At first glance, the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) and the Gospel of John may appear to present different dates for Jesus’ Last Supper and crucifixion. However, this confusion arises from differences in methods of timekeeping and perspective, not from actual contradictions. Let us compare the accounts and clarify their meaning.

1. The Synoptic Gospels: Preparation for Passover and the Last Supper
The Synoptic Gospels clearly record Jesus instructing his disciples to “prepare the Passover.” This “preparation” refers to slaughtering the Passover lamb on the afternoon of Nisan 14 (according to the Jewish calendar), in order to hold the Passover meal that evening. By Jewish tradition, a day begins at sundown, so the Passover meal takes place on the evening of Nisan 14, which is technically the night of Nisan 15 by Jewish reckoning. During this meal, Jesus broke bread and declared, “This is my body given for you,” and, lifting the cup, proclaimed, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19–20). In other words, at the very meal where the lamb had been traditionally eaten, Jesus presented the bread and wine as the true Passover meal symbolizing his flesh and blood.
Based on this, some scholars and groups such as the Church of God (WMSCOG) argue that “the Last Supper itself was the Passover meal,” and that Jesus was crucified during the day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15). However, this interpretation contains an important confusion.

Because a Jewish day begins at sundown, the evening of Nisan 14 is the beginning of Nisan 15, but to truly understand the links between the “preparation for Passover,” the actual meal, and the crucifixion, we must carefully consider the gospel narratives. Furthermore, simply equating the Last Supper with the Passover meal contradicts the key message of John’s Gospel, which emphasizes that Jesus died on the cross at the exact hour the Passover lambs were slain (Nisan 14, 3 p.m.). If we equate the two without nuance, we risk misunderstanding the fulfillment of Passover prophecy and Jesus as the true Passover Lamb. Avoiding this confusion requires a proper understanding of time reckoning and the structure of Jewish feasts.

2. The Gospel of John: The Day of Preparation and Jesus’ Sacrifice
John’s Gospel presents the timing differently. It records the Last Supper as occurring the night before Passover, that is, on the evening of Nisan 13. Jesus was crucified at the very hour the Passover lambs were slain (Nisan 14, 3 p.m.), while the Jews were preparing for their Passover meal that evening. John emphasizes that Jesus’ death perfectly coincided with the slaying of the Passover lamb, thus presenting Jesus as the true fulfillment of the Passover prophecy. The difference in the gospels arises from their different approaches to time and theological emphasis. John highlights Jesus’ death not just as an event, but as a prophetic, symbolic fulfillment. Ultimately, John’s Gospel makes clear that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament Passover.

3. The Root Cause of Date Confusion: Differences in Time Reckoning
The apparent date discrepancy between the Synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John is actually a result of differences in methods of time calculation. The Synoptic Gospels follow the Jewish (Hebrew) calendar, where a day begins at sunset. Thus, when Jesus commanded, “prepare the Passover,” it could refer to the evening of Nisan 13 through the evening of Nisan 14, which by Jewish reckoning would also be considered the night of Nisan 15. In contrast, the Gospel of John reflects the Roman system of time, in which a day begins at midnight (12:00 a.m.). According to John, Jesus was handed over to Pilate at the “sixth hour” by Roman reckoning, which is 6 a.m. Therefore, because the Synoptic Gospels and John use different time standards—Jewish and Roman—they record the dates and times of the same events differently. If we fail to understand this distinction, we may be confused by the time references in the Gospels. To interpret each Gospel correctly, it is essential to recognize their intended contexts and timekeeping methods.

4. The Meaning of the Passover Lamb and Jesus’ Crucifixion
Jesus is the reality of the Passover Lamb. At the Last Supper, the bread and wine he gave his disciples represented his flesh and blood, not the lamb meat eaten by the Jews. This act fulfilled the prophecy of the Passover Lamb in the Old Testament. Jesus was crucified at exactly the time when the Passover lambs were being slaughtered—Nisan 14, at 3 p.m.

5. Pilate’s Release of Prisoners and the Day of Preparation
Both the Synoptic Gospels and John record the custom of Pilate releasing a prisoner at the feast. While the Synoptic Gospels mention it simply as “at the feast,” John specifies that this feast was the Day of Preparation for the Passover (Nisan 14). The Jews kept the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15) as a sacred Sabbath, during which all executions and unclean acts were strictly forbidden. Thus, Jesus’ crucifixion was carried out on the Day of Preparation (Nisan 14), to avoid the Sabbath. This shows that the Gospel accounts are actually harmonious in their timing. Ultimately, Jesus’ death was precisely fulfilled in accordance with Old Testament prophecy and the regulations of the Jewish feasts. This is an extremely important point in Gospel interpretation.

6. Key Summary: Harmony of Date and Time
No Date Difference
Both the Synoptic Gospels and John clearly record that Jesus died on the cross on the Day of Preparation (Nisan 14). There is no difference in the actual dates of the events recorded.

Difference in Time Reckoning
The Synoptic Gospels record according to the Jewish tradition, where a day begins at sunset. John, however, reflects the Roman system, where a day begins at midnight (0:00). Because of this, even though they describe the same event, the time notations and narrative styles differ.

Fulfillment of the Passover Lamb Prophecy
Jesus was sacrificed at the exact time the Passover lambs were slaughtered (Nisan 14, 3 p.m.). Through this, he perfectly fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of the Passover Lamb and opened the way of eternal salvation for all humanity.

7. Conclusion
Jesus came as the true Passover Lamb foretold in the Old Testament and was sacrificed precisely on the Day of Preparation. The accounts of the Synoptic Gospels and John do not contradict each other; they simply reflect different methods of time reckoning, yet testify to the same truth. Correctly understanding this difference brings greater clarity to the biblical history and the essence of salvation.