Comments by "John Luetjen" (@jehl1963) on "When Did Jesus Die?" video.
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Well presented. It might also be helpful to look at the authors of the different gospels. The "synodical" gospels were written by people who we would now describe as "historians".
The identity of The author of the Gospel of Matthew is traditionally associated with the apostle Matthew, although this has been debated even in the early Church. The early church leader Papias (c. 130) is referred to in Eusebius with a passage that he "collected the "logia" (oracles or gospels) in the Hebrew language (or potentially the "Hebrew style"). There are many parts of that Gospel which fit that description. But the implication is that he collected and collated a number of accounts from the Hebrew accounts.
The author of the Gospel of Mark is also attributed by the same Papias. Papias claims that a man by the name of John Mark wrote the Gospel based on the reminiscences of the Peter. Keep in mind Peter spent his later years in Rome (after ca. 45), and the Gospel would been written during or after that time. This is most likely the same Mark who is referenced in the Epistle 1 Peter 5:13.
The author of the Gospel of Luke is also not directly attributed, but the openings of the Gospel of Luke, and Acts makes clear that the two books are regarded as 2 volumes of the same work. There are a number of references to "we" in the books of Acts (Acts 16:10-17, Acts 27:1- 28:16) which can be cross-referenced to Paul's letters, and he was with him at those times. These point to a many by the name of Luke as the author.
The Gospel of John on the other hand is a completely different thing. First, the author claims to have been an actual disciple of Jesus, and a trustworthy witness to the things that he described (see John 21:24). So this cuts the potential list down to less than 11 people. Secondly, the author of John consistently writes one of the disciple's name out of the account, instead repeatedly referring to "the disciple whom Jesus loved". This description was traditionally used to refer to the disciple John in the early Church. But in addition to that there are a number of details in John which don't appear in the other Gospels, the types of details which generally would be known only by someone who was there. After from the theological introduction, John's Gospel starts with an account of the actions of John the Baptist, and include a number of quotes. It then goes on to describe John the Baptist seeing Jesus for Jesus's baptism. Finally it describes that John the Baptist was at a place with 2 of his disciples -- one of whom is described as Andrew (Simon Peter's brother) and the other is unnamed. Via Andrew Jesus recruited Peter. Then the recruiting of Philip and Nathanial, but the un-named disciple remains un-named. But the Synodical Gospels all say that the earliest converts were Andrew, Peter, James and John (for example see Mark 1:16-20). So that would put the mystery person as either James or John. There are also other subjects in John's Gospel which are not covered in the others -- including the Wedding at Cana. This is significant because it is the first of many references in John's Gospel to personal events or conversations by Mary the mother of Jesus. Why are these points about Mary significant? Because by many accounts (and potentially some physical evidence) the Apostle John took care of Mary after the death of Jesus. For example, from the cross, Jesus looked at Mary and "The disciple whom he loved" and said "Dear woman, here is your son", and than to that disciple "Here is your mother". This is generally understood as directing this disciple to take care of Mary from that time on, and this exchange is not recorded in the other Gospels, but the author saw fit to include it in this Gospel. It's the kind of detail which would be remembered by the participants. According to the early church historians Irenaeus and Eusebius of Caesarea (4th century), John and Mary lived in Ephesus until her death, and his. While her death is not recorded, tradition records her having a tomb there. Other traditions put her house in Jerusalem, but these also date to the 4th century. There is nothing that prevents her having lived in both locations at some time during her life. The the important point is her connection in later life to the disciple John, and as a result the inclusion of some details that only she would have known in the Gospel attributed to the disciple John.
John also records the prayers of Jesus in the Garden, something that would only have been heard by Peter, James and John since it is recorded in Mark that those were the only 3 disciples with him when he prayed. So in regards to the timing of Jesus death, it's quite likely that the account in the Gospel of John 10:50 is a 1st person account. This would also explain the almost word-by-word account of what was said at the last supper and the evening of Jesus's arrest. (John 13-17)
So I would potentially apply a little more weight to the Gospel of John for the date of Jesus' s death this he was most likely there in person for the event.
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