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THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS

Wednesday or Thursday or Friday:

On what day was Jesus Christ crucified?


compiled by Rachel Cory-Kuehl, August 2007

Last Edited: March 7, 2023

Scripture from the NKJV unless otherwise noted

 

Matthew 12:38-40 “Then some of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, ‘Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.’ But he answered and said to them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. No sign will be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish; so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth’” (Luke 11:29-30, Jonah 1:17).

 

Most Christians believe that Christ died on Friday afternoon and rose from the dead just at/or just after dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week. This period of time does not encompass three days and three nights, according to Western time reckoning. It covers just over 36 hours. How can this be consistent with Christ’s “sign of the prophet Jonah?”

 

A number of Christians hold the view that Christ died on Wednesday afternoon and was resurrected late on the afternoon of the Sabbath (Saturday). Matthew 12:38-40 is quoted as primary support for a Wednesday crucifixion. I do not believe this scenario is supported by the sum of textual evidence.


            Still other Christians believe that Christ died on Thursday. This is a strong possibility, but is not certain.




CONTENTS


Nor did His flesh see corruption . . . pg4

The manna - a symbol of Christ . . . pg5

Table of Third Day verses . . . pg5

The first day of the week - Today is the third day . . . pg6

The third day - Other Passages . . . pg6

According to the Scriptures . . . pg7-8

In the Heart of the Earth . . . pg8-10

Definitions of “a day” . . . pg11

Mark 8:31 vs. Mark 9:31 . . . pg11

Inclusive Reckoning . . . pg12

Peter and Cornelius - four days ago . . . pg13

The Bright and Morning Star . . . pg14

Punctuation Problems . . . pg14-16

Carrying jars of spices - on the Sabbath? . . . pg15

Matthew 27:66 -28:1 : In Other Translations . . . pg17

Too Late for Spices? . . . pg17

Who will role away the stone? . . . pg18

The prophetic Feast Days: Scripture Commands . . . pg20

Feast Day commands vs. Crucifixion to Resurrection - A Time Line Table . . . pg21

Events of Crucifixion Week from the Gospels vs. Days of the Week - A Table . . . pg22

Why no objections regarding the Sabbath? . . . pg23

The Final Week reviewed . . . pg23-25

Passover - How was the term used? . . . pg25

Was the Last Supper a Passover meal . . . pg26

Christ - the Firstfruits . . . pg27

Pharisees vs. Sadducees - A Disputed Commandment . . . pg27-29

Wednesday - Thursday - Friday scenarios compared . . . pg30-31

What I believe . . . pg32


In this study I will explain:

      1.   According to prophecy, the body of Messiah would NOT decay between death and resurrection.

      2. “Three days and three nights” vs “on the third day” -- Can both be true?

      3. “The heart of the earth” -- what does the phrase mean?

      4.   Inclusive reckoning -- Hebrew time keeping.

5. Does “dawn” mean late afternoon?

When was the guard put in place?

      6.   Too late for spices? When did the women come to the tomb?

            Did the women walk to the tombs on the Sabbath, carrying spices, knowing they would return home in the dark?

Why did they not know about the Roman seal, and the guard?

      7.   The prophetic holy days. How do they line up?

The ancient commands.

            Table of the final week

            Twelve miles uphill from Jericho, on a Sabbath?

            No objections based on Sabbath violation, for the triumphal entry

            The Passover lamb inspected from 10 Adar to 14 Adar

            The “preparation for the Passover” vs “the preparation day”

      9.    The Feast of the “Firstfruits”

            The ancient dispute as to the correct day

    10.    Tables comparing different death to resurrection scenarios











NOR DID HIS FLESH SEE CORRUPTION”

The Psalm predicted and Luke agrees, that the flesh of Christ did NOT decay.

 

Acts 2:25-27, 30-31 “For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption(Psalm 16:10). “Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades [Sheol - the grave], nor did His flesh see corruption [decay].”

 

Peter’s argument is that the body of Christ did not “see corruption,” because He was raised from the dead before signs of “decay” could have been observed. The argument is not for a miraculous preservation of flesh. His flesh did not see corruption, because God the Father resurrected His Son, in fulfillment of the Scriptures.

 

Any coroner will tell you that after 24 hours (much less 72 hours) a body will be in a state of decay, unless it is kept in cold storage. A cave in Jerusalem, in mid-April would be cool, but rather than debate temperatures and rates of decay, I would turn to Scripture.

The meat of an animal offered as a peace offering, or as a freewill offering, could be eaten on the day that it was killed and on the day following. To eat of the meat “on the third day” was forbidden, and was called “an abomination” by the LORD (Lev. 7:16-18).


            The “peace offering” absolutely did symbolize Christ.

      “He is our peace” (Eph 2:14).

  

If Jesus Christ’s body had remained in the grave on “the third day,”

it would have become “unclean” - in a state of decay.

Both prophecy and direct testimony said this did not happen.




 

According to the Law, any part of a sacrifice which remained on the third day was to be “burned with fire” so that nothing remained - just as nothing of the mortal flesh of Christ remained in the tomb, on the third day. This to me, is a strong argument against the body of Christ spending more than 48 hours in the tomb.

 

The manna also, was a symbol of Christ (John 6:30-35). The manna fell on the six working days, and did NOT fall on the Sabbath. The manna would spoil and stink if kept overnight, on any of the six working days, but an extra portion gathered on Friday did not spoil when kept overnight for use on the Sabbath. The manna did “not see corruption,” just as the body of Christ did not see corruption, over the Sabbath. The manna which did not spoil over the Sabbath was to be eaten up completely, just like the Passover lamb was to be eaten up completely (Exodus 16:14-36). If any of the manna was kept on Sunday - the third day, it would be spoiled. The Friday-Sabbath preservation of the manna, matches the Friday-Sabbath preservation of our Lord’s body. On Friday, a “double portion” of divine love was given to mankind. All of heaven was poured out in one amazing gift. On Sabbath there was no manna because Christ was dead. On Sunday - the manna fell from Heaven once again, because Christ was risen.

 I have omitted statements by Christ’s enemies.

