Moreover the _order_ in which the appearances are placed is also the same in every account, that to Mary Magdalene for instance (wherever it occurs) being, always placed first, that to St. Peter next, that to Cleopas next, then that to the Twelve, etc. And this is the more remarkable because the narratives are so obviously independent, and the order is not at all a likely one. Writers of fiction, for instance, would never have made Christ first appear to so little known a person as Mary Magdalene, rather than to His Mother or His Apostles. Once more the narratives all agree in the extreme _calmness_ with which they are written. One would have thought it almost impossible for anyone after relating the story of the Cross, to have avoided some word of triumph, or exultation, in regard to the Resurrection and Ascension. But nothing of the kind is found. The writers record them, like the rest of the history, as simple matters of fact, apparently regarding them as the natural close for such a Life, and calling for no comment. How unlikely this would be in legendary accounts scarcely needs pointing out. It may also be added (though it does not concern these actual narratives) that the Evangelists all agree in saying that Christ had _prophesied_ His own Resurrection.[300] And while this does not of course prove it to have been true, it yet forms a difficulty on any other theory. [Footnote 300: _E.g._, Matt. 16. 21; Mark 9. 31; Luke 18. 33; John 2. 19-21.] (2.) _Mutual explanations._ In the next place it is surprising to find how often a slight remark in one of the narratives will help to explain some apparent improbability, or difficulty in another. And since, as just said, the narratives are quite independent, and were certainly not written to explain one another; such indications of truthfulness are of great value. We will therefore consider several examples.[301] [Footnote 301: These and some others are discussed in a paper in the _Expositor_, May, 1909, by the present writer.] To begin with, St. John records Mary Magdalene as visiting the empty Tomb, and then telling the disciples _we know not where they have laid Him_. But to whom does the _we_ refer, as she was apparently alone all the time? St. John does not explain matters; but the other Evangelists do. For they say that though Mary Magdalene was the leader of the party, and is always named first, yet as a matter of fact there were other women with her; and this accounts for the _we_. Later on no doubt she was alone; but then she uses the words _I know not_.[302] [Footnote 302: John 20. 2, 13.]