ituttut said:
Part 3 ituttut to Smoky - Finish.
As to the women, I believe I've mentioned here before the two Mary's were at the gate when it was opened. Were there more than the two? Here, I must say I believe Matthew is certainly being controlled by the Holy Spirit, for some things said would have to be "hearsay-gossip-rumor". Things are just too specifically stated. Who were the only ones to see the "angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it"? And in verse 3 who saw "His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow" at that particular time? Did Matthew get this information from those in verse 4? "And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." The men "fainted", and were gone when the women later arrived. I believe Matthew would like some collaboration before writing down something of that nature, and I don't believe his information came from these guards.
Could the collaboration be the "women" in verse 5? This will not mesh with the rest of scripture, for scripture shows the women were wondering who would roll back the "stone". Those women are coming when it was "dark" turning to "light".
But Matthew says their day was just beginning at 6P.M. Evidently their plans were changed by the "earthquake".
We can see by the words of Matthew just at sundown and at the changing to the next day, is the time of the earthquake. The women had to be "all shook up". We don't have the details, but these two women were not at that time in an entourage to the tomb - it was just the two of them. This is a separate occurrence for these two women. When we get to Mark, and John I believe they help sort out the problem.
Matthew 28:1 "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre." Matthew puts us on the road to understanding. Matthew is saying they "came forth from their city to see. They knew the "stone" was in place. He does not place them at the sepulcher. It is the only verse that allows for the burial and the resurrection to agree with all of scripture, His being in the earth for three days, and three nights, arising on the third day just as it closes.
He had to be put in the earth on a Wednesday for Thursday was a "high Sabbath Day, when no servile work could be done. If "preparation day" was on Thursday He has to be in the earth between 3 and 6 P.M., and that will not fit with the two going to Emmaus on Sunday, and this scenario has Him arising just before the beginning of Monday. We notice Matthew says nothing about there being any "morning light" for such a statement would negate the fact that day was turning into night when the earthquake occurred.
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"At the rising of the sun" would mean the darkness is receding for the sunrays were just beginning. Mark is repeating what those he trusted relayed to him, and what he thought was important, with the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
We notice, which looks to be an after thought (prodding of the Holy Ghost) in verse 9 we find early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. I believe John will confirm this for he has "first hand knowledge" the day it happened, and it came from Mary Magdalene. We must notice Mary Magdalene or any of the women don't say they saw the angel descend from heaven and roll away the stone. They were not there, but only those that " became as dead men. Not one woman among them.
Of course many will say Mark is to cut-off in chapter 16 at verse 8. The "higher critics", the intelligentsias, who ever they are, are trying to "kill two birds with one stone". What comes after messes up their thinking process as to the "resurrection", and to the "great commission" gospel. Removing either means the Holy Spirit has allowed "error" into His Word. I don't believe that for one minute.
Luke 24 tells us it is early morning at the rising of the sun when they got to the sepulcher with their spices. Luke says the women entered the tomb. Notice Luke makes no reference other than "they" in referring to the women. Luke confirms, but adds no new information, as I don't believe he was there, and will not spread misinformation." He reports exactly what the Spirit will allow.
John 20 is more specific about Mary Magdalene, and confirm's Mark (take all of Marks account away, and we really have a hard time believing even John). I believe John tells us Mary Magdalene was actually the first to arrive, by herself, before the others while it was still dark, before the rays of the sun appeared. Matthew tells us the same thing, but she has a companion at that time, and there was an earthquake. The women's plans were changed in an instant, and they then had other priorities.
The Holy Ghost has Mark include "He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, for she is the only one that arrives before the sun began to rise, telling us He arose in the "dark". Genesis tells us from the dark came the light. God doesn't miss a beat, does He. His Word does not deviate from the beginning as He works His will and His purpose. I believe we can use every "scrap of evidence that His Word gives us".
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So I can partly agree with your "These scriptures only say that these women found the Lord already risen when they got there when the angel rolled the stone away. The resurrection could have occurred anytime during the night or perhaps the previous evening. Doesn’t this make sense?"But we must make His arising on the "third" day, and also His coming forth on the "forth" day, a Sunday. A conundrum to be sure, but I believe it has now been solved.
<Snip>
Put into the tomb just nanoseconds (or minutes) on that "high Sabbath day", and arose on the "third day" the weekly Sabbath day, coming forth early the first day of the week. There just is not any other way that it could have happened. The Sabbath had to release Him to the first day of the week, appearing in human form sometime after 6A.M.
Repeating some quoted words of the post, "...I believe it has now been solved."
Yeah, I do agree as to the "solved" part, and it's a
whole lot simpler to 'solve' without all the gnashing of teeth, gyrations, and mental gymnastics required in the solution proffered.
Merely accept a 'Thursday' crucifixion, and the 'normal' Jewish reckoning of a part of a day (and hence a night) as usually used - that being "the part is as the whole" - without inventions cut from whole cloth, such as "nanoseconds", "just minutes", "the (so-called) Jewish Inclusivist Rule" (and why it is or is not valid and applicable, in one instance vs. another), "our Lord speaking of "three days and three nights" when He really meant exactly 72 hours but chose to say it in this manner, to 'make it more indistinguishable to some of His listeners, apparently'

, dancing through the hoops necessary to find a "forth (
sic - I presume you mean fourth) day", a phrase that nowhere appears in the NT, let alone in the context of the crucifixion and resurrection. (Although it is not a bad phrase for "the third day", the day that actually was the 'forth day', i.e., the day the Lord raised and came 'forth' from the tomb, which was found empty.)
One may add to the above, a
sub-silento 'ranking' of the levels of which writer is more "certainly being controlled by the Holy Spirit" in one gospel vis-a`-vis another, speculation about where Matthew 'got his information' (BTW, to my knowledge, Luke and John are the two that make some specific claim about their testimony, in their gospels; I am not aware if either Mathew or Mark make similar claims, altough it could be.), and on and on we can go,
ad nausea. (The 'nausea' comes from getting dizzy, trying to keep up with the circular logic I see here. :tongue3: )
In short, I see no reason (and no difference) between postulating a day in this week, of which Scripture seems to know nothing, be it a "Silent Wednesday" (to prop up a Friday Crucifixion) or a "Silent Friday" (to prop up a Wednesday Crucifixion), both of which actually require the Lord to 'travel' a distance beyond a "Sabbath Day's journey" (with a severe blow to both of these props), on the Sabbath before the triumphal entry- one coming to Bethany, and one from Bethany to Jerusalem. Likewise the statement in Luke 23 by the Emmaus disciples hits the props from the other end of this time period, as well. Do the math, carefully, from both ends, and get back to me on this one, guys and gals!
FTR, which 'ending' one accepts for Mark's gospel (I do not agree with the so-called 'short ending' of 8 verses for Mark 16, BTW) has absolutely zero bearing on when the crucifixion and resurrection occurred, although it does have additional details and subsequent events in the verses after verse eight.
So, hang in there Smoky! By and large, I believe you've got it right!
But I do happen to agree with one thing here posted- about some things that are sometimes said, are of the "hearsay-gossip-rumor" variety. And I can offer that I believe that any such would
never 
be found on the BB. And may I add that I also believe in low-priced lawyers, honest politicians, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy, as well. :laugh:
Ed