Were the women informed about Jesus' body's fate? Yes, by a young man/angels (Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4; Matthew 28:7). No, Mary found the tomb empty and was confused (John 20:2).

1. Introduction to the Question

The question arises from comparing the Gospel accounts concerning the women at the empty tomb on the morning of the resurrection. Some passages mention angels conveying news that Jesus has risen (e.g., Mark 16:5; Matthew 28:2; Luke 24:4), while John 20:2 presents Mary Magdalene apparently unaware of what happened to Jesus’ body. This entry explores the relevant biblical texts, examines the context, and clarifies how these accounts are best understood as consistent records of the same event.

2. The Scriptural Passages in Focus

A. Mark 16:5–6

“When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they put Him.’”

Mark emphasizes a “young man” in a white robe who delivers the proclamation that Jesus is risen.

B. Luke 24:4–5, 23

“While they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in radiant garments stood beside them. As the women bowed their faces to the ground in terror, the men asked them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead?’” (Luke 24:4–5)

“They came and told us that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that Jesus was alive.” (Luke 24:23)

Here, Luke describes “two men in radiant garments,” later understood to be angels, delivering the same message: Jesus is alive.

C. Matthew 28:2, 5–7

“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, rolled away the stone, and sat on it.” (Matthew 28:2)

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead...’” (Matthew 28:5–7)

Matthew singles out the angel who rolled back the stone and explicitly instructs the women to announce the resurrection to the disciples.

D. John 20:1–2

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him!’”

In John’s account—at least in these initial verses—Mary evidently does not mention seeing anyone or receiving angelic information; instead, she reports that Jesus’ body is missing.

3. Apparent Tension in the Narratives

Comparing the Gospel accounts can suggest tension between them. Some texts show angels telling the women that Jesus is risen, while John chapter 20 shows Mary Magdalene leaving the tomb with no explicit mention of angels at that moment. This leads to the question of whether the women were indeed told about the resurrection at the initial discovery of the empty tomb.

However, the Gospels often present different facets of the same event. It is important to consider each writer’s unique perspective and the timing of when the women encountered angels or left to alert the disciples. There could have been separate moments at the tomb—one in which Mary first sees the stone rolled away and immediately runs to tell Peter and John (John 20:2), another when she returns alongside or separate from the other women and encounters angels (or the risen Christ, John 20:11–18).

4. Harmonization and Logical Progression

A. Multiple Visits and Varied Timelines

One plausible explanation is that Mary Magdalene came to the tomb very early, noticed it was open, and—without further investigation—ran to tell Peter and John. During or after her departure, other women who arrived or stayed behind witnessed the angels inside the tomb. By the time some of them returned with the disciples, Mary was still unaware of what the angels had announced to the others. This sequence accounts for why Mary said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” while other reports mention angelic declarations of the resurrection.

B. Merger of Distinct Experiences

The Gospels can emphasize different details. Mark and Luke focus on the message delivered to the women by one or two angels. Matthew also underscores how one angel rolled back the stone and addressed them. John, however, emphasizes Mary’s individual experience: her first reaction and confusion. Later in John 20:11–18, Mary encounters the risen Christ, but that scene occurs after she reports the body missing to Peter and John. These varied accounts enrich the narrative, demonstrating independent testimonies that converge upon the central fact: the tomb was empty and Jesus had risen.

C. Consistency of Resurrection Proclamation

All four Gospels confirm that angels (or “men in white” who are understood to be angels) ultimately declared Jesus’ resurrection to the women. The immediate confusion on Mary’s part in John 20:2 does not negate the angelic announcement; it reflects her emotional state and earlier departure from the scene—before hearing the explanation from the angelic messengers.

5. Considerations for Reliability

While the Gospels vary in their emphases, manuscript evidence strongly supports the authenticity of these accounts. Early Greek manuscripts preserved these passages consistently. Ancient extrabiblical sources, such as the writings of first- and second-century Christians, corroborate the belief that it was the women who first discovered the empty tomb.

Moreover, the fact that women were the first witnesses—unusual in a first-century context—argues against the idea of fabrication. This detail adds credibility to the historical substance of the event because authors in that era would have naturally designated men as the primary witnesses if they were seeking to craft a more “believable” story by cultural standards.

6. The Theological Implication

The resurrection is central to the faith, consistently announced in all Gospel traditions. The different accounts of how the women learned (or did not learn immediately) that Jesus had risen highlight separate vantage points rather than contradictions. Each Gospel narrative leads to the same conclusion: Jesus’ body was no longer in the tomb, and the divine messengers declared that He had risen.

This is the central message that undergirds all Christian theology: “He is not here; He has risen!” (Mark 16:6). It fulfills the promise Jesus made that He would rise on the third day (cf. Matthew 16:21), and it firmly establishes the hope of the resurrection for believers (1 Corinthians 15:20).

7. Summary and Conclusion

• In Mark, Matthew, and Luke, angels inform the women directly that Jesus has risen.

• In John, Mary Magdalene’s initial account highlights her early departure before encountering angels or Jesus, leaving her in confusion until later.

• These seemingly divergent snapshots reflect multi-layered events unfolding in real time, amplifying a reliable yet variegated witness to Jesus’ resurrection.

• Ancient manuscript evidence supports the consistency of these accounts, and historical-cultural considerations (such as women as the first witnesses) bolster their authenticity.

Thus, the correct understanding is that, indeed, an angel (or angels) told the women what happened to Jesus’ body—He had risen. Mary Magdalene’s early report in John reflects her immediate response to an unvisited or partially inspected tomb. Soon after, she and the other women came to realize the full truth proclaimed by the angels: “He is risen!”