THE ATHEIST'S COMPLAINT:
Matthew and Mark have Jesus riding into Jerusalem and being anointed afterward at Bethany (Matthew 26:6-16; Mark 11:1-11), but John has the anointing taking place first, and then the entry into Jerusalem (John 12:1-8, 12-15). Is there a contradiction?

RESPONSE:
Indeed, in Matthew’s account, Jesus enters Jerusalem in Matthew 21, and is anointed by this woman in Matthew 26. In Mark’s account, He enters the city in Mark 11, and is anointed in Mark 14. In John’s account, both appear in chapter 12, however, the anointing a day before the entrance to Jerusalem.

John sets a chronology whereas Matthew and Mark do not. The anointing at Bethany took place six days prior to the Passover, and “...the next day...”, Jesus entered Jerusalem. After entering Jerusalem, Jesus returned to Bethany, where He lodged, awaiting the Passover (Matthew 21:17). Matthew and Mark did not express these particular events in chronological order; but that is certainly no reason for concern. If one looks through books such as Joshua and Judges, it is noteworthy that events are not always given chronologically. Rather, things are often mentioned topically.

Judas’ concern about the costly the oil being ‘wasted’ (Matthew 26:8-9; Mark 14:4-5; John 12:4-5) lends itself well to Matthew and Mark’s usage – namely, to then speak of Judas’ desire to betray the Lord for money, and the events of the betrayal night.

There is no contradiction.

This article is a response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible, but original article is no longer listed

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