Some people struggle with the apparent contradictions in the story of Jesus' resurrection. Why does John and Luke mention two angels and Matthew mentions only one? Why does Matthew's story seem to indicate that the angel was sitting on the rock and John specifically states that two angels were sitting in the tomb? Why does Matthew and Luke say that the angels spoke to all the women and John tells only about Mary Magdalene? Why does Matthew say the group of women held Jesus' feet and worshiped him, but John only mentions Mary Magdalene?
First it is important to remember John's entire focus is "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and that believing you might have life in his name" (John 20:31). Through out his book he limits the stories to the bear minimum, leaving out many details so that the entire focus is on that message.
Secondly, a person can mention only the angel that spoke, ignoring the silent angel. Thus both people are telling a factual account. Thirdly Mary Magdalene most likely was the only one who spoke to the angels out of the group of women who were there. So John only mentions her. Fourthly, Matthew does not state that the angel was still sitting on the stone when the women arrived, only that when the soldiers were there the angel had sat on the stone. He and his partner could easily have moved into the tomb by the time the women arrived.
Fifthly Matthew says the women held him by the feet and worshiped him. John again focuses only on Mary Magdalene, the organizer and spokes person of the women.
Mark says the women did not tell anyone because they were afraid (Mark 16:7-8), yet Matthew says the women all ran to tell Peter (Matthew 28:1-8). Mark is pointing out that the women did not tell people as they ran, while Matthew focuses on the interaction with the disciples.
Next time we will look at John's varied story about the resurrection.
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