This is the first of a four-part series in which I deal with the various resurrection stories of the four canonical gospels.  Matthew’s version is recounted in Matthew 28.  Unique to this gospel, however, is the two earthquakes, one happening at the point of Jesus’ death (in Matthew 27) and a second one caused by a descending angel who rolled back the stone covering the tomb.  Also unique is the incredible story that at the moment Jesus dies the tombs of many saints opened, whereupon these saints went into the city and appeared to many. 

With Jesus’ resurrection, the angel who rolled away the stone told Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to go to tell the disciples that Jesus was no longer at the tomb.  They were to tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee.  On the way, they encounter Jesus, who repeats the instruction.  The account includes the episode in which soldiers are bribed to tell people that Jesus’ disciples came to steal his body.  When the disciples finally see Jesus in Galilee, they worshipped him.  But some doubted.