Each of the gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John included an account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Their stories are varied and include details, some of which are difficult to harmonize. But all four are clear that Jesus was crucified, buried indicating that He had died, and was raised from the dead on the third day.
One of the details of all four accounts is the inclusion of women as witnesses to the empty tomb and resurrection. This is stunning for women were not only on the low rung of society’s ladder, their testimony was not to be admitted. This seems to indicate that the gospel writers wrote what really happened even if it might have been less credible to the society at large.
The writers also include the unbelief of the disciples. They did not immediately believe that Jesus was raised form the dead. This destroys the argument of critics known as hyper suggestibility. That is, the disciples so expected the resurrection that they created or imagined the appearances of Christ and believed them. Their initial unbelief destroys this argument for they needed to have “proof” before they believed in and proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus.
Another theory of the critics is the disciples stole the body of Jesus, and perpetrated the deception that He had been raised from the dead. What is interesting in John’s account is the report of the linen strips which bound Jesus’ body along with the handkerchief that had been around His head were still in the tomb. The handkerchief was actually folded! So, if the body of Jesus was stolen, the robbers unbound the body making it harder to transport and then took the time to fold the handkerchief! Not likely! The best argument against the apostles stealing the body is that most of them were martyred for their faith in the risen Christ. If they stole the body and fabricated the resurrection, they died for something they knew to be false. No way!
He is risen!