 

Matthew 12:40 “three days and three nights”

Matthew 16:21 “be raised again the third day”

 

Matthew 17:23 “the third day he shall be raised”

 

Matthew 20:19 “the third day he shall rise again”

 

Mark 9:31 “shall rise the third day”

Mark 8:31 “after three days”

Mark 10:34 “the third day he shall rise again”

 

Luke 9:22 “be raised the third day”

 

Luke 13:32 “the third day I shall be perfected”

 

Luke 18:33 “the third day he shall rise again”

 

Luke 24:7 “the third day rise again”

 

John 2:19 “in three days”

 

Acts 10:40 “Him God raised up the third day”

 

1 Corinthians 15:4 “rose again the third day”

 


“the first day of the week” . . . “today is the third day”

 

Luke 24:1,13,21 “Now upon the first day of the week [Sunday]. . . And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. . . . Jesus himself drew near ... But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, ... ‘our chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.’”

 

Christ is alive on Sunday, which is called “the third day.” I cannot get a Wednesday crucifixion from this text.

            NOTE: Luke Chapter Twenty-four is the only account of this appearance.

“THE THIRD DAY” - OTHER PASSAGES

Understanding Hebrew time expressions

 

Exodus 19:10-11 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

 

Note: In the Scriptures, the day after tomorrow IS the third day. As the LORD came down in the sight of the people on the third day, so the risen Christ appeared to men on the third day.

 

2 Chronicles 10:5 & 12 “So he said to them, ‘Come back to me after three days.’ And the people departed.” (v.12) “So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had directed, saying, ‘Come back to me the third day.’”

 

            The people understood “after three days” to mean “on the third day” - the day after tomorrow.

 

 

Leviticus 7:16-18 “But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity.” KJV (See also, Lev. 19:5-7.)


                                                In Scripture, the day after tomorrow IS “the third day.”

 

Hosea 6:1-3 “Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (KJV)


The disciples were “torn,” and “smitten” with grief. On the third day their grief was turned to joy.

                  

First Day

Second Day

Third Day

00 to 24 hours

25 to 48 hours

49 to 72 hours

Today

Tomorrow

The Day After Tomorrow


If Jesus was going to “rise the third day,”

then He could not remain in the tomb until the third day was ended.


“ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES”

 

Luke 24:45-46 [On the road to Emmaus] Then He opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:


1 Corinthians 15:4 “He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”


 

1. The commands concerning the sacrifices (especially concerning the Passover lamb and the “Firstfruits”)

      2. The commands concerning what might be eaten of any sacrifice on the third day

3. The double portion of manna gathered on Friday, which would “keep” until Sunday

4. The prophecy of Hosea 6:1-3


All these pointed forward to Christ’s resurrection ON THE THIRD DAY.

 


“THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS - IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH”

How do we reconcile this prophecy with resurrection “on the third day?”

 

How could He spend 72 hours in the tomb, AND be “raised the third day.” The two expressions are mutually exclusive. Either Christ contradicted Himself, or this prophetic statement must be reconciled with all of His other predictions which specified “the third day.” It must be reconciled with the written prophecies of the Old Testament, and with the prophetic imagery of the Feasts appointed by God.

 

Jesus taught the people with parables and with obscure sayings (Matthew 13:34-35; Psalm 78:2). The phrase “in the heart of the earth” is not defined in the text. There are no parallel passages - only Matthew quotes Christ in this instance. The phrase has been understood by some to mean “in the tomb” but the expression was NOT a Hebrew idiom for the grave. Jesus did NOT SAY that He would be “in the grave” for 3 days and 3 nights. He would be “in the heart of the earth.”


What do the words mean?

 

Jesus had lived from the moment of His birth, “in the Father(John 14:11, John 8:28). He lived in the presence of His Father. Now He would experience something vastly different. Now He would be “in the heart of the earth.”


Genesis 6:5 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart     was only evil continually.”         



 

Jerusalem was regarded as the center, or “heart of” the earth. Jews were to travel from every part of the land to Jerusalem, for worship on the Feast Days (John 4:20; Acts 2:5-11, 8:27; Deut. 16:16).


Psalm 74:12 “For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth(Ezek 38:12).

Ezekiel 5:5 “This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.”


The heart of Jerusalem - was evil. The heart of this earth, under Satan’s domination - is evil.

 

As Jonah was thrown overboard into the sea, so Christ was “betrayed” and “delivered into the hands of sinful men(Luke 24:7). He was “delivered to the Gentiles” (Lk 18:32), rejected, abandoned, and forsaken of God (Lk 17:20; Matt. 27:46; Mrk 15:34; Matt. 26:56; Mrk 14:50). As Jonah was swallowed by the great fish, so Christ was swallowed by the evil which surrounded Him. He was left alone to battle with Satan, and with men under the control of demons.

 

Psalm 18:4-5 “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about,: the snares of death prevented me.”

 

Psalm 88:4,6 “I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps.”

 

Compare the above passages written by David (speaking prophetically as the suffering Messiah) with the following words of Jonah. Both speak of waters, deep, corruption, rejection, and darkness from which there is no escape.

 

Jonah 2:6 “I went down to the bottoms of the mountains; the earth with her bars was about me for ever: yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.”

 

IMPORTANT! The time period prophesied, must include the period of suffering

not simply the time period during which Jesus remained dead.

 

 

 

 

 

The whole process of humiliation was included in this “belly of the whale” experience (Matt. 16:21, Mk. 8:31, Mk. 9:12, Lk. 9:22, Lk. 17:25). To the mob near the garden, Jesus said, “This is your hour, and the power of darkness(Lk 22:53). “Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners(Matt. 26:46).

 

“The hour” begins with the kiss of Judas in the Garden.

 

            The angels at the tomb said to the women: “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, ‘The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again(Luke 24:6-7).

From the kiss of Judas in the garden, to the glorious resurrection, “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” - in the hands of evil. Remember, Roman soldiers were guarding His tomb.

 

NIGHT: Thursday late night: Adar 14 (Passover)

               Taken and tried.

              (Cast into “the heart of the earth.”)

DAY: Friday: Adar 14 (Passover)

          Scourged and crucified.

                                        Death about 3PM

NIGHT: Friday night: Adar 15 began @ sunset.

               (Feast of Unleavened Bread)

               Sleeping in death

DAY: Sabbath: 15 Adar

          (Feast of Unleavened Bread continues)

           Sleeping in death.

