A Chronological Ordering of Jesus’ Final Passover Week Events

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s final Passover week is recorded in Matthew 21–28; Mark 11–16; Luke 19–24; and John 12–21. As with all of my writings, I write for personal devotional purposes. I post them on a media platform, only as a means of contributing something to the body of Christ (my five loaves and two fish). I have greatly benefited in my own Bible studies by compiling chronologies of different key events. I also took a course in Bible chronology from the late Dr. Harold Hoehner at Dallas Theological Seminary. I very much enjoyed his humble attempts to construct dating systems around key events in the Bible.

It must be noted that John’s Gospel is not synoptic; therefore, the chronological order is sometimes not consistent with the other passages. I found one event in John’s Gospel, Mary’s anointing of Jesus with perfume, very difficult to reconcile, chronologically, as noted by an * in both entries. John is very clear. The event occurred on the day prior to Jesus’ triumphal entry, but the synoptic Gospels have the event later in the week. Chronology is not crucial, but we like things to line up a bit better than this example. Just about everything else falls in line very nicely, as you will see.

One last difficulty I would like to mention is the challenge of demarcating between certain days, especially Monday through Wednesday. I have tried my best to place day notations in their right spot, but any error is mine. I hope you enjoy your journey through this very significant week, as much as I did to compile its order. Praise Jesus for what He did for us!

Friday

1. Jesus and His disciples ascended the road from Jericho and arrived at Bethphage and Bethany (Mk 11:1; Lk 19:28)

Saturday

2. Six days before the Passover, at Bethany, Mary anointed Jesus for burial with Judas objecting (Jn 12:1–8)*

Palm Sunday

3. Great multitude came to Bethany to see Lazarus and Jesus (Jn 12:9, 11)

4. Chief priests convened for plot to kill Lazarus (Jn 12:10)

5. Triumphal Entry (Mt 21:1; Mk 11:1; Lk 19:28–29; Jn 12:12–18)

6. Disciples secured the Donkeys (Mt 21:2; Mk 11:2–7; Lk 19:30–36; Jn 12:14)

7. Descent from the Mount of Olives (Mt 21:8–9; Lk 19:37)

8. Hosanna, Son of David identification (Mk 11:8–10: Lk 19:38), by the multitude who had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the tomb (Jn 12:13)

9. Pharisees expressed indignation with one another (Jn 12:19)

10. Pharisees rebuked Jesus for the disciples’ Messianic proclamations (Lk 19:39–40)

11. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and prophesied its destruction (Lk 19:41–44)

12. People identified Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee at Jerusalem (Mt 21:11)

13. Jesus cleansed the Temple (Mt 21:12–13; Mk 11:15–18; Lk 19:45–46)

14. Jesus healed blind and lame in the Temple (Mt 21:14)

15. Chief priests and scribes rebuked Jesus for what the children were saying about Him (Mt 21:15–16)

16. Returned to Bethany for the night (Mt 21:17; Mk 11:11)

Monday — Wednesday

17. Jesus was daily teaching in the Temple during this week and the scribes and leading men were trying to catch Him doing something wrong (Lk 19:47–48)

18. Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mt 21:18–22; Mk 11:12–14, 19–26)

19. Chief priests and elders challenged Jesus authority (Mt 21:23–27; Lk 20:1–8)

20. Jesus taught the parable of the two sons (Mt 21:28–32)

21. Jesus taught the parable of the landowner (Mt 21:33–41; Mk 12:1–9; Lk 20:10–16)

22. Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 and pronounced judgment on the nation of Israel (Mt 21:42–46; Mk 12:10–12; Lk 20:17–18)

23. Jesus taught the parable of the wedding feast (Mt 22:1–14)

24. Pharisees and Herodians challenged Jesus on paying taxes to Caesar (Mt 22:15–22; Mk 12:13–17; Lk 20:19–26)

25. Sadducees challenged Jesus on Levirate marriage and the resurrection (Mt 22:23–33; Mk 12:18–27; Lk 20:27–40)

26. Pharisee lawyer challenged Jesus with the question of the greatest commandment (Mt 22:34–40; Mk 12:28–34)

27. Jesus challenged the Pharisees on the relationship between David and the Christ (Mt 22:41–46; Mk 12:35–37; Lk 20:41–44)

