Angelic encounter

Monday, October 17, 2011: Matthew 28:5 – 8 (NKJV)

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

How does Matthew record the angelic encounter? One angel invited them to look into the empty tomb; the women did and ran away in fear and great joy.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011: Mark 16:4 – 8 (NKJV)

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

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.

How does Mark record the angelic encounter? One young man in a long, white robe invited them to see into the empty tomb; the women did and fled trembling and amazed.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011: Luke 24:2 – 10 (NKJV)

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” And they remembered His words.

Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.

How does Luke record the angelic encounter? Two men in shining garments removed the women’s perplexity by reminding them of Jesus’ words.

Thursday, October 20, 2011: John 20:11 – 18 (NKJV)

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 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. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

How does John record the angelic encounter? Two angels in white asked Mary why she was weeping.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Who were the women?

And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons (Matthew 27);

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, … and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem (Mark 15);

The women who followed Him from Galilee (Luke 23);

His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene (John 19)

How many angels were seen? Where were the angels?

An angel, sitting on the stone which he rolled away; a young man clothed in a long white robe inside the tomb; two men … in shining garments, beside the women; and two angels in white at the head & feet where the body had been.

Are the gospels inconsistent in this angelic encounter?

No, they merely give different accounts of the angelic encounters that different women had.