                                        

NIGHT: Sabbath night: Adar 16 began @sunset.

               Sleeping in death.

DAY: Sunday just at sunrise: 16 Adar

           Resurrected from death on the 3rd day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BOTH ARE TRUE.

DEFINITIONS OF A “DAY:

      1. the part of 24 hours when it is not dark outside, (aprox. 12 hrs)

      2. the time period from sundown to sundown (24 hrs).

Remember - any part of a day counts as a day in Hebrew reckoning.

 

      If the sun was shining at the moment of the resurrection - then it was counted as a “day.”

      He is resurrected ON the “third day” because the sun had dawned.

      He is resurrected ON “the third day” because it is Adar 16, and He died on Adar 14.

He spends “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” because we begin the time when He is bound and taken into custody, during the night of Adar 14.

      From the first day, to the third day just at sunrise, encompasses “three days and three nights!!”

 

Resurrection at dawn
48-three-days-nights.gif
Suffering
48-three-days-nights1.gif

 

   

       night

day

Friday

night

day

Sabbath

night

day

Sunday

  

 ---------------- Adar 14 ----------------- ----------------- Adar 15 ----------------- ------------------ Adar 16 ----------------

 

 

MARK 8:31 vs MARK 9:31

 

Mark 8:31 “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

 

Mark 9:31 “... the Son of Man is being delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the     third day.”

 

The three days of Mark 8:31 would then INCLUDE everything that He suffered, not just the period during which He lay in the tomb.

   

INCLUSIVE RECKONING

This method of keeping time is called “inclusive reckoning.” Any part of a day was included in the count as a day. The day (or any part of a day) on which an event begins is called “the first day.” We still do this today: “Today is the first day of the sale” - even if the sale doesn’t begin until the store opens at 10 o’clock. (There is no zero day therefore the first day is day #1.)

  

EXAMPLE: A newborn Hebrew male was circumcised when he was “eight days old” (Gen. 17:12), OR “the eighth day” (Lev. 12:3; Lk. 1:59) OR “when eight days were accomplished” (Lk. 2:21). All three expressions mean the same thing. The day of birth was called “the first day,” whether the child was born at the beginning or at the close of the day. There was no zero day. The day of birth was day #1. On day #3, the child would be two days old. On day #8, the child would be seven days old.

 

CONSIDER:

      The “day” begins and ends at sunset. 

      Near the close of day #1, Jesus died. (There was no day #zero.)

Near the close of day #2, Jesus was dead for one day, 24 hours (according to Western time keeping).

Near the close of day #3, Jesus would have been dead for two days, 48 hours.

      On day #4, it would be said that Jesus was dead for three days.

 

THIS rules out a Wednesday to Sabbath death period. Sabbath would be the 4th day.

A Thursday crucifixion to late Sabbath afternoon resurrection, is possible. Sabbath would be the 3rd day.

(But remember, the sacrifice would become “unclean” on the 3rd day.)

Such a scenario would not encompass “three days and three nights.”

  

The period of His suffering must be included.

We must start the clock with the kiss of Judas in the Garden, to include that first “night.”

 

 

 

 

 

The story of Peter and Cornelius

Another example of “inclusive reckoning”

 

1st Day: An angel appeared to Cornelius “about the ninth hour of the day” telling him to send messengers to get Peter who was at Joppa (Acts 10:3-8).

 

2nd Day: As the messengers sent by Cornelius neared the house “on the morrow ... about the sixth hour” (noon) Peter saw a vision. In response to the vision Peter received, the messengers and they spent the night (verse 9).

 

            NOTE: It is an overnight journey from Cornelius to Joppa, where Peter is staying with Simon.

 

3rd Day: And on the morrow Peter went away with them” (verse 23).

 

4th Day: “And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea.” Peter met Cornelius, who then told him of the angel’s visit.” “Four days ago,” said Cornelius, “I was fasting unto this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing...” (Verses 24,30). When he recounted the story to Peter, Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour.” But count it for yourself! Seventy-two hours (three full days) had passed from the time that Cornelius saw the vision, until he told the story to Peter - NOT 96 hours! Yet he says, “Four days ago.” This is inclusive time reckoning.

 

This would mean that one could say “three days ago” and mean 48 hours!

Before dawn on Friday - when Christ was taken into custody at the darkest hour of the night,

until day-break of Sunday, is just over 48 hours.

 

 

Other examples of “inclusive reckoning” include 1Samuel 30:12-13, 1Kings 20:29 and Genesis 42:17–18.

 

 

 

 

 

THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR

 

2 Peter 1:19 “And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.” (NAS)

 

Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star.” (NAS)

 

Malachi 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

 

The “morning star” rises at dawn. The imagery given, links Christ with the sun, with dawn, with light, with life. Not with sunset. With sunset comes darkness, cold, and the night. Without light there can be no life. I have a hard time connecting the resurrection of Messiah with sunset and the approach of darkness.

 

 

PUNCTUATION PROBLEMS

One argument for a Wednesday crucifixion.

 

Matthew 27:66 - 28:1-2 “So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” (KJV).

 

The Greek word “epiphosko(Strong’s #2020), translated “dawn,” can mean “drawing towards.” The Hebrew Sabbath begins at sunset, therefore the argument is made that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary set out for the sepulcher late on Sabbath afternoon as it began “to approach towards the first day of the week.”

 

 

 

Carrying jars of spices - on the Sabbath?

 

In the Wednesday crucifixion scenario, the disciples spent the next day (a Thursday - the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread)

in Jerusalem - “according to the commandment.” The next day (a Friday) would have been a common work day. Late the next afternoon, (a 7th Day Sabbath) - the women set out for the tomb before the sun set, carrying jars of spices for anointing the body.

 

            NOTE: Only the first and the last days of the Feast were to be kept as “sabbaths” (rest days) (Lev 23:4-8).

            NOTE: If Wednesday was the first day, then the Sabbath would have been the 4th day.

 

      Is this scenario logical?

 

1. “The Law” of the Pharisees, forbade a walk of more than half a mile on the Sabbath.

2. Carrying the large jars of spices on the Sabbath, would also violate “the Law,” which forbade the carrying of a “burden” on the Sabbath day.

