What Day Was Jesus Really Crucified On ?

[Lewis]

This argument has been around a long, long time, so I am posting this just to see what you guy's analysis this thing is. So is good friday the wrong day ? See for yourselves.


Question: "Was Jesus crucified on a Friday? If so, how did He spend three days in the tomb if He was resurrected on Sunday?"



Answer: The Bible does not specifically state which day of the week Jesus was crucified. The two most widely held views are Friday and Wednesday. Some, however, using a synthesis of both the Friday and Wednesday arguments, accept Thursday as the day.



Jesus said in Matthew 12:40 "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." Those who argue for a Friday crucifixion say that there is still a valid way in which He could have been considered in the grave for three days. In the Jewish mind of the First Century, part of day was considered as a full day. Since Jesus was in the grave for part of Friday, all of Saturday, and part of Sundayâ€â€He could be considered to have been in the grave for three days. One of the principal arguments for Friday is found in Mark 15:42 that notes that Jesus was crucified "the day before the Sabbath." If that was the weekly Sabbath, i.e. Saturday, then that fact leads to a Friday crucifixion. Another argument for Friday says that verses such as Matthew 16:21 and Luke 9:22 teach that Jesus would rise on the third day, therefore He wouldn't need to be in the grave a full three days and nights. But while some translations use "on the third day" for these verses, not all do and not everyone agrees that that is the best way to translate these verses. Furthermore, Mark 8:31 says that Jesus will be raised "after" three days.



The Thursday argument expands on the Friday view and argues mainly that there are too many events (some count as many as twenty) happening between Christ's burial and Sunday morning to occur from Friday evening to Sunday morning. They point out that this is especially a problem when the only full day between Friday and Sunday was Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. An extra day or two eliminates that problem. The Thursday advocates could reason: Suppose you haven't seen a friend since Monday evening. The next time you see him it is Thursday morning and you say, “I haven’t seen you in three days†even though it had technically only been 60 hours (2.5 days). If Jesus was crucified on Thursday, this example shows how it could be considered three days.



The Wednesday opinion states that there were two Sabbaths that week. After the first one (the one that occurred on the evening of the crucifixion, Mark 15:42; Luke 23:52-54) the women purchased spices--note that they made their purchase after the Sabbath (Mark 16:1). The Wednesday view holds that this "Sabbath" was the Passover (see Lev 16:29-31; 23:24-32, 39 where high holy days that are not necessarily the seventh day of the week are referred to as the Sabbath). The second Sabbath that week was the normal weekly Saturday. Note that in Luke 23:56, the women who had purchased spices after the first Sabbath, returned and prepared the spices then "rested on the Sabbath" (Luke 23:56). The argument states that they could not purchase the spices after the Sabbath, yet prepare those spices before the Sabbathâ€â€unless there were two Sabbaths. With the two Sabbath view, if Christ was crucified on Thursday then the high holy Sabbath (the Passover) would have begun Thursday at sundown and ended Friday sundownâ€â€at the beginning of the weekly Sabbath or Saturday. Purchasing the spices after the first Sabbath (Passover) would have meant they purchased them on Saturday and were breaking the Sabbath.



Therefore, this view states, the only explanation that does not violate the biblical account of the women and the spices and holds to a literal understanding of Matthew 12:40, is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday. The Sabbath that was a high holy day (Passover) occurred on Thursday, the women purchased spices (after that) on Friday and returned and prepared the spices on the same day, they rested on Saturday which was the weekly Sabbath, then brought the spices to the tomb early Sunday. He was buried near sundown on Wednesday, which began Thursday in the Jewish calendar. Using a Jewish calendar, you have Thursday night (night one), Thursday day (day one), Friday night (night two), Friday day (day two), Saturday night (night three), Saturday day (day three). We don't know exactly when He rose, but we do know that it was before sunrise on Sunday (John 20:1, Mary Magdalene came "while it was still dark" and the stone was rolled away and she found Peter and told him that "they have taken away the Lord out of the tomb") so He could have risen as early as just after sunset Saturday evening, which began the first day of the week to the Jews.



A possible problem with the Wednesday view is that the disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus did so on "the same day" of His resurrection (Luke 24:13). The disciples, who do not recognize Jesus, tell Him of Jesus' crucifixion (24:21) and say that "today is the third day since these things happened" (24:22). Wednesday to Sunday is four days. A possible explanation is that they may have been counting since Wednesday evening at Christ's burial, which begins the Jewish Thursday, and Thursday to Sunday could be counted as three days.



