Was Mary Magdalene the first person to visit the tomb as John implies or did the other women accompany her as Matthew and Mark state?
The seeming contradiction between John and Matthew and Mark can be resolved by assuming all the women were to meet together at the tomb and were on their way when the events happened. Therefore, Matthew and Mark are correct in referring to them as a group on their way to the tomb. If Mary arrived a bit earlier than the rest, then Johns account is correct. If the stone was rolled away and Mary looked in and found the tomb empty, it would be reasonable to conclude that she would leave immediately to tell Peter and John. This is what the Apostle John says happened. After Mary left, her other companions arrived at the tomb. The angels appeared to them, delivered their message, whereupon they left and ran to tell the disciples. So Mary was the first person to reach the tomb. If Jesus appeared to Mary first (Mark 16:9), why is it that after informing Peter and John, she stays at the tomb and begins to weep? If Mary were the first to see Jesus, why does she tell the angel, “They have taken my
