Contradictions

Here are the key contradictions mentioned in the transcript, grouped by topic:1. Chronology of Events

Event	Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke)	Gospel of John
Last Supper Date	Takes place "on the first day of the unleavened bread when the Passover lamb is sacrificed," making it explicitly a Passover meal.	Takes place before the feast of the Passover, so Jesus is slain on the same moment that the Passover lambs are slaughtered, equating him with the sacrificial lamb.
Temple Incident	Occurs during the last week of Jesus' life, immediately before the plot to kill him is finalized.	Is relocated to the very beginning of Jesus' ministry.
Anointing	Occurs two days before the Passover feast.	Occurs six days before the Passover.

The anointing of Jesus' feet/head differs in setting, participant, and motivation:

Detail	Mark and Matthew	Luke	John
Setting	Home of Simon the leper in Bethany.	Home of an anonymous rich Pharisee, outside of the passion narrative.	Home of Mary and Martha (sisters of Lazarus) in Bethany.
The Woman	Anonymous, not described as a sinner.	Anonymous, but identified as a "sinner" (presumably a prostitute).	Mary of Bethany.
The Complaint	Disciples in general object to the waste.	(The story's purpose is different, focusing on hospitality/sinner vs. religious authority).	Judas Iscariot objects, motivated by his being a thief who stole from the common purse.

Detail	Mark	Matthew	Luke and John
Motivation	Chief priests were pleased by his offer to betray Jesus and promised to give him money.	Motivation is mercenary from the start ("What are you willing to give me?"). Specifies the payment as 30 pieces of silver.	Motivation is cosmic: Satan or the devil enters into Judas.
End of Judas	(Not specified in Mark)	Throws the silver into the temple and "hangs himself."	Takes the money, buys a field, and "trips and falls over and kills himself in the field" (as described in the Book of Acts, the second part of Luke's account).

Detail	Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, Luke)	Gospel of John
Betrayal Sign	Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss (the sign).	Judas does not kiss Jesus. Jesus calls out to the group first, declaring "I am he," causing the guards to step back and fall to the ground.
High Priest Slave Attack	The disciple who cuts off the slave's ear is anonymous. Luke alone adds that Jesus heals the ear.	Peter is identified as the disciple who cuts off the ear, and the slave is named Malchus.
Disciples' Flight	Mark emphasizes the chaos of the disciples scattering and fleeing, including the young man who flees naked.	The chaos and abandonment of Jesus are lacking in John's version.

Detail	Mark	Matthew and Luke	John
Messianic Claim	Jesus answers the high priest's question about being the Messiah/Son of God with a direct "I am."	Jesus is more circumspect, answering "You have said so" (Matthew) or "You say that I am" (Luke).	Jesus refuses to implicate himself, stating he has spoken openly to the world and has nothing to say in secret to the high priest.

Synoptics: Jesus institutes the Lord's Supper using a sacramental formula (similar to Paul's account).1
- Matthew adds "for the forgiveness of sins" to the formula.1
- Luke has a more complex structure, sharing the cup first, then the bread, then the cup again.1
John: An institution of the Lord's Supper is absent from the story of the last meal.1

Judas Identification: In Mark and Luke, Jesus makes a general prediction that one of the 12 will betray him, but does not say which one. In Matthew and John, Jesus specifically identifies Judas.1
Pilate's Exoneration: Matthew alone adds the detail that Pilate publicly washes his hands of responsibility in front of the crowd.1
The Prayer in the Garden: In Mark and Matthew, the spot is named Gethsemane, and Jesus finds his disciples unable to stay awake three times. In Luke, the location is the Mount of Olives, and Jesus only catches the disciples sleeping once.