In the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. If it was very important then God's Word would have clearly communicated the day. What is important is that He did die, and that He physically, bodily rose from the dead. What is equally important is the reason He diedâ€â€to take the punishment that all sinners deserve. John 3:16 and 3:36 both proclaim that believing, or putting your trust, in Him results in eternal life!

Recommended Resource: Vital Christology Issues by Roy Zuck.
http://www.gotquestions.org/three-days.html

 

[samuel]

Christ was crucified on the eve of Passover, which was Friday, and the Bible does teach that. In the definition of a Hebrew of that time, if it happened on Friday, the time would be irrelevant, Friday would be Friday, and would be counted as a day.

Then there was all day Saturday, then Christ arose sometime early on Sunday morning, also a day.

So there is your three days, no not 72 hours, but unfortunately that is the way we think it has to be. In the evaluation of a Hebrew of that time, it would be three days.

Don't forget their day was from sunset, to sunset. Not 12 Am to 12 Am as we count a day. Before Sunset on Friday would be friday. Sunset on Saturday started Sunday. So go figure, and you will see it was counted as three days.

 

[samuel]

Ok, before someone comes to beat me over the head with this, I was wrong in stating Jesus was crucified on the passover eve. He actually celebrated the passover with his disciples, at the Last Supper (Thursday). He was arrested on friday eve, after sunset on what we would call Thursday, but in Jewish counting of days would have been Friday. So this still in no way changes the counting of days, until his resurrection. The verses below clarify this.

Lu:23:50: And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Lu:23:51: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Lu:23:52: This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Lu:23:53: And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Lu:23:54: And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Lu:23:55: And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Lu:23:56: And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

The day of preparation is/was Friday, to prepare all things for the Sabbath which according to law allows no work, even cooking. So everything necessary has to be readied on Friday. The verses below clarify that it was Sunday (first day of the week) they returned to the Grave, and found Jesus had indeed arisen.

Lu:24:1: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Lu:24:2: And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Lu:24:3: And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

So we see it was certainly Friday before dark, Jesus interred, and Sunday after daylight, very early in the morning he arose, just before the arrival of the women. So Friday, until Sunday morning are the three days, according to the Hebrew way of counting days. Just in the way I stated, in my first post. The only discrepancy! was my stating it was passover eve.

 

[Scott1]

Friday, the Day of Preparation: Jesus is crucified with two thieves. From noon to three in the afternoon, a darkness covers the land (Matt. 27:45). Then, "ince it was the Day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the Sabbath . . . the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away" (John 19:31). Then Joseph of Arimathea obtains Jesus’ body and buries it: "It was Preparation Day [that is, the day before the Sabbath]. So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body" (Mark 15:42-43, NIV).

Saturday, the Sabbath: "On the Sabbath they [the women] rested according to the commandment" (Luke 23:56b). Also on this day, "that is, after the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate" and asked for a guard to be placed on the tomb (Matt. 27:62).

Sunday, the first day of the week: "Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher" and found that Jesus had risen from the dead (Matt. 28:1).

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9903chap.asp

 

[Vic C.]

I asked Samuel to bump up this thread. Thanks Samuel.

This thread was three pages long at one time. I discovered today all but the OP was missing. That stinks because there was some very good information posted that showed a Wed. crucifixion to be probably the most Biblical. Lewis, Tim_from_PA and myself were all in agreement by the end of the discussion. We all agreed tradition got it wrong. I could get Tim back in here to re-explain his position, but Lewis is on hiatus.

Ok, before someone comes to beat me over the head with this, I was wrong in stating Jesus was crucified on the passover eve.

Don't beat yourself up Samuel... actually, you are close. First thing to consider is how the Jews counted the hours of the day. They started at sunrise, about 6AM. He was crucified at 9AM.

Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

It was late afternoon when HE died.

Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?...

... Mark 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Second thing to consider; there were two Sabbaths that week. Passover falls on Nisan 15. The day HE was crucified would have been on Nisan 14. They were in a hurry to get Him off the Cross and into the tomb before the High Sabbath (Passover). It was Preparation Day.

Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

Third thing to consider; the Passover Lamb.

Exo 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
Exo 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
Exo 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

The tenth day to the fourteenth day is four days. Remember now, their day began and ended at sunset, so Nisan 10 started on our Sat. eve.