 

3. The tombs were considered a very dangerous place. Touching a tomb could render one “unclean” for 7 days. Robbers and unclean persons hid there. Would two women walk to the tombs at sunset, knowing they may be assaulted evil men, and knowing they will have to walk home in the dark? It would take time to anoint the body, especially if they have to find someone to roll away the stone from the entrance.

 

4. Why would the women have waited until Sabbath afternoon anyway, before seeking to anoint the body? In the Wednesday crucifixion scenario, Friday would have been a common work day. Why not anoint the body on that Friday?

 

      Let’s examine the text.

  

The ancient Greek writings contained no punctuation marks, and no lower case letters. These were added later, to make reading easier. The ancient manuscripts contained no numbered verses, and no chapter divisions. Consider how the ancient text might have looked. (We will do this in English, but you’ll get the idea.)

 

 

 

SOTHEYWENTANDMADETHESEPULCHRESURESEALINGTHESTONEANDSETTINGAWATCHINTHEENDOFTHESABBATHASITBEGANTODAWNTOWARDTHEFIRSTDAYOFTHEWEEKCAMEMARYMAGDALENEANDTHEOTHERMARYTOSEETHESEPULCHRE

 

            Let’s try that again, adding word division and punctuation.  

 

SO THEY WENT AND MADE THE SEPULCHER SURE, SEALING THE STONE AND SETTING A WATCH IN THE END OF THE SABBATH. AS IT BEGAN TO DAWN TOWARD THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, CAME MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY TO SEE THE SEPULCHER.

 

Did you see the change? I simply moved the period from after the word “watch,” to after the word “sabbath.” I also eliminated the verse division. “In the end of the Sabbath” becomes the END of 27:66.

 

The guard is posted as the sun is setting at “the end of the Sabbath.” (Could be either the First Day of Unleavened Bread - a “sabbath,” OR the 7th Day weekly Sabbath. The women come to the tomb at dawn of Sunday (the first day fo the week). This change of punctuation, completely changes the meaning. The passage can then very legitimately be read:

 

“So they went and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch in the end of the sabbath. As it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher” (Matthew 27:66 - 28:1).

 

The story is changed, just by a change of punctuation. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary come to the sepulcher very early - before dawn of Sunday, just as they do in the other three accounts of this story. They feel the ground shake with the earthquake, as the angel rolls away the stone. THIS is the resurrection!

 

      Mark 16:1-2very early in the morning on the first day of the week

    Luke 24:1,10upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning

    John 20:1the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark

 

Mary ran to tell the disciples. John and Peter both ran to the tomb. Everything happens on Sunday morning.

 

 

 

MATTHEW 27:66 -28:1 : OTHER TRANSLATIONS

 

New American Standard: “And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.”

 

Today’s English Version: “So they left, and made the grave secure by putting a seal on the stone and leaving the guard on watch. After       the Sabbath, as Sunday morning was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the grave.”

 

The New International Version: “So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. After the       Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”

 

Phillips Modern English: “And they went and made the grave secure, putting a seal on the stone and leaving it under guard. When the       Sabbath was over, just as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.”

 

 

TOO LATE FOR SPICES?

 

John 11:39 In the story of Lazarus, “Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.’”

 

Note: Remember Hebrew inclusive reckoning. “Been dead four days” would mean 72 hours.

 

I can see the women wanting to anoint the body of Jesus with aromatic spices approximately 38 hours after death (Fri.3pm to Sun. at dawn), but I have a hard time believing they would want to roll away that stone, to put their spices on a stinking corpse after 72 hours (Wed. 3pm to Sabbath near sundown).

 

 

 

 

 

WHY RETURN WITH SPICES?

Luke 24:1on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they . . . came to the tomb, bringing the spices ...”

 

Verse 10 confirms that Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James were among this party. Mark 16:1-2 also states that Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James came to the tomb “very early on the first day of the week” to “anoint him.”

 

If the women worship the risen Christ late on Sabbath afternoon, and they RUN to tell the disciples, (as in the Sabbath near sundown scenario) WHY would they return the next morning - on Sunday at dawn, with spices to anoint His body? (Mark 16:1-2, Luke 24:1, 10)

If the women report the tomb empty late on Sabbath afternoon, WHY would Peter and John wait until the next morning to RUN to the tomb? (John 20:4)

WHO WILL ROLL AWAY THE STONE?

Why did they not know - about the seal and the guard of soldiers?

And when did they buy the spices?

 

Mark 16:1-4 “. . . Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, ‘Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?’”

 

You might want to reference the time-lines provided (pages 21 and 22).

 

The stone was a normal part of Hebrew death internment practice. “Very early on the first day of the week,” they didn’t know that the tomb had also been sealed with a Roman seal, and was now guarded by Roman soldiers. Why didn’t they know?

 

In a Wednesday crucifixion scenario, the Feast of Unleavened Bread would have begun at sundown of Wednesday. Only the first and last days of that Feast were no-work sabbaths. Friday would have been a common work day. Jerusalem would be buzzing with talk of the crucifixion, and the prophet’s prediction that He would “rise the third day.”

 

 

 

Assuming a Wednesday crucifixion, the tomb would have been sealed and the guard set by sundown of Thursday, the “end of the sabbath” of Unleavened Bread (Matthew 27:62-66). If the tomb was sealed and the guard posted on Thursday afternoon, why would the women expect to anoint the body of Jesus on Sunday morning (or near sundown of the Sabbath for that matter)? To break a Roman seal was a crime punishable with death.

 

Pilate had commanded that the tomb be “made secure until the third day” - meaning until the end of the third day. The wording suggests the tomb was guarded continuously - not just during the night. No one would be allowed to break the seal, or move the stone until the fourth day - which would have been the weekly 7th Day Sabbath in the Wednesday scenario. Sunday would have been the 5th day, and by that time the body would really stink. I suppose it’s possible that the women felt so dedicated to Jesus that they would brave the stench on day five. Possible - but very unlikely.

  

On the other hand, if Friday was the day of crucifixion, then the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) would also have been the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The guard would have been posted just at the end of the Sabbath - Saturday at sundown. (This we have shown, is a legitimate translation of Matt. 27:66 + 28:1.) In keeping with Pharisaic law, the women most likely did not go out during the Sabbath, and they would not have walked to the tombs at sunset on any day. The disciples were in hiding because they feared the authorities (John 20:19). From sunset of Friday to dawn of Sunday, the disciples would not likely have received news of the guard.

