Mark 16 vs Luke 24 did they believe or not

Mark 16 vs Luke 24 did they believe or not

Is there a contradiction between the the accounts of the disciples belief in the resurrection of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark and Luke. 

It is claimed that Mark records the disbelief of the disciples after they are told that Jesus had resurrected by the two disciples Jesus had appeared to on the road to Emmaus, while Luke records that the disciples believed the account. 

Lets have a look at these two accounts. Marks account is much shorter than Lukes. 

Mark 16:12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Here, we see that Mark states that the “residue”, which just means the rest, did not believe them.

Lukes account of Jesus appearing to the two men contains much more detail and has Jesus explaining the scripture to them regarding his resurrection.  The narrative begins in verse 13 and goes through to verse 35.

However, it is the narrative regarding the two disciples telling the “eleven” disciples that is used to show the two narratives contradict.

Luke 24: 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

It is asserted that the disciples believed the two disciples even saying that the Lord has risen and appeared to Simon, here it would seem that they not only believed, but had already believed prior to the two men proclaiming the resurrection to them. 

But this is a misunderstanding of what Luke actually records. 

Luke very clearly states that the disciples did not believe just a few verses later. 

Luke 24:41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

So if they were still yet to believe after they had been told that Jesus had resurrected by the two disciples, what did Luke mean in verses 33-35?  Does Luke actually contridict himself?

No, he does not.

Despite the claims, Luke doesn’t state that the disciples believed or that they had said that Jesus had risen and appeared to Simon. There is no declaration of belief, that is read into the narrative on the understanding that it is the 11 that proclaim Jesus has risen and showed himself to Simon, and it is this assumption that creates the contradiction.

Luke tells us that the two men went back to Jerusalem and found the 11 AND them that gathered with them.

Luke 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 

There were others there, not just the disciples when the two men found them. 

It is assumed that the 11 were the ones that had stated that Jesus had risen, but the verse does not demand that, but rather it can, is better read, that it is them that were gathered with them that were declaring that Jesus had risen and showed himself to Simon. 

Luke 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon

This statement should be connected with those gathered with the disciples.

It is them that were with the that had made the declaration, this very likely a reference to the women that had returned to the disciples after they had encountered the risen Jesus at the tomb, as Luke himself records.

Luke 24:8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 it was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 

This not only reads better, it can be supported through scripture and understanding and removes any contradiction.

Both Mark and Luke tell us that after the women returned from the Tomb they were not believed

Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not,

So it is just as plausible that the women were the ones saying he was risen but they were at this point not believed, just like the two disciples. It took Jesus showing himself to the disciples, showing them the holes in his hands and explaining the scriptures to them before they believed that Jesus had risen.

Luke 24: 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43And he took it, and did eat before them.44And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 36 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Thus while it can be asserted there is a contradiction in the scripture, it can only be asserted if we read the contradiction into the scriptures and ignore any possible answer. 

The Bible can always answer any assertion of contradictions. 

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