Jesus is the Passover Lamb. We know He was without blemish, but He was to be inspected and tested for four days, to fulfill this prophecy as the Lamb of God. He rode into Jerusalem on Nisan 10 (our Palm Sunday). This means the "inspection" began on the tenth day and ended on the fourteenth day, the day the lamb was to be slaughtered. We can already do the math from here, but lets continue.

The fourth thing to consider; three day and three nights.

From talking to many Jews and referencing many Jewish and Hebrew sources, I found out this:

The Jews considered any part of a day to be one day, but a day and a night are just that; one 24 four period.

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus meant three day and three nights. You can't get that from a Friday crucifixion.

So we have the inspection of the Lamb from the 10th. to the 14th. (Sat. eve to Wed. eve) and three days and nights in the heart of the earth. (Wed. eve to Sat, eve, just when the weekly sabbath was ending). All we know from the Bible is that there was an empty tomb at or just before sunrise after the sabbath. Anything else is speculation.

With all this said, Jesus, knowing His time was to come, had His Passover Eve supper a day before Passover, for He was to be slain the following day, the Day of Preparation, just as their law dictated.

 

[tim-from-pa]

The whole issue regarding the day of the week that Jesus was crucified on can be settled if we understand that his crucifixion, burial and resurrection were the fulfillments of the Hebrew feasts in Levitus 23 that entailed Passover, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits feasts respectively. The feast days, as Paul pointed out, were "shadows of things to come" and were fulfilled at their appointed times on the Hebrew calendar. Later on in Acts we see the Spirit coming on the Day of Pentecost. The unfulfilled feasts yet to come are the autumn festivals Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and feast of Tabernacles all point to the Second Coming of Christ and the Millennial Kingdom at those appointed times. Don't look for the Second Coming for example in the middle of winter. It won't happen then.

In addition, Jesus was very precise when he said in Matthew 12:40:

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth..

Three days and three nights are 72 hours. Even in the days that there were no equinoctial hours on the sundial back then, the increasing length of the day would be offset by the shortening night by the same amount because no matter what time of the year it is, a "day and night" is always about 24 hours.

From these known facts alone we can deduce the day of the week the crucifixion occurred (although the bible does not plainly state it).

1) He would be crucified the evening of Passover Nisan 14th, the same time the lambs were being slaughtered (this is why he is known as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world, the fulfillment of that Passover lamb).
2. His interment would be in time to start the next day Nisan 15th to fulfill the feast of first fruits. The bible says that they made haste to bury Jesus because it ws sunset, so Unleavened Bread was starting.
3. Since he'd be there in the "heart of the earth (the grave)" "three days and three nights", that would entail all of Nisan 15th, 16th and 17th as we have 3 night-day sequences.
4. As the 17th came to a close, the 18th had to dawn on the calendar: that next day being Firstfruits.
5. The Firstfruits always occurred on the "morrow after the (weekly) Sabbath" which was Sunday.

So, putting this together, we have Wednesday Nisan 14th, Thurs, Friday and Saturday Nisan 15,16,17 respectively and then Jesus arose as the 18th began to dawn.

Therefore Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday.

Some additional Scriptures to consider amidst protest to this conclusion:

Many may argue that Jesus had to be in the tomb by sundown and therefore that would have been Friday night for a Saturday Sabbath. At least that's what the synoptic gospels give as an impression. However, the book of John sheds light on this supposed contradiction. In John 19:31 we read:

The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

"High Days" or feast days were also Sabbaths. The Sabbath High Day they are talking about here is the feast of Unleavened Bread for Passover. It is a Sabbath no matter what day of the week it fell. So "Sabbath" does not necessarily indicate a Saturday.

This explains these supposed contradictions in Mark and Luke regarding the women buying and preparing spices:

In Mark 1516:1 we read:

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

Notice that if we believe in the traditional Friday crucifixion day, that this verse says that the women would have bought the spices at Saturday sundown and worked feverishly on them in the wee hours of the morning. This is a possibility at first glance until we get to this passage in Luke:

And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

This indicates to me that the spices were prepared first, and then they rested. Otherwise, why not mention it the other way around?

If there was only one Sabbath involved, I fail to see how they prepared them first before going out after the Sabbath to buy them again. In addition, the Lord was buried at the start of Sabbath, so there was no time before that Sabbath to prepare them.

This seeming contradiction can be reconciled if we consider a High Sabbath on Thursday and again a weekly Sabbath on Saturday. Now if we look at those verses, they make sense.