 

The women could have “bought spices” for the anointing, late on Friday (in the Friday crucifixion scenario), or on Friday (a no-work day in the Wednesday scenario), or late on Thursday (in the Thursday scenario). The women set out for the tomb as soon as there was enough light to see their path, on Sunday morning. They were not aware the tomb had been sealed (else they would not have gone). Between the time they set out, and their arrival at the tomb, there was an earthquake and Christ was raised.

 

Note: The tombs were notorious, as hiding places for social rejects, mentally disturbed persons, and criminals.

 

Note: Touching a grave (or tomb) meant the person would become “unclean” and would remain so for 7 days. He (or she) would need to be anointed with the ashes of the “red heifer” on the 3rd day and on the 7th day, to remove the “uncleanness” (Numbers 19:18).

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PROPHETIC FESTIVAL DAYS: SCRIPTURE COMMANDS

 

THE PASSOVER:

Exodus 12:3: On the 10th day of the first month (Adar/Nissan) a lamb was to be chosen. It was to be inspected by every member of the household until the 14th day, when it was to be killed at twilight (3PM). At the very first Passover, blood from that lamb was to be painted on the sides and across the top of the door frame.

 

THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (also called the Passover Seder):

Exodus 12:8 The Passover sacrificial lamb was to be roasted in fire. No bone was to be broken. It was to be eaten that night (of the 15th which began at sunset of the 14th). No part of the lamb was to remain until the next morning. Any part which remained was to be burned in fire. The 15th was the first day of seven during which they were to eat no leaven. All leaven was to have been cleaned from their houses. “For whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day that person shall be cut off from Israel” (v.16). (See also Leviticus 23:5-8.) No work was to be done on this day.

 

THE OFFERING OF THE FIRSTFRUITS:

Leviticus 23:10 “When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest (v.11). He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD; . . . on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it (v.14). You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.”

 

THE FEAST OF WEEKS (also called Pentecost, or Shavuot):

Leviticus 23:15-22 From the day when the firstfruits were offered, fifty days were counted “to the day after the seventh Sabbath.” No customary work was to be done on the 50th day. Tradition says that Pentecost was the anniversary of the giving of the 10 Commandments from Mt. Sinai.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PROPHETIC FESTIVAL DAYS with the required ceremonies.

PASSOVER - FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD - FIRSTFRUITS CEREMONY

The Hebrew “day” begins at sundown.

 

10 ADAR

11 ADAR

12 ADAR

13 ADAR

14 ADAR

15 ADAR

16 ADAR

17 ADAR

18 ADAR

Passover lamb chosen,

tethered to the house for inspection

lamb inspected by all of house-

hold

lamb inspected

lamb inspected


“preparation” for the Feast, and/or the weekly Sabbath


lamb sacrificed

about 3PM


roasted in fire

Feast of Unleavened Bread (no work)



lamb eaten

at night with bitter herbs and unleavened bread

Firstfruits


(Kept by BOTH Pharisees &

Sadducees


- if FRI death)

Firstfruits


(Kept by Sadducee



- if THURS death)

Firstfruits


(Kept by Sadducee

 


- if WED death)

 

NOTE: The Sadducees always celebrated Firstfruits on the first Sunday that followed the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Pharisees always kept the 16th - the day that followed the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

 

NOTE: If Christ died on a Wednesday or a Thursday - the Pharisees and the Sadducees would have been in the Temple

for the following Pentecost,

 on different days,

because the 50 day count to Pentecost begins with the Feast of Firstfruits.

 

 

 

 

 

continued next page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVENTS RECORDED IN THE GOSPELS

Adar 9

Adar 10

Adar 11

Adar 12

Adar 13

Adar 14

Adar 15

Adar 16

 

6 days before Passover -


He walks 13 miles uphill from Jericho to Bethany

(John 12:1).


sunset

Feast at Simon’s that evening

Triumphal entry, from Bethany to Jerusalem.


Christ enters Temple court


The people inspect

the Lamb


returns to Bethany at evening

Cleanses the Temple court.


Teaching in temple.


inspected by rulers/

people/

Greeks,



returns to Bethany at evening


 





Inspected by rulers/

people




sunset

spends night on Mt of Olives

Last teachings



leaves temple





sunset

Passover begins

last supper

Gethsemane


Taken -

trial begins

during night

Passover

Trial continues





death about 3PM




in the tomb before

sunset

Feast of UB begins

In the tomb

Feast of UB





 





Rose the 3rd day

Feast of Firstfruits


 

 

 Line up the events above, with the different days below. Crucifixion day is in purple.

 

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

SABBATH

Sunday

 

SABBATH

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

SABBATH

Sunday

Friday

SABBATH

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

SABBATH

 

 

 

 

 

1st day

2nd day

3rd day

4th day

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHY NO OBJECTIONS REGARDING SABBATH KEEPING?

 

In the Wednesday death scenario, Jesus would have entered Jerusalem, receiving loud praise, with coats and palm branches laid down over His path ON THE SABBATH DAY. It was forbidden to ride an animal on the Sabbath (Jub. 50:6-13). It is even more difficult to imagine the Pharisees making no complaint specifically about violations of the Sabbath day. Yet there is no mention of any such complaint in the Gospel accounts.

 

In the Wednesday death scenario, Simon and his guests would have eaten A FEAST at his house the evening before the triumphal entry, which would put that FEAST on a 7th Day Sabbath. Remember: the Sabbath began at sunset of Friday. Very unlikely. Feasting was NOT something done on the Sabbath.

 

In the Thursday crucifixion scenario, Jesus would have hiked the 13 miles uphill from Jericho to Bethany, carrying their supplies, on the Sabbath! (The allowed “Sabbath days journey” was about half a mile.) Didn’t happen! We would certainly have heard something about Sabbath breaking from the Pharisees, considering the crowds and the “spies” that followed Jesus. There were large crowds coming to Jerusalem for the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was the guest of honor at a feast given by Simon that evening. The next day He continued on the last 2 miles from Bethany to Jerusalem for His triumphal entry.

