What does Luke 24:3 mean?

Several women, including Mary Magdalene, have gathered spices to cover Jesus' body. They know that Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Jesus in a tomb, a cave in the rock, and rolled a large stone over the entrance (Mark 15:46). As the women approach the garden, they're concerned about how they will get in (Mark 16:3). What they don't know is that the tomb is surrounded by soldiers and the stone is sealed so it can't be tampered with (Matthew 27:62–66).

When they arrive, they find two significant things: the stone is rolled away and Jesus' body is gone. They don't know that an angel had arrived, caused an earthquake, rolled the stone away, and frightened the soldiers so badly they passed out (Matthew 28:2–4).

The sequence of events in the Gospels is complicated but there is a way to reconcile them. One example is as follows: The angel arrives, moves the stone, and sits on it, sending the guards into shock. Before the women arrive, he either moves or veils himself. The women arrive. At least one of them glances inside the tomb and notices Jesus' body is missing. Mary Magdalene runs off immediately to tell Peter and John. The other women look more closely and see two angels, only one of whom speaks (Matthew 28:5; Mark 16:5; Luke 24:4). The angel tells the women that Jesus has risen and they need to tell the disciples. As the women are on their way to the room where the disciples are staying, they meet Jesus (Matthew 28:6–10; Mark 16:6–8; Luke 24:5–11). Mary Magdalene meets John and Peter and tells them that Jesus' body is gone. The three of them rush back to the tomb. John and Peter go back to the room, but Mary stays and sees Jesus before returning to the room (Luke 24:12; John 20:2–18).

It is possible to reconcile the different resurrection accounts. For those doubting or concerned, this can be valuable. But undue focus on the timeline misses the point of the accounts: Jesus is risen!