August 13, 2006 / Volume 10, Issue 33
Last Week Chronology

The last week of our Lord's life, and in particular, the final day, have been the source of many questions, the least of which, has not been the chronology of the events which took place. Below, we have chronicled the final week of our Lord Jesus prior to being put to death on the cross at Calvary.

SIX DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER
Friday evening / Saturday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Jesus arrived in Bethany
Bethany
---
---
---
12:1
Jesus would have arrived in the afternoon on Friday, before sundown, which was the official beginning of the Sabbath. He spent the Sabbath in Bethany. The meal which is described in the following context would have taken place in the evening on Saturday, after the Sabbath had ended.
FIVE DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER
Saturday evening / Sunday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Supper at Simon's house
Bethany
26:6-13
14:3-9
---
12:2-8
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem
Mount of Olives
21:1-11
11:1-10
19:29-44
12:12-19
Jesus looks around the temple
Jerusalem
---
11:11
---
---
Jesus returns to Bethany
Bethany
---
11:11
---
---
Mark is the only gospel writer that distinguishes between the day of the entry into Jerusalem and the day upon which Jesus cleansed the temple. Since it was already evening, Jesus returned to Bethany, and would return to the temple the next day.
FOUR DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER
Sunday evening / Monday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Jesus curses the barren fig tree
Mount of Olives
21:18-19a
11:11-18
---
---
Jesus cleanses the temple
Jerusalem
21:12-13
11:15-18
19:45-48
---
Certain Greeks ask to see Jesus
Jerusalem
---
---
---
12:20-36
Jesus rebukes unbelief
Jerusalem
---
---
---
12:37-50
Jesus returns to Bethany
Bethany
---
11:19
---
---
Luke reveals the Lord's schedule in at least the first few days of the last week. Luke 21:37-38 records, "And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him."
THREE DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER
Monday evening / Tuesday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Disciples see the withered fig tree
Mount of Olives
21:19b-22
11:20-26
21:37-38
---
Jesus' authority questioned by leaders
Jerusalem
21:23-27
11:27-33
20:1-8
---
Parable of the two sons
Jerusalem
21:23-27
---
---
---
Parable of the vinedressers
Jerusalem
21:33-46
12:1-12
20:9-19
---
Parable of the wedding feast
Jerusalem
22:1-14
---
---
---
Pharisees question: paying taxes
Jerusalem
22:15-22
12:13-17
20:20-26
---
Sadducees question: resurrection
Jerusalem
22:23-33
12:18-27
20:27-40
---
Scribe's question: great commandment
Jerusalem
22:35-40
12:28-34
---
---
Jesus' question: David's Lord
Jerusalem
22:41-46
12:35-37
20:41-44
---
Woe to the scribes and Pharisees
Jerusalem
23:1-39
12:38-40
20:45-47
---
Poor widow's mite
Jerusalem
---
12:41-44
21:1-4
---
Prophecy of destruction of Jerusalem and the Lord's coming
Mount of Olives
24:1-51
13:1-37
21:5-36
---
Parable of the ten virgins
Mount of Olives
25:1-13
---
---
---
Parable of the talents
Mount of Olives
25:14-30
---
---
---
Parable of the sheep and the goats
Mount of Olives
25:31-46
---
---
---
It appears that Tuesday was the last day on which Jesus entered into the temple to teach. There was no more need for Him to debate with the Jewish leaders. There is no mention in Scripture of what Jesus did on Wednesday of His final week.
TWO DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER
Tuesday evening / Wednesday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Sanhedrin plotted to kill Jesus
Jerusalem
26:1-5
14:1-2
22:1-2
---
Judas agreed to betray Jesus
Jerusalem
26:14-16
14:10-11
22:3-6
---
ONE DAY BEFORE PASSOVER
Wednesday evening / Thursday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Preparation for the Passover
Jerusalem
26:17-19
14:12-16
22:7-13
---
PASSOVER
Thursday evening / Friday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Jesus and disciples assemble for the Passover feast
Jerusalem
26:20
14:17
22:14-16
13:1
Disciples strive over greatness
Jerusalem
---
---
22:24-30
---
Jesus washes the disciples' feet
Jerusalem
---
---
---
13:2-17
Jesus identifies His betrayer
Jerusalem
26:21-25
14:18-21
22:21-23
13:18-30
Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper
Jerusalem
26:26-29
14:22-25
22:15-20
---
The commandment of love
Jerusalem
---
---
---
13:31-35
Jesus predicts Peter's denial
Jerusalem
26:31-35
14:27-31
22:31-38
13:36-38
Jesus' discourse in upper room
Jerusalem
---
---
---
14:1-30
Sang hymn and departed upper room
Jerusalem
26:30
14:26
---
14:31
Jesus' discoure on way to Gethsemane
Kidron valley
---
---
---
15:1-16:33
Jesus' prayer for His disciples
Kidron valley
---
---
---
17:1-26
Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane
Mount of Olives
26:36-46
14:32-42
22:39-46
18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested
Mount of Olives
26:47-56
14:43-52
22:47-53
18:2-12
Jesus is brought before Annas
Jerusalem
---
---
---
18:13-14
Jesus is brought before Caiaphas
Jerusalem
---
---
---
18:24
Jesus is condemned and mistreated by Sanhedrin through the night
Jerusalem
26:57-68
14:53-65
22:54, 66-72
---
Peter denied Jesus three times
Jerusalem
26:58, 69-75
14:54, 66-72
22:54-62
18:15-18, 25-27
Sanhedrin formally condemned Jesus
Jerusalem
27:1
15:1
22:66-71
---
Judas went out to commit suicide
Field of Blood
27:3-10
---
---
---
Jesus appeared before Pilate
Jerusalem
27:2, 11-14
15:1-5
23:1-7
18:28-38
Jesus appeared before Herod
Jerusalem
---
---
23:6-12
---
Jesus appeared before Pilate again
Jerusalem
27:15-23
15:6-14
23:13-22
18:39-40
Jesus scourged and mocked by Romans
Jerusalem
27:27-31
15:16-19
---
19:1-3
Pilate consented to Jesus' death
Jerusalem
27:22-26
15:12-15
23:20-25
19:4-16
Jesus led away to be crucified
Calvary
27:31-34
15:20-23
23:26-32
19:16-17
Jesus on the cross: first three hours
Calvary
27:35-44
15:24-32
23:33-43
19:18-24
Jesus on the cross: last three hours
Calvary
27:45-50
15:33-37
23:44, 46
19:25-30
Miracles accompanying crucifixion
---
27:51-56
15:38-41
23:45, 47-49
---
Joseph buried the body of Jesus
---
27:57-61
15:42-47
23:50-55
19:31-42
SABBATH
Friday evening / Saturday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Jewish leaders secure the tomb
Jerusalem
27:62-66
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Women observe the Sabbath day
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---
---
23:56
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FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
Saturday evening / Sunday
Event
Location
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Women come to the tomb;
Jesus is risen from the dead
Calvary
28:1-8
16:1-9
24:1-8
20:1

Click here for this week's Answering The Atheist
Who was to blame for original sin? Eve (1 Tim 2:14) or Adam (Ro 5:12)? Is there a contradiction?

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