28. Widow’s mite at the Temple treasury (Mk 12:41–43; Lk 21:1–4)

29. Jesus preached eight woes against the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23:1–36; Mk 12:38–40; Lk 20:45–47)

30. Jesus lamented over Jerusalem (Mt 23:37–39)

31. Jesus prophesied the Temple’s coming destruction (Mt 24:1–2; Mk 13:1–2)

32. Jesus taught His disciples the Olivet discourse, regarding the end things (Mt 24:3–31; Mk 12:3–37; Lk 21:5–28)

33. Jesus taught the parable of the fig tree, regarding end things (Mt 24:32–51; Lk 21:29–36)

34. Jesus taught the parable of the ten virgins, regarding readiness for end things (Mt 25:1–13)

35. Jesus taught the parable of the talents, regarding preparation for end things (Mt 25:14–30)

36. Jesus taught about the day of judgment (Mt 25:31–46)

37. Jesus spoke plainly about His crucifixion death on Passover (Mt 26:1–2)

38. Chief priests and elders convened to plot Jesus’ murder (Mt 26:3–5; Mk 14:1–2)

39. Mary anointed Jesus for burial with expensive perfume at the home of Simon the leper at Bethany (Mt 26:6–13; Mk 14:3–9)*

40. Judas went to chief priests to negotiate his betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Mt 26:14–16; Mk 14:10–11; Lk 22:1–6)

41. Greeks approached Philip because they wanted to see Jesus (Jn 12:20–26)

42. Jesus preached about His forthcoming death (Jn 12:27–36)

43. John recorded the unbelief of the people and the secret belief of some people (Jn 12:37–43)

44. Jesus preached about light and darkness and believing in Him (Jn 12:44–50)

Thursday

45. Disciples came to Jesus on first day of unleavened bread to inquire about Passover preparation (Mt 26:17–19; Mk 14:12–16; Lk 22:7–13)

46. Jesus and disciples celebrated Passover (Mt 26:20–25; Mk 14:17–21; Lk 22:14–18; Jn 13:1–4)

47. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (Jn 13:5–11)

48. Jesus explained the washing of feet and humble service (Jn 13:12–20)

49. Jesus identified Judas as His betrayer at the Passover Supper (Lk 22:21–23; Jn 13:21–30)

50. Judas went out from among them (Jn 13:30)

51. Jesus initiated the Lord’s Supper (Mt 26:26–29; Mk 14:22–25; Lk 22:19–20)

52. Jesus settled the disciples’ dispute on who would be greatest (Lk 22:24–30)

53. Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment (Jn 13:31–35)

54. Jesus taught His disciples on the Holy Spirit (Jn 14); the Vine and branch relationship (Jn 15); more on the Holy Spirit, and on Jesus imminent death (Jn 16)

55. Jesus prayed His high priestly prayer for His disciples (Jn 17)

56. Jesus and disciples departed Jerusalem for Mount of Olives (Mt 26:30; Mk 14:26)

57. Jesus warned disciples of their falling away and Peter’s thrice denial (Mt 26:31–35; Mk 14:27–31; Lk 22:31–34; Jn 13:36–38)

58. Jesus instructed the disciples on what to take with them in ministry (Lk 22:35–38)

59. Jesus and disciples entered the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36–44; Mk 14:32–42; Lk 22:39–46)

60. Jesus announced the arrival of Judas the betrayer and the multitudes of armed men (Mt 26:45–49; Mk 14:43–45; Lk 22:47–53)

61. Jesus inquired of the cohort who they sought (Jn 18:1–7)

62. Jesus sought freedom for His disciples (Jn 18:8–9)

63. Jesus was arrested (Mt 26:50; Mk 14:46; Lk 22:54; Jn 18:12)

64. Peter drew his sword and cut off Malchus’ ear (Mt 26:51; Mk 14:47; Jn 18:10)

65. Jesus healed Malchus and preached the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Mt 26:52–56; Mk 14:48–49; Jn 18:11)

