The Shepherd, April 2006
The Three Visits of Mary Magdalene, 3
Mary Magdalene went to the tomb alone “while it was still dark,” and without the spices and ointments. The other women came with the myrrh and spices “at sunrise” (16:2). The Lord did not appear to all of them but only to Mary Magdalene who, therefore, was not with the others (16:9). Mark names those who purchased the spices and ointments, and those who had watched the Lord’s burial, but does not repeat the names when he speaks about the bringing of the spices to the tomb.
Luke does not name the ones who prepared the myrrh, nor the ones who brought it to the tomb, but indicates that the two groups were not identical (“together with some others” - Luke 24:9). Evidently some of them had obtained myrrh and spices already on Friday after the Saviour’s death, but remained at rest on the Sabbath according to the law (Luke 23:55), while others purchased ointment and spices after the end of the prescribed Sabbath rest (Mark 16:1). Luke does not name the women who brought the spices, but only says of some, “returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to the other disciples. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the Mother of James who told this to the apostles” (Luke 24:10).
In fact, as John and Mark recall, it was Mary of Magdala who began the spreading of the good news. Since the news was spread to all the disciples in addition to the eleven, this did not happen all at once. The women had to go from house to house - not only the two Marys, but the other myrrh-bearers as well. The testimony of Mary relates to the words of the third Gospel and the Gospel of John, that Peter and John ran to the tomb. Peter entered the tomb and saw the linen winding strips.
Thus, the four gospels are in perfect agreement on this succession of events:
1) Some of the women purchased spices and ointment on Friday before the end of the day (Luke), while others, including Mary Magdalene, did so at the end of the Sabbath - after the sixth hour on Saturday (Mark).
2) Mary Magdalene left the others and went to the tomb at night before the morning of Sunday. There, she does not find the body of Christ (John).
3) She runs to tell Peter and John (Luke, John), and then stands alone outside the tomb weeping, when an angel appears to her, and then Jesus, whom she does not recognise. She rushes to Him, but is not allowed to touch Him.
4) Obeying His command, she goes to announce the news to the apostles (John, Mark) and the other disciples (Luke).
5) Not knowing about all this, the other myrrh-bearers come to the tomb and encounter the angels (Mark, Luke) and return too tearful to speak at first (Mark), but later also proclaim the news to everyone (Luke).
6) Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, already aware of the resurrection, go to look at the tomb and the Lord's burial bandages, which Peter and John had seen (Luke, John), but which Mary herself had not seen for herself. Coming to the tomb, this time both Marys enter it, as the angel advises them to (Matthew).
7) The angel now instructs them to confirm the news of the resurrection to the disciples and announce the coming of Christ’s ascension.
8) Now fully comprehending the events, both Marys hasten to find the apostles again, but meet the Saviour along the way, and this time, they are allowed to touch Him, embracing His feet (Matthew).
9) By the end of the day, not only the whole company of the disciples, but even the Pharisees and scribes have heard the news. These latter begin to attempt to cover up the facts. It is clear that the two Marys went to the tomb together after Mary Magdalene had already been there alone, and that both already knew of the resurrection.
Slightly edited - taken from the website of the St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Dallas, Texas
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