"As they heard this appointment, so definitely given, the disciples began to think of Christ's words to them foretelling His resurrection. But even now they did not rejoice. They could not cast off their doubt and perplexity. Even when the women declared that they had seen the Lord, the disciples would not believe. They thought them under an illusion. DA 794.1"
"And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not."
The EGW passage directly alludes to the disciples' disbelief in the women's testimony, mirroring the sentiment expressed in Luke 24:11. The phrase 'idle tales' captures the essence of the disciples' reaction.
"Trouble seemed crowding upon trouble. On the sixth day of the week they had seen their Master die; on the first day of the next week they found themselves deprived of His body, and they were accused of having stolen it away for the sake of deceiving the people. They despaired of ever correcting the false impressions that were gaining ground against them. They feared the enmity of the priests and the wrath of the people. They longed for the presence of Jesus, who had helped them in every perplexity. DA 794.2"
"And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?"
The EGW passage describes the disciples' feelings of trouble, despair, and longing for Jesus, which aligns with the sadness and discussion mentioned in Luke 24:17. The EGW passage provides a more detailed account of the reasons behind their sadness.
"Often they repeated the words, “We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.” Lonely and sick at heart they remembered His words, “If they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” Luke 24:21 ; 23:31 . They met together in the upper chamber, and closed and fastened the doors, knowing that the fate of their beloved Teacher might at any time be theirs. DA 794.3"
"But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done."
Ellen White directly references Luke 24:21 in this passage.
"And all the time they might have been rejoicing in the knowledge of a risen Saviour. In the garden, Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus was close beside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did not discern Him. And the hearts of the disciples were so full of grief that they did not believe the angels’ message or the words of Christ Himself. DA 794.4"
"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."
The EGW passage directly references and expands upon the biblical account of Mary at the tomb, including specific details like her weeping and mistaking Jesus for the gardener.
"Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:"
Both passages deal with the difficulty of believing in the resurrection and being 'slow of heart' to accept the truth. While not a direct quote, the EGW passage echoes the sentiment expressed in Luke 24:25.
"How many are still doing what these disciples did! How many echo Mary's despairing cry, “They have taken away the Lord, ... and we know not where they have laid Him”! To how many might the Saviour's words be spoken, “Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?” He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him. He speaks to them, but they do not understand. DA 794.5"
"And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him."
EGW directly quotes and applies John 20:13 to a broader audience.
"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."
EGW directly quotes and applies John 20:15 to a broader audience.
"For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."
While not a direct quote, the idea of people being close to Jesus but not recognizing him due to spiritual blindness is a clear parallel to Matthew 13:15, which speaks of people's eyes being closed to understanding.
"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
EGW uses the phrase "thou shalt see the glory of God," which is a direct quote from John 11:40.