 

THE FINAL WEEK : FRIDAY CRUCIFIXION

 

Friday (Adar 7) : Jesus enters Jericho - goes to Zacchaeus’ house late in afternoon (Luke 19:1).

Sabbath (Adar 8) : Rested over the Sabbath at the home of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5).

 

Sunday (Adar 9) : [Six days before the Passover] Jesus walks the 13 miles uphill, from Jericho to Bethany. The climb normally took about five hours, but on this day it probably took all day. There were large crowds of pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. They would have thronged the healing prophet. That evening, Simon the healed leper gave a feast at his house. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus’(Luke 19:28, John 12:1).

 

Monday (Adar 10) Pilgrims coming up for the Passover Feast hear that Jesus is at Bethany. They accompany Him towards Jerusalem. The triumphal entry begins at Bethany, topping the Mt of Olives and flowing into Jerusalem (aprox. 2 miles). Christ presents Himself at the Temple - as the Passover lamb for inspection. He is examined by “the multitudes,” and by the “chief priests and scribes” (John 12:12, Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19). He returns to Bethany at the end of the day (Matt 21:17, Mark 11:11).

 

 

NOTE: The Passover lamb was chosen for death on the 10th. The lamb was to be inspected from the 10th to the 14th by all members of the household, and then sacrificed on the afternoon of the 14th (Exodus Chapter 12). Christ was marked for death on the day of His triumphal entry!

 

Tuesday (Adar 11) : Jesus returns to Jerusalem from Bethany. He curses the fig tree (Matt 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14) and cleans the “leaven” out of His Father’s House (the Temple) (Matt 21;12-13, Mark 11:15, Luke 19:45-48). Again - Christ (the intended Passover Lamb) is inspected by the rulers of the people, by “the chief priests and scribes,” and now by Greeks (Gentiles). He will be “sacrificed” as the one Lamb for all mankind. The Father speaks from heaven (Jn 12:28). At the end of the day, He again returns to Bethany (Mk 11:19).

 

NOTE: The master of the house was to remove all leaven from his house in preparation for the Passover (Exodus 12:15).

 

Wednesday (Adar 12) : Jesus returns to Jerusalem, & passes the now withered fig tree (Mk 11:19-20, 27). He returns to the Temple. He is again inspected by the “chief priests, scribes, and elders,” and by the Sadducees, all bent on killing Him (Mk 12:12, Luke 20:19, Matt 12:46, Matt 22:23, Mk 12:18, Lk 20:27). He pronounces “seven woes” on the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 23). At the end of a long discourse on the last days, towards the end of the day, Jesus says, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming (Matt 26:2, Mark 14:1). He leaves the Temple, and spends the night on the Mt. Of Olives with the disciples (Lk 21:37). Wednesday sunset begins Adar 13. Judas went to the chief priests late that evening, and arranged to deliver Jesus into their hands (Matt 26:14-16, Mark 14: 10-11, Lk 22:3-6.)

Thursday (Adar 13) : “Then came the first day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed(Luke 22:7-13). The disciples meet that evening (which began the 14th) in the upper room for the Passover.

 

NOTE: Conservative estimates put the number of pilgrims to Jerusalem at time, at close to a million. Dividing that number by 10 persons per household, gives us 100,000 lambs to be sacrificed on the afternoon of the 14th day of Adar (Nissan). The sacrifice of the Passover lamb was not a simple killing. Psalms were sung over each lamb. Allowing 12 hours from 6 AM to 6PM, this would mean 8,333 lambs per hour. Allowing 20 teams of priests within the Temple courtyard, to kill, bleed, gut and skin the lambs before they were taken home to be roasted in fire, each team would need to perform 416.6 sacrifices per hour, or 6.9 sacrifices per minute. This was just not feasible. This is why many historians say that by Jesus time, two days were allowed for the sacrifice of Passover lambs. Luke’s use of the phrase “first day” . . . “on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed,” possibly supports this view.

 

(The 14th of Adar began at sunset.) Later that night at the garden on the Mt of Olives, Jesus is taken into custody. He is taken first to Annas, then to Caiaphas, then to Herod, and finally to Pilate the next morning (still Adar 14).

 

 

 

Friday (Adar 14 continued) : Very early in the morning Jesus is led before Pilate. The priests and elders “did not themselves enter into the Praetorium in order that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover(John 28:28). In the narrative, Pilate is still adjudicating (John 18:13) when John notes that “it was the day of preparation for the Passover (John 18:14).

             

Jesus is crucified and dies about 3pm. His body is placed in Joseph’s new tomb just as the sun is setting. John and Mark record that “it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath(John 19:31, Mark 15:42, Lk 23:54, John 19:42-56).

 

NOTE: It is worth noting that in the Hebrew language, “the preparation day” was their name for Friday.

 

John and Mark say it was “preparation day.” It was also “the preparation day” FOR the Passover meal. Put those two together. It is highly likely - linguistically speaking - that the Passover meal was eaten on a Friday night, in that year. Luke 23:56 says “Then they (the women) returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the (4th) commandment.” NOTE: The “preparation” of the spices and oils could possibly have taken some hours. They could have “prepared” the spices during the night, after the sun set, ending the Sabbath.

 

“PASSOVER” - HOW THE TERM WAS USED

The DAY, the MEAL, and the WEEK - all were called “the Passover.”

 

      Adar 14 is “the Passover (Leviticus 23:5).

                   The Passover lamb is killed on that day, in the afternoon (Leviticus 23:5).

 

      Adar 14 was called the “day of preparation for the Passover,” because preparations for the meal were carried out on that day.

 

      The meal (which included the roasted lamb) was also called “the Passover.”

             The meal was eaten AFTER sundown, which began the 15th of Adar.

      The week-long Feast from Adar 14 through Adar 21 was called “The Feast of Unleavened Bread.”              It was also called “the Passover” (much as our word “Christmas” can refer to the 25th of December, or to the week long celebration).             The first and last days of the Feast, were/are special no-work days (also called “sabbaths”).

The death angel passed over the blood painted houses on the night which began the 15th of Adar (Exodus 12:11-12).

                  The next morning (still the 15th), the Israelites left Egypt.

 

WAS THE LAST SUPPER A PASSOVER MEAL?

