John 20:18 English Standard Version (ESV) Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

This is the gospel truth.

How do we know that this is the gospel truth?

Mary Magdalene was known by the apostles to be with Jesus during His earthly ministry. She would be one who knew Him. Now those who heard her witness must judge her words and ask themselves, does this sound like the Jesus I knew?

Luckily for them Jesus would appear before them that night. They would see the truth for themselves.

What about the rest of us?

John 20:24-25 English Standard Version 

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

We were a little like this when we were in sin. We had to see Him for ourselves.

John 20:29, 31 English Standard Version

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 31 but these[the gospels] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The gospels were given so that we might believe and live in His name.