John Chapter 21
Starts with "after this", and recounts the appearance of Jesus to seven of the eleven, who were in Galilee fishing. Why would they go here if they'd been told to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came? So this event must have come BEFORE that command. This also fits with the implication that Jesus gave the great commission in Galilee on a mountain, but didn't ascend from there. Sometime after that, they were all back in Jerusalem, and went to Bethany, and Jesus ascended from there - AFTER telling them not to leave Jerusalem.
2021 - Seems that John 21 tells about the time in Galilee. The after this seems to refer to the appearance when Thomas was there, so I would think they have all seen him. But he went away again, and maybe they took the time to go on to Galilee and are wondering when/if they will see him there.
2022 - Yes, 21 is after the appearance when Thomas was present. And that means that 21 is not just "tacked on" in any sense, but is a continuation of the recounting of Jesus' appearances to the apostles after the resurrection. We do not know what else may have been said the night Jesus appeared to them all, including Thomas. I don't think we can make a good case that he said he'd meet them in Galilee in 4 days or 9 days or anything like that. But you do have Mark 16...7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." [Mar 16:7 ESV]. It is an angel that says this to the women AFTER SUN UP come with spices to anoint him. I don't think MM was exactly with them. John specifically says she was there before sun up. This timeline...still needs work. Easy to do. Make a list of events as described in each gospel, and then figure out how to put them in order - to fit them in - so that everything happens in sequence.
(I also note that in Mark, the angel said to go tell is disciples...and Peter...As if at this time, Peter was excluded. But we could also take it that the angel is sending these other women not to the apostles - MM has already told some of them - but to the disciples in general. But...Peter had already been there and seen the empty tomb...but may not yet have heard that Mary had seen Jesus. Because when Mary does, she goes and tells "disciples", not "apostles". In any case, Mark mentions that they were supposed to go to Galilee...but that night Jesus appears in Jerusalem, and 8 days later they are apparently STILL in Jerusalem, but eventually...some of them at least...mosey on up to Galilee.
After Jesus revealed his hands and side to Thomas, after they all knew he was resurrected, here in Galilee by the shore, they again do not recognize him. Not even his voice when he calls to them. They throw the net on the other side of the boat, and catch a LOT of fish. This is the second time this has happened. You have to believe that Simon and Andrew, and James and John, immediately connected this with Jesus. John tells us that he is the one who figured it out first.
They bring the fish to shore, and they all have breakfast. Then John says this is the third time. So there was the night of the first day of the week, when they were pretty much all there, then 8 days later when Thomas was there, and now this is the third time. This is certainly a timeline to work with. Emmaus was before the first appearance. The great commission seems logically to have come after this, as did the scene in Jerusalem before he went to Bethany. It all fits.
2021 - So...if this is in Galilee, and the ascension is from Jerusalem, then they will all go back there, then Jesus will appear to them there, lead them out to Bethany, and ascend from there. That's the end of the timeline.
Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three separate times. This is John telling us about this - not Mark, who perhaps wrote Peter's own memoirs. One time for each denial. And Jesus says that Peter will be a different man from here on, not the impulsive man he has been up to now. Peter has changed after coming through the denials.
2022 - Vs 19, John explains to us what Jesus meant by these words to Peter. Does so again in vs 23.
2021 - No ascension in John. You would think they would all tell about a man rising up into the clouds and disappearing there. Flying was not common back then. But they don't. So after John's account ends, they all go back to Jerusalem and we get Luke's account of the ascension. Only Luke, who wasn't there, and was traveling with Paul, who wasn't there. Matthew and John were there...they don't mention it. Matthew doesn't even mention the Galilee part. I really need to work out these timelines, along with who says what - who tells which story and which stories are told by more than one writer - and so make better sense of this. I think it is supposed to be difficult so that you have to dig. I think when I unravel it all, it will be even more amazing than it already is because of the way it fits together. That has already started today as I find that MM did indeed arrive alone, and much earlier than anyone else. I need to get this timeline study on my list!