This chart presents Mark's order of events in the life of Christ. Mark wrote to a Roman audience to portray Jesus as the suffering servant of God.
| Event | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of John the Baptist | 3:1-12 | 1:1-8 | 3:1-20 | |
| John baptizes Jesus | 3:13-17 | 1:9-11 | 3:21-23 | |
| Temptation of Jesus | 4:1-11 | 1:12-13 | 4:1-13 | |
| Herod imprisons John the Baptist | 4:12 | 1:14 | 3:19-20 | |
| Jesus settles in Capernaum | 4:13-17 | 1:14-15 | 4:31-32 | |
| Fishermen called to be disciples | 4:18-22 | 1:16-20 | ||
| Demoniac in Synagogue | 1:21-28 | 4:33-37 | ||
| Peter's mother-in-law healed | 8:14-17 | 1:29-31 | 4:38-39 | |
| Many healed at sunset | 1:32-34 | 4:40-41 | ||
| Disciples seek Jesus | 1:35-38 | 4:42-43 | ||
| Jesus preaches in Synagogues | 4:23-25 | 1:39 | 4:44 | |
| Jesus heals a leper | 8:2-4 | 1:40-45 | 5:12-16 | |
| Jesus cures a paralytic | 9:2-8 | 2:1-12 | 5:17-26 | |
| Matthew called to be a disciple | 9:9 | 2:13-14 | 5:27-28 | |
| Parables at Levi's reception | 9:10-17 | 2:15-22 | 5:29-39 | |
| Disciples pick grain on the Sabbath | 12:1-8 | 2:23-28 | 6:1-5 | |
| Man's hand healed on the Sabbath | 12:9-14 | 3:1-6 | 6:6-11 | |
| Jesus withdraws to the sea | 12:14-21 | 3:7 | ||
| Many follow Jesus to be healed | 4:23-25 | 3:7-12 | ||
| Jesus selects 12 disciples | 3:13-19 | 6:13-16 | ||
| Jesus heals a demon-possessed man | 12:22-23 | 3:20-22 | ||
| Pharisees rebuked | 12:24-37 | 3:22-30 | ||
| Family seeks Jesus | 12:46-50 | 3:31-35 | 8:19-21 | |
| Parables by the Sea | 13:1-35 | 4:1-34 | 8:4-18 | |
| Orders to cross the Sea of Galilee | 8:18 | 4:35 | 8:22 | |
| Jesus calms a stormy sea | 8:23-27 | 4:36-41 | 8:23-25 | |
| Legion cast out of violent man | 8:28-34 | 5:1-20 | 8:26-39 | |
| Jesus sails to Capernaum | 9:1 | 5:21 | 8:40 | |
| Jairus asks Jesus to heal his daughter | 9:18-19 | 5:22-23 | 8:41-42 | |
| Ill woman is healed by touching Jesus | 9:20-22 | 5:24-34 | 8:42-48 | |
| Daughter's death is reported to Jairus | 5:35-36 | 8:49-50 | ||
| Jesus raises Jairus' daughter to life | 9:23-26 | 5:37-43 | 8:51-56 | |
| Second rejection in Nazareth | 13:54-58 | 6:1-6 | ||
| 12 sent out to preach | 9:35-11:1 | 6:7-13 | 9:1-6 | |
| Herod fears John the Baptist has risen | 6:14-29 | 9:7-9 | ||
| 12 return and they withdraw | 14:13 | 6:30-32 | 9:10 | 6:1 |
| Jesus teaches multitude | 14:14 | 6:33-34 | 9:11 | 6:2 |
| Jesus feeds 5,000 | 14:15-21 | 6:35-44 | 9:12-17 | 6:3-14 |
| Jesus prays alone | 14:22-23 | 6:45-47 | 6:15 | |
| Jesus walks on water | 14:24-27 | 6:48-52 | 6:16-21 | |
| Healings in Gennesaret | 14:34-36 | 6:53-56 | ||
| Traditions of men rebuked | 15:1-11 | 7:1-16 | ||
| Parable explained in private | 15:12-20 | 7:17-23 | ||
| Gentile woman's faith | 15:21-28 | 7:24-30 | ||
| Jesus heals a deaf man | 7:31-37 | |||
| Jesus feeds 4,000 | 15:32-39 | 8:1-10 | ||
| Pharisees seek a sign | 16:1-4 | 8:11-13 | ||
| Leaven of the Pharisees | 16:5-12 | 8:13-21 | ||
| Blind man cured in Bethsaida | 8:22-26 | |||
| Peter's confession | 16:13-20 | 8:27-30 | ||
| Jesus rebukes Peter | 16:21-28 | 8:31-9:1 | 9:18-27 | |
| The Transfiguration | 17:1-8 | 9:2-8 | 9:28-36 | |
| Elijah discussed while descending | 17:9-13 | 9:9-13 | ||
| Demon is cast out of boy | 17:14-18 | 9:14-27 | 9:37-43 | |
| Disciples ask about the miracle | 17:19-21 | 9:28-29 | ||
