Atheists assert that the Gospel accounts cannot be reconciled or harmonized without making unreasonable assumptions. But upon closer inspection, most if not all of the alleged “disagreements” are not in the text but in the skeptic’s interpretation. For example:
Who carried the cross to the place of execution? Matthew, Mark and Luke say Simon, but John says Jesus. But is this what the text says? No. John says that Jesus started to carry the cross (probably the cross piece, light enough to carry if you have not been beaten to a bloody pulp) to the destination. It does not say He arrived at the place of execution still carrying the cross. So it seems a manufactured disagreement to support the contention that the bible is unreliable.
What were the exact words on the sign about Jesus head?
Mark, “The King of the Jews”
Matthew, “This is Jesus The King of the Jews”
Luke, “This is the King of the Jews
John, “Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews.”
But do any of the Gospels say that there account is exclusive, or could other words be on the sign? Note that Mark says “the king of the Jews, Luke adds, this is and Matthew adds Jesus, and John drops “this is” and adds the Nazarene. So if the sign read, “This is Jesus the Nazarene the King of the Jews”, then all four accounts would be in agreement. So it seems that the accounts of the inscription are not necessarily in disagreement, just differing based on what the author chose to include. Mark says the charge against him (Jesus) included the inscription “the king of the Jews”, but does not rule out the possibility that the inscription included some reference to Jesus (i.e. Jesus, or this is, or Jesus the Nazarene or a combination thereof). A similar observation can be made concerning Matthew, Luke and John. Also, John tells us the inscription was Aramaic, Latin and Greek, while the other Gospels do not include this detail. Again, a difference but not a disagreement, and if the words were not identical among the three languages, it is possible that Matthew, Luke and John quoted differing versions, with Mark making reference to the “charge” only and did not include the reference to Jesus in one or more of the versions.
What did the Robbers say?
Mark, they both hurled insults.
Matthew, same as Mark
Luke, one hurled insults, the other sided with Jesus.
John, nothing was recorded.
According to Matthew, both robbers were casting this insult, “He trusts in God, let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in him, for He said, I am the Son of God.” The insult recorded by Mark is, “Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe.” Luke says one of the robbers says “Are you not the Christ, save yourself and us”. The other robber then says, “Jesus remember me when you come in your Kingdom” demonstrating a faith in God. I think it is possible that the second robber wanted Jesus to prove he was the Christ and thus initially participated in hurling a challenging insult, but did not want to escape just punishment because of remorse based on his belief in the Father and so he rebuked the first robber. Again a difference in the accounts but not a disagreement. The difference in the words recorded could just be a difference in the wording of a repeated insult, all concerning the same point (save yourself and prove you are God) and the absence of the detail in John could be the result of John choosing to leave it out and include other details.
What were Jesus’ last words?
Mark, Jesus cried out, but the words if any were not recorded. (Mk. 15:37)
Matthew: Same as Mark (Mt. 27:50)
Luke: Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Lk. 23:46)
John: “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30)
Obviously Matthew and Mark could be referring to the same outcry as Luke. And if John is recording a prior statement because it ties in with the assignment acknowledged in John 17, then no disagreement is apparent. Jesus could have said, It is finished bowed his head and cried out, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit.” Again, the difference being in what the gospel author chose to include, but not creating a disagreement in the account.
Who went to the tomb with spices to prepare Jesus’ body.
Mark: 3 women on Sunday Morning just after sunrise.
Matthew: No record.
Luke: 4 or more women on Sunday morning very early while still dark.
John: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus on Friday before sundown.
Before we jump into this difference, lets review the texts concerning the women witnesses. Matthew (27:55) says that many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee witnessed the crucifixion. John says Mary, the mother of Jesus’ was a witness. He says Mary Magdalene was a witness. He says Mary, the wife of Clopas, was a witness. He says the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a witness. Now Mary the wife of Clopas may be the mother of James the younger and Joses. And the sister of Mary (mother of Jesus) may be Salmone, the mother of James and John. Additional ladies may also have been witnesses such as the mother of the sons of Zebedee if Salome is not she and Joanna.
On Friday, Jesus is taken down from the cross and placed in a nearby tomb. This is done by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. They put spice on the body and wrap Jesus’ body with linen. Luke (23:55-56) says the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee witnessed the body of Jesus either as it was being prepared or after it was prepared, and that among these unspecified number of women were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses. After this they go and prepare spices and perfume to take back to the tomb on Sunday morning. It appears they decided to obtain more spices on Sunday morning because Mark says Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of Joses and Salmone purchased spices on Sunday morning.
Now lets review Sunday Morning. It appears the ladies may have left for the tomb before sunrise, while it was still dark but perhaps very near first light. Mark 16:1 says Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James (the Younger) and Salome went to the tomb. While on their way, just after sunrise, they wonder who will roll the stone away because they had seen Joseph put it in place. Matthew’s account meshes well with Mark’s account. Matthew says Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (mother of James the Younger and Joses, and wife of Clopas) at dawn went to the tomb. The fact that Matthew only mentions two ladies does not indicate that others were not present. Luke (24:1) says an unspecified number of women took spices they had prepared, and went to the tomb. John 20:1 says while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. John indicates she was not alone in verse 2 with the phrase “we do not know where they have put him.”
In summary, the number of women is indeterminate but included at least three. There is no disagreement concerning the time of day or concerning the spices and perfumes.
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