 

Matthew 26:18-19 “And He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, “The Teacher says, ‘My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’”’ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.” (Mark 14:16)

 

Luke 22:8&13 “And He sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.’” . . . “So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”

 

These two verses clearly say that Peter and John “prepared the Passover.” And Jesus said, “I will keep the Passover. . .” Preparation for the Passover meal would take a whole day, perhaps longer. A special “perfect” lamb would be purchased, then taken to the Temple for killing and cleaning (on the afternoon of the 14th). Then the lamb would be taken to a place where it could be roasted (usually behind the house). If the Passover killing of lambs was expanded to two days, by the time of Christ, it is possible that Christ’s last meal was a Passover Seder. But it is doubtful.

 

The Greek word, translated as “bread” in Matthew 26:26 is “artos” - the word for common bread, NOT “azumos” (#106) meaning unleavened, as used in Matthew 26:17 - “the feast of unleavened bread” (azumos). Mark 14:22 also uses the Greek “artos,” as does Luke 22:19, for the “bread” that Christ broke during the His last supper with His disciples.

 

Matthew 26:26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread (artos #740), blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’”

 

Since the days of Abraham, Israelites had blessed the LORD before partaking of bread. Yeshua added a new dimension to this blessing. Know that your “bread” always represents Me, the One who was broken for your salvation. (Hebrew baked “bread” was a very large loaf, which was “broken” not sliced.) Jesus did called Himself the “bread” from heaven (John 6:33).

 

If Yeshua was to BE the Passover lamb (sacrificed on the 14th), He could not eat the Passover on the evening that began the 15th. He could eat the Passover at the “correct” time, or He could BE the Passover at the “correct” time. I believe the later.

 

1Corinthians 5:7 “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”

 

 

 

CHRIST - THE FIRSTFRUITS

 

The Passover meal (The Feast of Unleavened Bread) was eaten on the night of the first full moon, when the harvest was ripe. Following the Feast of Unleavened Bread, a unique celebration took place. The High Priest entered the Temple with a sheaf of new grain - the first of the year. He waved the sheaf of grain before the veil in the Temple, in recognition of God’s blessing in the year’s harvest. Until that sheaf of grain was offered before the LORD in the Temple, no grain could be harvested. Until this sheaf was offered, the Israelites were to eat of the grain from the previous year’s harvest. As soon as this sheaf was offered, the sickle was put to the fields of standing ripened grain. This day was appropriately called “Firstfruits.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those that have fallen asleep. . . . even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward those who are Christ's at his coming.”

 

The Feasts of the LORD were acted prophecy. These prophecies had been acted out each Spring for centuries before “the lamb of God” was “sacrificed” as our Passover lamb (1Cor . 5:7). Because these events were indeed the fulfillment of prophecy, they must take place at the exact time prophesied.

 

The Passover Lamb must be sacrificed on the 14th day of Nissan/Adar, before sunset. The Passover lamb must be eaten that night (the 15th day of Adar began at sunset). And the Firstfruits must be offered in the Temple “on the day following the Sabbath.”

 

 

A DISPUTED COMMANDMENT: Which was the correct day?

 

In the time of Christ, there was a dispute concerning the day for the presentation of the “Firstfruits.” The First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is called “a holy convocation” upon which “no customary work” was to be done. In other words, it was a sabbath (Lev. 23:7). The word “sabbath” means “rest.” The Pharisees taught that “the day after” the “sabbath” of the Leviticus 23:15 commandment, must be the 16th day of Adar - the day that followed the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (a sabbath).

 

 

 

 

The Sadducees said that “the sabbath” referenced in Leviticus 23:15, was the 7th Day Sabbath. The “day after” would be a Sunday - the “first day of the week.” The Sadducees celebrated the “firstfruits” on the “day after” the first 7th Day Sabbath, which followed the Passover. For the Sadducees, “the Firstfruits” - was always offered on a Sunday.

 

NOTICE!! If the Passover fell on a Friday, then the Pharisees and the Sadducees would have celebrated the Feast of Firstfruits on the same day. For the Pharisees, it would have been the day following the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For the Sadducees it would have been the first Sunday which followed after the full moon of Passover.

 

The 50 day count to Pentecost begins with the presentation of the “Firstfruits.” If the Pharisees and the Sadducees BEGAN their count on the SAME DAY, then 50 days later they would all have been present at the Temple, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and Peter preached with power.

NOTE: The LORD does have a sense of humor!

 

The following is taken from First Fruits of Zion magazine archives. The full article is available on the web at ffoz.org. The section quoted concerns the counting of the omer, that is, the period from the offering of the firstfruits (which was called the omer) to the festival of Pentecost/Shavuot, 50 days later.

 

“Two important, first-century eye-witnesses and contemporaries of the Apostles bring important testimony. Flavius Josephus, who was himself a member of the Temple priesthood, reports in Antiquities 3:10.5-6, “On the second day of Unleavened Bread, which is the sixteenth day of the month [Nissan/Adar], they first partake of the fruits of the earth, for before that day they do not touch them.”

 

Philo, another First Century, Jewish eyewitness reports, “There is also a festival on the day of the Passover Feast, which succeeds the first day, and this is named the sheaf [omer], from what takes place on it; for the sheaf is brought to the altar as a first fruit...” (Philo, Special Laws 2:29 150)

 

            Philo and Josephus agree that the ritual was practiced in accordance with the reckoning of the Pharisees.      

 

 

 

 

In addition, the Greek Septuagint version of the Torah makes the matter explicit by translating Leviticus 23:11 as, “And he shall lift up the sheaf of the Lord, to be accepted for you. On the morrow of the first day the priest shall lift it up.” The term ‘morrow of the first day’ can only be understood in accordance with the traditional Pharisaic reckoning.

 

In the Greek Septuagint, Apostolic Bible, English translation, Leviticus 23:15 is translated, “And you shall count to yourselves from the next day of the Sabbaths, from the day which ever you should bring the sheaf of the increase offering...” The word is “Sabbaths” - plural, signifying two Sabbaths - the Feast of Unleavened Bread AND the 7th Day Sabbath. The First Fruits would then ALWAYS be offered on a Sunday, and therefore Pentecost would ALWAYS fall on a Sunday, 50 days later. The Sadducees of Christ’s day, were using the Septuagint.

