It begins when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and ends with his resurrection. This page brings together all four Gospels so you can compare and contrast each version.

Quick links to: Matthew | Mark | Luke | John

It begins on Palm Sunday

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds greet him with great enthusiam. Pay attention to the subtle differences in each account.

Watch this video to dive into the text comparison.

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John

Monday

The first thing Jesus does after riding into Jerusalem is he goes to the Temple and drives out the money changers. This may or may not have happened on Monday. 

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John

Jesus cleanses the temple in chapter 2, not on Holy Monday.

Tuesday

A big part of the Holy Week narrative is the series of conversations that Jesus has with the religious leaders in the Temple and regarding his view of the Mosaic Law. These conversations didn’t necessarily all happen on Tuesday, but it makes for a nice sequential story-telling device.

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John

Jesus’ debates with the religious leaders are sprinkled throughout the Gospel of John and are not found in the final week narrative.

Wednesday

Jesus takes his disciples outside of Jerusalem, across the valley, to sit on the Mount of Olives. They gaze the the beauty of the Temple. Jesus warns them that everything is going to change. The Temple will be destroyed, the “end of the age” is coming, and they will suffer. Yet, in the midst of it all, he will be with them.

This doesn’t necessarily happen on Wednesday, but it makes a nice set up for Maundy Thursday.

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John

There is no “end times” discourse in John.

The Big Three, The Sacred Triduum: Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

Maundy Thursday

The term maundy comes from the Latin and it means command. It references Jesus’ words in John’s account when Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and tells them to love one another. 

All four Gospels tell the story of:

• The Last Supper in the Upper Room
• Jesus praying in Gethsemane
• Judas’ betrayal
• Jesus’ arrest
• Jesus on trial before the high priest
• Peter’s denial

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Luke

John

Good Friday

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus on trial before the Roman Governor, Pilate, and how the crowds compelled him to crucify Jesus. 

Jesus died and was buried in a borrowed tomb.

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John

Holy Saturday

There are no narratives for Saturday. Jesus is in the tomb. The disciples wait in fear.

Easter Sunday

This is the big day. Jesus rises from the dead. The Jewish rabbi from Nazareth in Galilee was executed by crucifixion. His disciples claim that on the first day of the week his tomb was empty. He appeared to them many times over the next several weeks, breathed into them the Holy Spirit, and sent them to bring the Good News of God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth. This is the heart of the Christian message.

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John

Post-Easter Stories

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John