For many centuries, saints and anti-Christs, scholars and philosophers, theologians and writers, dreamers and scoffers—all had wrestled with conflicting versions from the Gospels as to exactly what Mary Magdalene and the other women had experienced when they had come upon the empty tomb. Had I just heard the raw truth, long before it became layered over by decades of the well-intentioned faithful—or was a woman with a long history of mental problems just having her little game with me?

“You are certain, Mary, that you saw a young man inside the tomb?”

“We all did. In the faint light we could not see his face clearly, but I know he was a young man, and when he called after us, as we fled, his voice was that of a youth.”

“Could it have possibly been an angel that you came upon?”

Mary’s ripe lips formed a condescending smile, if ever I’ve seen one. “I have never viewed an angel, at least one that I recognized as such,” she replied. “And would an angel of God have been frightened by our appearance at the tomb or allowed us to run away without calming our fears?”

There was no arguing with that logic. I tried to concentrate, to recall some notes I had scribbled long ago during my early days of research for “The Christ Commission.” In the Gospel According to Matthew, the women at the sepulchre had come upon the “angel of the Lord.” In the Gospel According to Luke, two men stood by them in shining garments who later were referred to in that same chapter as “a vision of angels.” In the Gospel According to John, Mary looked into the sepulchre and saw “two angels in white,” but in the Gospel According to Mark, the women entered the sepulchre and “saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment.”

Had there really been no mention of angels in Mark’s narration of that early morning scene at the tomb? Yes, I was positive. If Mark’s Gospel was describing an earlier visitor to the tomb than the women, who was that visitor and what was he doing there? And had that mysterious individual been an accomplice to the removal of the body or even a witness to the robbery? Could it possibly be—?

“John, do you know if young Mark has returned yet?”

“Yes, I heard his voice. He is inside the house with his mother, helping her to prepare supper.”

“Would it be possible for me to speak with him for a little while?” I looked toward Joseph for support. The old man showed little enthusiasm for this sudden addition to our agenda, but he finally gave me the benefit of a reluctant nod.

The young apostle was headed toward the house to summon Mark before I stopped him. “John, may I speak to him up there?” I asked, pointing to the upper room.