66. Disciples fled the arrest scene (Mt 26:56; Mk 14:50)

67. Disciple in a sheet was seized, but escaped naked (Mk 14:51–52)

Good Friday

68. Jesus stood trial before Annas (Jn 18:13)

69. Jesus gave His defense, and was struck by an officer (Jn 18:19–23)

70. Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas (Jn 18:24)

71. Jesus stood trial before Caiaphas, with false witnesses giving testimony (Mt 26:57–64; Mk 14:53–65)

72. Caiaphas declared Jesus guilty, and they beat him (Mt 26:65–68; Lk 22:63–65)

73. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times in the courtyard of the high priest (Mt 26:69–75; Mk 14:66–72; Lk 22:55–62; Jn 18:15–18, 25–27)

74. Jesus stood trial before the Sanhedrin (Lk 22:66–71)

75. Jesus sent to stand trial before Pontius Pilate (Mt 27:1–2)

76. Judas returned the betrayal money and then committed suicide (Mt 27:3–10)

77. Chief priests and elders took the blood money and bought the Potter’s field, or the Field of Blood to fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy (Mt 27:6–10)

78. Jesus stood trial before Pontius Pilate (Mt 27:11–14; Mk 15:1–5; Lk 23:1–7; Jn 18:28–32)

79. Pilate consulted with Jesus in the Praetorium (Jn 18:33–38)

80. Jesus was sent by Pilate to stand trial before Herod (Lk 23:8–12)

81. Pontius Pilate offered to release either Barabbas or Jesus (Mt 27:15–26; Mk 15:5–15; Lk 23:13–25; Jn 18:38–40)

82. Roman soldiers stripped, mocked, spat on, and scourged Jesus (Mt 27:27–30; Mk 15:16–19; Jn 19:1–5)

83. Pilate presented the scourged Jesus to the Jews, claiming He was not guilty (Jn 19:6–7)

84. Pilate consulted with Jesus a second time in the Praetorium (Jn 19:8–11)

85. Pilate sought to release Jesus but the Jews won the argument (Jn 19:12)

86. Pilate judged Jesus on the judgment seat called The Pavement, nearing noon (Jn 19:13)

87. Pilate presented Jesus to the Jews and they cried out, “Crucify Him!” (Jn 19:14–15)

88. Roman soldiers led Jesus away to be crucified (Mt 27:31; Mk 15:20; Jn 19:16)

89. Jesus bore His own Cross (Jn 19:17)

90. Roman soldiers employed Simon of Cyrene to help bear Jesus’ cross (Mt 27:32; Mk 15:21; Lk 23:26)

91. Jesus preached to the people en route to Golgotha (Lk 23:27–31)

92. Two other men were led away with Jesus to be crucified (Lk 23:32; Jn 19:18)

93. Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, the place of the Skull (Mt 27:33; Mk 15:22; Lk 23:33; Jn 19:17)

94. Roman soldiers gave Jesus wine and gall to drink (Mt 27:34; Mk 15:23)

95. Roman soldiers divided up Jesus’ garments, casting lots (Mt 27:35; Mk 15:24; Lk 23:34; Jn 19:23–25)

96. Roman soldiers sat down and kept watch (Mt 27:36)

97. Roman soldiers post sign over Jesus head on the Cross (Mt 27:37; Mk 15:26; Lk 23:38; Jn 19:19–20)

98. Chief priests protested to Pilate about the inscription on the sign (Jn 19:21–22)

99. Two robbers were crucified on either side of Jesus (Mt 27:38; Mk 15:27–28; Lk 23:34; Jn 19:18)

100. Jesus prayed for forgiveness for them (Lk 23:34)

101. Robbers, chief priests, scribes, elders, and people passing by hurled verbal abuse at Jesus (Mt 27:39–44; Mk 15:29–32; Lk 23:35–36)