 

NOTE: An absolute “fit” is only necessary, in the year of fulfillment. I think it significant that Pharisee and Sadducee were in agreement in the year that the prophecy was fulfilled!

 

WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY - FRIDAY SCENARIOS are compared on the following two pages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEDNESDAY CRUCIFIXION SCENARIO

 

Wednesday (14th)

Thursday (15th)

Friday (16th)

Sabbath (17th)

Sunday (18th)

     PASSOVER

work day - preparation day for the Passover

 FEAST of

 UNLEAVENED BREAD

no work allowed

FIRSTFRUITS/Pharisees

work day - preparation for the weekly Sabbath

weekly SABBATH -

no work allowed, no buying or selling

FIRSTFRUITS/Sadducees

work day

crucifixion,

death about 3pm

body prepared, placed in tomb before sunset

Disciples rested.

Before sunset the tomb was sealed and a guard was stationed.

Women bought and prepared spices, but did not take them to the tomb (Why?)


Women don’t know about the guard. (Why?)

(72+ hrs post mortem) Women go to tomb carrying spices?

Christ is raised from the dead, late on Sabbath afternoon. Women find tomb empty, and see Christ risen.

At first light, women go to the tomb. (Again?)

FIRST DAY

SECOND DAY

THIRD DAY

FOURTH DAY

FIFTH DAY

 

 

THURSDAY CRUCIFIXION SCENARIO

Thursday (14th)

Friday (15th)

Sabbath (16th)

Sunday (17th)

PASSOVER

a work day

FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

no work

weekly SABBATH

no work

Firstfruits/Pharisees???

Firstfruits/Sadducees

work day

crucifixion, death about 3PM - Body prepared with 100 pounds of spices, wrapped, placed in tomb just before sunset.

Women bought spices, but did not have time to return and anoint the body.

Disciples rested - no one visited the tomb - this would make them unclean


Just before sunset the tomb was sealed and a guard was posted.

Disciples rest.


Roman guard at tomb.

(Aprox. 63 hrs post death) women go to the tomb at first light with spices and find it empty, see an angel, Mary sees the risen Christ. Disciples run to see.

FIRST DAY

SECOND DAY

THIRD DAY

FOURTH DAY

 

NOTE: The Firstfruits would NOT have been celebrated ON the 7th Day Sabbath by Pharisees, because harvesting the firstfruits would be deemed “work.” This eliminates a Thursday crucifixion, unless one accepts the interpretation of the Sadducees, for the celebration of Firstfruits on the Sunday that follows the Passover.

 

 

FRIDAY CRUCIFIXION SCENARIO

Friday (14th)

Sabbath (15th)

Sunday (16th)

PASSOVER

“preparation day” for the Sabbath

a work day

FEAST Of UNLEAVENED BREAD

                             & the weekly 7th Day Sabbath

no work allowed

FEAST of FIRSTFRUITS - the “third day”

is celebrated by both Pharisees and Sadducees.

work allowed

Crucifixion - body prepared with 100 pounds of spices, wrapped, placed in tomb just before sunset.

Women bought and prepared spices, but did not have time to return and anoint the body.

Disciples rested - no one visited the tomb - this would make them unclean


Just before sunset, the tomb was sealed and a guard was stationed.

(39 hrs post mortem) Women go to the tomb at first light with the spices, feel the earthquake, see angels, find the tomb empty, run to tell disciples. Jesus appears to women, to Mary, later to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

                            FIRST DAY

                         SECOND DAY

                               THIRD DAY

 

NOTE: I do NOT personally believe that the “last supper” was a Passover meal.

 

**NOTE: There are many Bible scholars who believe that Christ was crucified on the Mt of Olives and then buried in a garden tomb “nearby”on the same mount (John 19:38-42). From this spot one could look down across the brook Kidron, to the Temple courtyard with the Alter of Sacrifice. It was considered a great honor to be buried on this mount (“under the alter” as it was called), because Messiah would one day stand on this spot (Zech 14:4-5). Joseph of Arimathaea was a member of the Sanhedrin ruling council, who could have afforded/merited such a tomb. In prophetic type - King David ascended this mount weeping when he fled from his own son Absalom (2 Sam. 15:32). More importantly, the “red heifer” was burned at this site, a prophetic symbol of the One who would be “sacrificed” “outside the camp”(Numbers 19:1-10, Talmud Para 3.6-7).

 

Olive trees grew on the West side of the mount. Fig trees grew on the East side. Bethphage (meaning “house of figs”) would have been located on the East side of the mount, with Bethany (House of Bread) located farther down on the lower slope. This is why Jesus passed a fig tree coming and going from Bethany. Sunrise would light up the East side first, and the women would set out for the tomb. Just as the dawn reached the West side Garden Tomb, Jesus was raised from the dead.

 

 

 

 

 

            I personally believe that Yeshua our Messiah was crucified on a Sixth Day, and rose on a First Day just at dawn.

      Which was, by the way, the 8th Day.

 

1. Because Pharisees and Sadducees would all have been in the Temple for Pentecost on the same day, to hear the rushing mighty wind, to hear the disciples speaking in other tongues, and to hear Peter preach with power.

 

2. Because I do not believe that Yeshua rode a donkey into Jerusalem on the Sabbath, 5 days before Passover.

 

3. Because I do not believe that Yeshua walked the 13 miles uphill from Jericho to Bethany on a Sabbath.

 

4. Because the women would not walk to the tombs on the Sabbath with jars of spices, or nearing sundown on any day.

 

5. Because the women had not heard about the Roman guard and the “seal.”

 

6. Because Luke 24:1, with 13-21, plainly says “the first day of the week” was “the third day.”

 

7. Because the body (of Christ) would have become “unclean,” if the body had remained dead into the “third day.”

 

8. Because the manna (gathered on Friday) did not spoil over the Sabbath. Christ was/is the “bread from Heaven” (John 6:51).

 

 

DIVERSITY WITHIN THE FAMILY OF BELIEVERS

 

I do NOT believe this is a salvation issue. No one will be saved for believing that Christ died on a Wednesday, or lost for believing that He died on a Thursday or a Friday.

 

We pray this study will prove a blessing.

Prophecy Viewpoint

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