The Events of the Passion Week
According to the Gospel of Mark

This is intended to be a general overview of the events of the last week of Jesus' earthly ministry. In some cases, the placing of events or parables is impossible to determine with absolute certainty. In such cases, placement is a “best guess.” This outline should not be considered authoritative.

Also consulted:
A. T. Robinson, A Harmony of the Gospels (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1922)
Benjamin Davies, ed., Baker's Pocket Harmony of the Gospels (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1975). Previously published as Harmony of the Four Gospels.
Numerous scholarly studies have appeared over the centuries, Tatian's Distessaron (circa 160) is believed to be the first.

Descriptions are from the section headings in the NIV Bible, and do not appear in the original Greek.

By the Jewish method of counting the days and the hours,
one day ends, and the following day begins, at sundown.

All citations from the Holy Bible are from the New International Version, used with permission.

Palm Sunday

Jesus and His disciples and the “large crowd” that accompanied them have just made the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem.

The Triumphal Entry

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

Monday of Holy Week

Mark 11:12-14. The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. …

The Withered Fig Tree

After this, Jesus and his disciples continue to Jerusalem and enter the Temple complex. In the large area between the gate and the Temple itself, there are a large number of venders and money changers.

Jesus Clears the Temple

Jesus Predicts His Death

John 12:20-36

The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief

John 12:37-50

Mark 11:19. When evening came, they went out of the city.

Luke 21:37-38. Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

Tuesday of Holy Week

As described in the Gospels, this is perhaps the busiest day in Jesus' earthly ministry. A. T. Robinson describes this as the Third Great Group of Parables.

Mark 11:20. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots.

The Withered Fig Tree

Mark 11:27. They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

The Parable of the Two Sons

Matthew 21:28-32

The Parable of the Tenants

The Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Matthew 22:1-14;
Luke 14:15-24 (The Parable of the Great Banquet)

Mark 12:13. Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

Matthew 22:23. That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

Marriage at the Resurrection

Matthew 22:34. Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together.

The Greatest Commandment

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35 (NIV)

Matthew 22:41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

Whose Son is the Christ and The Denunciation of the Scribes

Seven Woes

Matthew 23:1-39

Luke 21:1. As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.

The Widow's Offering

This is the last appearance in the Temple by Jesus, and the conclusion of His public ministry. Additional interactions with, and teachings to, His disciples will continue until His death on Friday.

Mark 13:1. As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"

Signs at the End of the Age

Luke 21:37-38. Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

The Day and Hour Unknown

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

Matthew 25:1-13

The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30

The Sheep and the Goats

Matthew 25:31-46
'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

The Plot Against Jesus

Wednesday of Holy Week

A. T. Robinson places these two events on Tuesday evening rather than during the day on Wednesday. Robinson writes that Wednesday (A Day of Rest) was apparently spent with the disciples in retirement in Bethany. Thursday was spent wholly with the disciples till the arrest in Gethsemane after midnight. Robinson, p. 189.

Matthew 26:6-7. While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

Jesus Anointed at Bethany

John's Gospel has this or another very similar incident occurring six days before the Passover.

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

From this incident, this day becomes known as “Spy Wednesday.”

Thursday of Holy Week

Matthew 26:17. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

Preparation for the Passover

Friday of Holy Week

By the Jewish method of counting the days and the hours,
Thursday ended, and Friday began, at sundown.

Matthew 26:20. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.

The Last Supper

Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

John 13:18-30

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

The Vine and the Branches

The World Hates the Disciples

The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Disciples' Grief Will Turn to Joy

Jesus Prays for Himself

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

Jesus Prays for All Believers

John 14-17, “The Heart of Christ.”

Mark 14:26. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jewish scholars believe that the hymn that was sung was Psalms 115-118, the second half of the Hallel. The first half was Psalms 113-114; it would have been sung before or early in the meal. This would be the last group hymn and prayer with His disciples. “Praise Yah” | “Hallelujah”

A New Commandment

John 13:31-35

Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial

Matthew 26:36. Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane …

Gethsemane

Mark 14:42-43. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared.

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

Mark 14:53. They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law came together.

According to Biblical scholar A. T. Robinson, the Jewish trial comprised three states: (1) the preliminary examination by Annas; (2) the informal trial by the Sanhedrin, probably before dawn, and (3) the formal trial after dawn. Robinson, p. 209.

Before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin

Robinson notes that the condemnation after dawn was an unsuccessful effort to make the action legal.

Peter Disowns Jesus

Mark 14:75. And [Peter] went outside and wept bitterly.

Judas Hangs Himself; The Chief Priests buy Potter's Field

Matthew 27:3-10

³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. …

Acts 1:18-20 contains a different account of the death of Judas.

Robinson writes that a Roman trial included three steps. (1) the first appearance before the Roman procurator Pilate; (2) the appearance before Herod Antipas, the native ruler of Galilee, appointed by the Romans; and (3) the final appearance before Pilate.
Robinson, p. 216.

Jesus Before Pilate

The Soldiers Mock Jesus.

The Crucifixion

Mark 15:33. At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

The Death of Jesus

Mark 15:38. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Matthew 27:57-58. As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body....

The Burial of Jesus

Luke 23:55. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

The Sabbath

Luke 23:55-56. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee … rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

1 Peter 3:19-20. After being made alive, [Jesus] went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits — to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

The First Day of Week

Luke 24:1. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

The Resurrection

On the Road to Emmaus

The Eleven Assembled Together

Jesus Appears To The Disciples

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish

John 21:1-14

Jesus Reinstates Peter

John 21:15-25
Feed my lambs. Take care of my sheep. Feed my sheep.

John 21:25. Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:19. … And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

The Ascension

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