If the records of the four evangelists were uninspired, we should have found them acting pretty much like pre-sent-day newspaper correspondents, trying to emulate each other in the number of details given, and in the recital of strange and startling events. We find a complete absence of any such rivalry in the four Gospels. To compare the four accounts of the events connected with our Lord's resurrection is very interesting. For instance, Matthew does not record the Lord's ascension; Mark gives it in one verse, Luke gives it slightly more fully, adding information as to it in Acts 1:7-117And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:7‑11); whilst John does not mention the ascension at all, save that it is implied in the words of our Lord spoken to Peter concerning John, " If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" (John 21:2323Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? (John 21:23)). Our Lord could not come from heaven, unless He had previously gone to heaven.
Only Matthew gives us the concocted story of the chief priests that the body of our Lord was stolen by His disciples. Two Gospels give the incident of the two disciples going to Emmaus. Mark refers to it in two verses. Luke, gives great detail, running into twenty-three verses. Matthew does not mention our Lord appearing to the eleven disciples, whilst Mark, Luke and John do, this last alone telling of the Lord appearing a second time to the eleven, especially mentioning Thomas, surnamed Didymus. Matthew tells us of the eleven disciples meeting the Lord as appointed on a mountain in Galilee. Mark mentions the same appointment, but says nothing of the actual meeting. Luke and John say nothing about it.
John alone gives us the incident of Peter and six other disciples going a fishing, and the Lord standing on the shore of the sea of Galilee to receive them with a fire of coals with broiled fish and bread. Mark specially emphasizes the unbelieving attitude of the disciples to the testimony of our Lord's resurrection. See Mark 16:11, 13, 1411And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. (Mark 16:11)
13And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. (Mark 16:13‑14). Of all the evangelists John gives us the fullest account of our Lord's resurrection activities. This is all the more noteworthy seeing the Gospel of John was writ-ten more than thirty years after the other Gospels had been in circulation.
We are indebted to the Apostle Paul for further information, not given by the four evangelists. We are told in 1 Cor. 15 of our Lord's special appearances to the Apostles Peter and James, whilst the former is alluded to in Luke 24:3434Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. (Luke 24:34). He confirms that our Lord saw the eleven disciples twice. It is through Paul alone that we know of the Lord being seen by about five hundred brethren at once.
Whilst two evangelists only give us the account of the virgin birth of our Lord; and two only mention His temptation in the wilderness, and John says not a word about his transfiguration, yet all four evangelists give us in full detail the story of our Lord's sufferings and sacrificial atoning death on the cross of Calvary. This is to be specially noted as of great significance.
One marvels at the restraint put upon the sacred writers by the hand of inspiration. Much, using the phraseology of newspaper correspondents, which would have made "good copy," is not mentioned. For instance the outstanding miracle of the raising to life of Lazarus is only mentioned by John, and is not even alluded to in the synoptic gospels. The accounts given in the four gospels bear the verisimilitude of unvarnished truth.