102. Robbers debated over Jesus, and one repented, asking Jesus for a place in His kingdom (Lk 23:39–43)

103. Jesus twined His mother Mary with John the apostle (Jn 19:25–27)

104. Darkness covered the land from the sixth to the ninth hour of the day (Mt 27:45; Mk 15:33; Lk 23:44)

105. Jesus stated He was thirsty (Jn 19:28–29)

106. Jesus quoted Psalm 22:1 — the cry of the forsaken (Mt 27:46; Mk 15:34)

107. Bystanders tried to get Jesus to drink (Mt 27:47–49; Mk 15:35–36; Lk 23:36)

108. Jesus commended His Spirit to His Father (Lk 23:46)

109. Jesus yielded up His spirit (Mt 27:50; Mk 15:37; Jn 19:30)

110. Temple veil torn (Mt 27:51; Mk 15:38; Lk 23:45)

111. Earthquake (Mt 27:51)

112. Tombs of saints opened (Mt 27:52)

113. Resurrection of saints after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (Mt 27:53)

114. Roman centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Mt 27:54; Mk 15:39; Lk 23:47)

115. Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken of those crucified before the Sabbath at sundown (Jn 19:31–32)

116. Soldiers did not break Jesus’ legs, for He was already dead, but they pierced His side (Jn 19:34)

117. Crowd dispersed (Lk 23:48)

118. Women of Galilee at the Cross (Mt 27:55–56; Mk 15:40–41; Lk 23:49)

119. Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body and buried Jesus (Mt 27:57–61; Mk 15:42–46; Lk 23:50–54), along with Nicodemus at the nearby Garden Tomb (Jn 19:38–42)

120. Chief priests and Pharisees sought a Roman squad to guard Jesus’ tomb (Mt 27:62–66)

121. Mary Magdalene and other Mary (mother of Joses) observed while men buried Jesus (Mk 15:47; Lk 23:55–56)

Saturday — Sabbath rest

Resurrection Sunday

122. Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome brought spices to anoint Jesus’ body, and they were rocked by an earthquake at Jesus’ tomb (Mt 28:1–2; Mk 16:1; Lk 24:1; Jn 20:1)

123. Women found the tomb stone rolled away (Lk 24:2; Jn 20:1)

124. Angels appeared to the guards and women at the Tomb to announce Jesus is not here, He is risen from the dead (Mt 28:3–7; Mk 16:2–6; Lk 24:3–8)

125. Angel instructed the women to go and to tell the others about the empty tomb (Mk 16:7–8)

126. Women ran back to the house gathering and reported the empty tomb (Lk 24:9–10)

127. Initial response of the disciples, regarding the resurrection was unbelief (Mk 16:9–11; Lk 24:11)

128. Peter ran to the tomb (Lk 24:12), along with John (Jn 20:2–4)

129. Peter and John found the tomb empty, except for burial cloths (Jn 20:5–10), so they went home

130. Jesus appeared to the women (Mt 28:8–10), and conversed with Mary Magdalene, who embraced Him (Jn 20:11–18)

131. Jesus appeared to Cleopas the other disciple on the road to Emmaus (Mk 16:12–13; Lk 24:13–35)

132. Jesus appeared to the eleven in the upper room on Sunday night (Jn 20:19) with a reproach for initial unbelief, opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and commissioned them to preach the Gospel to all creation, but to stay in Jerusalem until Pentecost (Mk 16:14–18; Lk 24:36–38; 44–49)

133. Jesus proved His bodily resurrection by having disciples touch His hands and feet, and eating fish (Lk 24:39–43; Jn 20:19–23)

134. Roman guards reported the empty tomb and were paid to keep quiet by the authorities (Mt 28:11–15)

135. Disciples reported to absent Thomas about their encounter with Jesus, but he doubted (Jn 20:24–25)

136. Eight days after first encounter with Jesus, He appeared again to them and Thomas, who believed (Jn 20:26–29)

137. In Galilee, Simon Peter went fishing and the others joined him (Jn 21:1–11)

138. Jesus met with disciples, had breakfast, restored Peter, informed them of their deaths (Jn 20:12–17), and gave them the Great Commission (Mt 28:16–20).

139. Jesus ascended into heaven at Bethany and was enthroned at the right hand of God (Mk 16:19; Lk 24:51)

140. Disciples returned to Jerusalem, continually in the Temple, praising God (Lk 24:52–53)

141. Disciples went and preached and worked miracles everywhere with the Lord’s help (Mk 16:20)

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

March 17, 2021