Easter

The details of the Easter story are more complex than many realize. See for yourself!

The Trial

The Gospels differ on the timing and details of Jesus' trial.

What day was Jesus put on trial?
  • Matthew: Jesus is put on trial after eating the Passover meal with his disciples. (26:17–20, 26:57-68)
  • Mark: Jesus is put on trial after eating the Passover meal with his disciples. (14:12–18, 14:53-65)
  • Luke: Jesus is put on trial after eating the Passover meal with his disciples. (22:7–15, 22:54-71)
  • John: Jesus is put on trial before the Passover meal; his trial and crucifixion occur on the Day of Preparation, before Passover begins. (18:28, 19:14)
How does Jesus respond to his accusations?
  • Matthew: Jesus is mostly silent before the council and Pilate, but affirms being the Messiah and Son of God when directly asked. (26:62-64, 27:11-14)
  • Mark: Jesus is silent before most accusations, but affirms being the Christ, the Son of the Blessed, to the high priest. (14:61-62, 15:2-5)
  • Luke: Jesus answers indirectly, saying "You say that I am" when asked if he is the Son of God or King of the Jews. (22:67-70, 23:3)
  • John: Jesus has extended dialogues with Pilate, discussing his kingdom and truth, then affirms his identity. (18:33-37, 19:9-11)
Who carried Jesus' cross?
  • Matthew: Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross. (27:32)
  • Mark: Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross. (15:21)
  • Luke: Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the cross. (23:26)
  • John: Jesus carries his own cross. (19:17)

(See Biblical Contradictions for more details.)

The Crucifixion

The Gospel accounts differ on key details of the crucifixion:

What time was Jesus crucified?
  • Mark: Jesus was crucified at the third hour (9am, 15:25).
  • John: Jesus was still before Pilate about the sixth hour (noon, 19:14-16).
What were Jesus' last words on the cross?
  • Mark: "My God, my god, why have you forsaken me?" (15:34)
  • Luke: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." (23:46)
  • John: "It is finished." (19:30)
What do the criminals crucified with Jesus do?
  • Mark: Both criminals mock Jesus (Mark 15:32).
  • Luke: One criminal mocks, the other defends Jesus and is promised paradise (Luke 23:39-43).

The Resurrection

The Gospels contain inconsistencies in their resurrection stories:

Who went to the tomb?
  • Matthew: Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" (28:1)
  • Mark: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome (16:1)
  • Luke: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women (24:10)
  • John: Mary Magdalene (20:1)
What did they see?
  • Matthew: One angel outside the tomb (28:2-5)
  • Mark: One young man inside the tomb (16:5)
  • Luke: Two men in dazzling clothes inside the tomb (24:4)
  • John: Two angels inside the tomb (20:12)
Who did Jesus appear to first?
  • Matthew: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (28:9)
  • Mark: None in original ending (16:8).
  • Luke: Two disciples on the road to Emmaus (24:13-16), then to Simon (Peter) (24:34)
  • John: Mary Magdalene (20:14-18)
What did the women do?
  • Matthew: Ran to tell the disciples (28:8)
  • Mark: Fled in fear and told no one (16:8)
  • Luke: Told the apostles (24:9-10)
  • John: Mary Magdalene runs to tell Peter and the beloved disciple (20:2)

(See Resurrection Accounts for more detail.)

Textual Variants

Some important textual variants in the Gospels affect the Easter story:

The Ending of Mark
  • Mark 16:9-20: The earliest manuscripts end at Mark 16:8, with the women fleeing the empty tomb and no resurrection appearances. Verses 9-20, which include appearances of the risen Jesus, are absent from the oldest copies and were added later. (Source)
Jesus Sweating Blood
  • Luke 22:43-44: The verses describing an angel strengthening Jesus and his sweat "like drops of blood" in Gethsemane are missing from some early manuscripts. (Source)
"Father, Forgive Them"
  • Luke 23:34: The saying "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" is absent from a third of our early and significant manuscripts. (Source)

These variants show that even the Easter accounts were not fixed from the beginning, but changed over time in the manuscript tradition.

(See New Testament Manuscripts for more.)