The Resurrection: The resurrection stands as the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The crucial importance of this historic event is clearly set forth by Paul in the fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians. If there is no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised (v. 13), faith is useless (v. 14), the apostolic witness is false (v. 15), believers are still in their sins (v. 17) and are to be pitied (v. 19). The account of the events surrounding the resurrection is given in each of the four Gospels. John tells of Mary Magdalene finding the tomb empty and running to tell Peter and John. Jesus then appears to Mary and later that evening to the eleven disciples who had gathered behind locked doors.

The synoptic accounts run parallel, but several differences are found. It is hardly correct, …