a piece of broiled fish. He explains that his resurrection is the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.

John’s Narrative: Personal Encounters

Mary Magdalene (20:11-18): Mary stays at the tomb crying. She thinks Jesus is the gardener until he calls her name: "Mary." This shows the personal nature of Jesus' relationship with his followers.

Thomas (20:24-29): Thomas refuses to believe until he can touch Jesus’ wounds. A week later, Jesus appears and invites him to do so. Thomas’ confession, "My Lord and my God!", is one of the highest titles given to Jesus in the Gospels.

The Sea of Tiberias (21:1-25): In this epilogue, Jesus helps the disciples catch 153 fish and cooks breakfast for them. He restores Peter by asking him three times, "Do you love me?", mirroring Peter’s three denials.

The Ascension

The Ascension marks the end of Jesus’ physical presence on Earth and his return to his Father in heaven. This is specifically recorded in the endings of Mark and Luke.

Mark 16:19-20: Jesus is taken up into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. This is a position of ultimate power and authority. The disciples then go out and preach everywhere.

Luke 24:50-53: Jesus leads the disciples to Bethany. As he blesses them, he withdraws and is carried into heaven. The disciples respond with joy and worship, staying in the Temple to praise God.

Analysis and Evaluation (AO2 Focus)

When you write your essays, you may be asked to evaluate the reliability or the purpose of these narratives. Here are some points to consider:

• Consistency vs. Contradiction: Some critics argue the differences in the Gospels (e.g., one angel vs. two) make them unreliable. However, others argue that these differences are natural in eyewitness accounts—if they were identical, it might look like the authors had conspired to lie.
• The Role of Women: In the first century, a woman’s testimony was often not legally valid. If the writers were making the story up, they likely would have chosen men to find the tomb. The fact that women are the primary witnesses adds "historical weight" to the story.
• Physicality: Why do Luke and John emphasize Jesus eating or being touched? Likely to combat early false teachings (like Gnosticism) that suggested Jesus was only a spirit and didn't really have a body.

Key Takeaways

1. The Empty Tomb: Found by women; reported by all four gospels but with different details (angels, earthquakes, timing).
2. Physicality: The resurrected Jesus is not a ghost; he eats, can be touched, and has a physical body, though he can also appear in locked rooms.
3. Galilee vs. Jerusalem: Matthew focus on Galilee; Luke focuses on Jerusalem. Both locations are important for the spread of the Gospel.
4. The Ascension: Jesus returns to God’s right hand, shifting the mission from his physical presence to the disciples' work.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse the Resurrection with the Ascension. The Resurrection is Jesus coming back to life on Earth; the Ascension is Jesus leaving Earth to go to Heaven.