| Jesus discusses his death | 17:22-23 | 9:30-32 | 9:44-45 | |
| Disciples argue about greatest | 18:1-6 | 9:33-37 | 9:46-48 | |
| John's zeal | 9:38-42 | 9:49-50 | ||
| Warnings about stumbling blocks | 18:7-11 | 9:43-50 | ||
| Jesus goes to Judea by the Jordan | 19:1 | 10:1 | ||
| Pharisees questions on divorce | 19:3-9 | 10:2-9 | ||
| Disciples questions on divorce | 19:10-12 | 10:10-12 | ||
| Jesus blesses little children | 19:13-15 | 10:13-16 | 18:15-17 | |
| Rich young ruler | 19:16-26 | 10:17-27 | 18:18-27 | |
| Disciples reward | 19:27-30 | 10:28-31 | 18:28-30 | |
| Jesus predicts death | 20:17-19 | 10:32-34 | 18:31-34 | |
| Request for James and John | 20:20-24 | 10:35-41 | ||
| Relationship of disciples | 20:25-28 | 10:42-45 | ||
| Blind men healed near Jericho | 20:29-34 | 10:46-52 | 18:35-43 | |
| Jesus ascends toward Jerusalem | 21:1 | 11:1 | 19:28 | |
| Two disciples get a colt | 21:1-7 | 11:1-7 | 19:29-35 | |
| Triumphal entry into Jerusalem | 21:8-11 | 11:7-10 | 19:35-38 | 12:12-18 |
| Jesus enters Jerusalem and Bethany | 11:11 | |||
| Jesus curses a fig tree | 11:12-14 | |||
| Second temple cleansing | 21:12-13 | 11:15-17 | 19:45-46 | |
| Jewish leaders seek to destroy Jesus | 21:15-16 | 11:18 | 19:47-48 | |
| Jesus leaves Jerusalem | 21:17 | 11:19 | ||
| Withered fig tree (next morning) | 21:18-22 | 11:20-26 | ||
| Authority challenged in the Temple | 21:23-27 | 11:27-33 | 20:1-8 | |
| Parable of the vine growers | 21:33-46 | 12:1-12 | 20:9-18 | |
| Jews question on paying taxes | 22:15-22 | 12:13-17 | 20:19-26 | |
| Sadducees question the resurrection | 22:23-33 | 12:18-27 | 20:27-40 | |
| Scribes and Pharisees question Jesus | 22:34-40 | 12:28-34 | ||
| Jesus questions them about baptism | 22:41-46 | 12:35-37 | 20:41-44 | |
| Warnings about Scribes and Pharisees | 23:1-39 | 12:38-40 | 20:45-47 | |
| Widow's mite | 12:41-44 | 21:1-4 | ||
| Disciples admire the temple | 24:1-2 | 13:1-2 | 21:5-6 | |
| 4 fishermen question Jesus | 24:3 | 13:3-4 | 21:7 | |
| Jesus warns disciples of persecution | 24:4-14 | 13:5-13 | 21:8-19 | |
| Jesus predicts the fall of Jerusalem | 24:15-28 | 13:14-23 | 21:20-24 | |
| Jesus teaches about the 2nd coming | 24:29-31 | 13:24-27 | 21:25-28 | |
| Parable of the fig tree | 24:32-33 | 13:28-29 | 21:29-31 | |
| Warnings to be alert | 24:34-51 | 13:30-37 | 21:32-36 | |
| Plot to kill Jesus | 26:3-5 | 14:1-2 | 22:1-2 | |
| Mary's deed recounted | 26:6-13 | 14:3-9 | ||
| Judas bargains to betray Jesus | 26:14-16 | 14:10-11 | 22:3-6 | |
| Peter & John sent to prepare for Passover | 26:17-19 | 14:12-16 | 22:7-13 | |
| Fellowship in the upper room | 26:20 | 14:17 | 22:14 | |
| Jesus predicts his betrayal | 26:21-25 | 14:18-21 | 22:21-23 | 13:21-26 |
| Lord's Supper | 26:26-29 | 14:22-25 | 22:14-20 | I Cor 11:23-29 |
| They sing a hymn and leave | 26:30 | 14:26 | 14:31 | |
| Jesus predicts the disciples' denial | 26:31-32 | 14:27-28 | ||
| Jesus predicts Peter's denials | 26:33-35 | 14:29-31 | 22:33-34 | 13:36-38 |
| Jesus enters Gethsemane | 26:36 | 14:32 | 22:39-40 | 18:1 |
| Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane | 26:36-46 | 14:32-42 | 22:40-46 | |
| Mob comes to arrest Jesus | 26:47 | 14;43 | 18:2-3 | |
| Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss | 26:48-50 | 14:44-45 | 22:47-48 | |
| Peter severs the ear of Malchus | 26:50-54 | 14:46-47 | 22:49-50 | 18:10-11 |
