Sequence of Events Surrounding the Resurrection
By Dr. Henry Harbuck Although few Bibles attempt to harmonize the sequence of events surrounding the resurrection , the following resource taken from my New Millennia Commentary on Matthew will help: 1. On the day after the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene was the first woman to visit the grave site. When she noticed the boulder had been rolled away, she quickly went to tell Peter and John (John 20:1-2). 2. The second group of women arrived immediately after Mary Magdalene had left the site. To their amazement, there had been an earthquake (28:2) and they saw an “angel of the Lord” who had rolled the boulder away from the sepulcher’s entrance and was sitting on it (Matt. 8:2). Though they were told to “inform Peter and the other disciples,” they were afraid. So they kept the miracle to themselves and told no one (Mark 16:7-8). (a.) The response of the guards: At the sight of the angel, who probably had a “fiery appearance,” the guards be...