| Jesus is arrested. The disciples flee. | 26:55-56 | 14:48-52 | 22:52-54 | 18:12 |
| Jesus lead to high priest's house | 26:57 | 14:53 | 22:54 | 18:13-14 |
| Peter follows at a distance | 26:58 | 14:54 | 22:54 | 18:15-16 |
| False witnesses testify | 26:59-61 | 14:55-59 | ||
| Caiaphas condemns Jesus | 26:62-66 | 14:60-64 | 22:66-71 | |
| Sanhedrin beats Jesus | 26:67-68 | 14:65 | ||
| Peter's 1st denial - doorkeeping girl | 26:69-70 | 14:66-68 | 22:55-57 | 18:17-18 |
| Peter's 2nd denial - by the fire | 26:71-72 | 14:69-70 | 22:58 | 18:25 |
| Peter's 3rd denial - relative of Malchus | 26:73-75 | 14:70-72 | 22:59-62 | 18:26-27 |
| Herod's soldiers mock Jesus | 15:1-5 | 23:11-12 | ||
| Pilate releases Barabbas | 27:15-26 | 15:6-15 | 23:13-25 | 18:38-40 |
| Pilate's soldiers crown and mock Jesus | 27:27-30 | 15:16-20 | 19:1-3 | |
| Simon of Cyrene bears the cross | 27:31-32 | 15:20-21 | 23:26 | |
| Jesus is brought to Golgotha | 27:33 | 15:22 | 23:32-33 | 19:17 |
| Soldiers offer Jesus sour wine mix | 27:34 | 15:23 | ||
| Soldiers divide the garments of Jesus | 27:35-36 | 15:24 | 23:34 | 19:23-24 |
| He is crucified on the 3rd hour | 15:25 | |||
| Inscription written by Pilate | 27:37 | 15:26 | 23:38 | 19:19-22 |
| 2 robbers are crucified with Jesus | 27:38 | 15:27-28 | 23:33 | 19:18 |
| Multitudes mock Jesus | 27:39-43 | 15:29-32 | 23:35-37 | |
| Robbers mock Jesus | 27:44 | 15:32 | 23:39 | |
| Darkness from 6th to 9th hour | 27:45 | 15:33 | 23:44-45 | |
| "Eloi, Eloi, Lamma, Sabachthani" | 27:46 | 15:34 | ||
| Jesus is offered sour wine on a reed. | 27:47-49 | 15:35-36 | 19:29-30 | |
| Jesus cries out | 27:50 | 15:37 | 23:46 | |
| Jesus bows his head and dies | 27:50 | 15:37 | 23:46 | 19:30 |
| Temple veil torn from top to bottom | 27:51 | 15:38 | 23:45 | |
| Centurion glorifies God | 27:54 | 15:39 | 23:47 | |
| Women watch from a distance | 27:55-56 | 15:40-41 | 23:49 | |
| Joseph requests body from Pilate | 27:57-58 | 15:42-43 | 23:50-52 | 19:38 |
| Centurion reports that Jesus is dead | 15:44-45 | |||
| Joseph takes the body | 15:45 | 19:38 | ||
| Body placed in new garden tomb | 27:59-60 | 15:46 | 23:53 | 19:41-42 |
| Two Mary's watch the burial | 27:61 | 15:47 | 23:54-55 | |
| Women bring spices to tomb at dawn | 28:1 | 16:1-4 | 24:1-3 | 20:1 |
| Angels appear to women | 28:5-7 | 16:5-7 | 24:4-8 | |
| Women run to tell disciples | 28:8 | 16:8 | 24:9-11 | 20:2 |
| Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene | 16:9 | 20:14-17 | ||
| Women report to the disciples | 16:10-11 | 20:18 | ||
| Jesus meets 2 on road to Emmaus | 16:12-13 | 24:13-32 | ||
| Jesus appears to disciples and Thomas | 16:14 | 20:26-29 | ||
| Jesus commissions the apostles | 28:16-20 | 16:15-18 | 24:44-49 |
While the gospels present similar events, the order, emphasis, inclusion, and omission of events changes with each author. Each gospel is a literary work with unique goals and a specific target audience.
Discrediting the gospels for sequential differences is pointless. The theological purpose of each author was not to construct a precise sequential account, but to present Christ to his readers. New Testament writers occasionally grouped related ideas for clarity, and used devices like flashbacks for emphasis (e.g. Luke 9:7-9).
To learn more about Mark and his purpose, audience, and emphasis, check out our Explore the Gospels article.