The women waited thru the Thursday Sabbath (according to the Law). Then they went out afterwards to buy spices according to Mark (stores would have been closed on Thursday :D). They had ample time all day Friday to prepare them, and then they rested on the weekly Sabbath on Saturday as Luke says. Once they were done resting, they went to the tomb on Sunday to find the risen Lord. Seemingly there are contradictions in the accounts as well, but the manner of reconciling them is similar---- each writer is stating a different facet of what occurred and they can be put together.

I believe as the one bible passage says that Mary arrived when it was still dark. The Lord had already arose between the Jewish days Saturday evening by our reckoning.

Hope this helps.

 

[Vic C.]

Thanks Tim!

... The unfulfilled feasts yet to come are the autumn festivals Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement, and feast of Tabernacles all point to the Second Coming of Christ and the Millennial Kingdom at those appointed times. Don't look for the Second Coming for example in the middle of winter. It won't happen then.

It makes perfect sense to me; this is the time of year I believe Jesus to be born, also.

If there was only one Sabbath involved, I fail to see how they prepared them first before going out after the Sabbath to buy them again. In addition, the Lord was buried at the start of Sabbath, so there was no time before that Sabbath to prepare them.

This seeming contradiction can be reconciled if we consider a High Sabbath on Thursday and again a weekly Sabbath on Saturday. Now if we look at those verses, they make sense.

Exactly. In the KJV and in other translations, reads:

Mat 28:1 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.

But the word sabbath, in the Greek, is plural and should be read as Young translated:

Matthew 28
1And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,

I believe as the one bible passage says that Mary arrived when it was still dark. The Lord had already arose between the Jewish days Saturday evening by our reckoning.

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Yup, this verse conforms He was resurrected before sunrise.

 

[stovebolts]

Good stuff Tim and Vic,

Thanks for all your hard work!

 

[samuel]

I have two problems, with the Wednesday/Thursday idea. One Jesus ate the Passover with his disciples. So if before Thursday, he would have broken tradition.

And if he was crucified on Thursday, that would have been Passover, doesn't seem likely to me.

This idea has as many problems, as the Friday one seems to present. The best thing to do is Just believe Jesus was crucified for our sin, and on the third day he arose, to Justify our faith. After all, that's all that really counts.

 

[Malachi45]

Well in my Aussie Bushy thinking, and I can't put my accent on the keyboard.

HE carked in Friday---laid down on Saturday---sprung back to life on the Sunday. And here we are Mate, on a Monday morning, and we know that HE was crucified three days ago, and not 60 hours ago.

Now, 40 days also doesn't mean 40 days, but a long period of time.

Yep, Friday is the day, the day before the Sabbath.

 

[tim-from-pa]

I have two problems, with the Wednesday/Thursday idea. One Jesus ate the Passover with his disciples. So if before Thursday, he would have broken tradition.

And if he was crucified on Thursday, that would have been Passover, doesn't seem likely to me.

This idea has as many problems, as the Friday one seems to present. The best thing to do is Just believe Jesus was crucified for our sin, and on the third day he arose, to Justify our faith. After all, that's all that really counts.

Actually, the Wednesday crucifixion makes more sense and really does not have problems when scripture is taken rightly. Even atheists and skeptics poke fun at the bible claiming the gospels contradict when in fact, each one presents a different facet of Jesus as King, servant, perfect man, or Son of God in the four gospels respectively. But they make the same fatal assumption to "prove" that the gospels contradict---- that he was crucified on a Friday. In in their attempt to present themselves as enlightened and rational, they show themselves opposite by making subjective assumptions, the very thing they claim they do not do! Here's some points to consider:

1) The test of a prophet is if what he says comes to pass. When Jesus said 3 days and 3 nights, as was Jonah, then the time is important. If He messed that up, then skeptics have a point. So timing is very important here.
2) Again, the synoptic gospels give the impression that this was the passover meal, but John gives account that Jesus was crucified while the lambs were being slaughtered. Actually, this is not a contradiction, but as with the "Sabbath" terminology, one has to get their right frame of reference. Basically, the synoptic gospels say preparation for the Passover, the day that the lambs were killed, which means the same day as the Passover lambs were killed late on the 14th of Nisan. This means the preparation is from end 13th to late 14th. In addition, the synoptic gospels clearly state that Jesus was not to be killed "during the feast lest there be an uproar". (I have a link below to further explain this)
3) If Jesus ate the Passover on Thursday night (Nisan 14), then He would have been crucified on Friday Nisan 15th, the very Sabbath they did not want to kill Jesus on. In addition, if Nisan 15th occurred on a Friday, then the start of the month would also have been on a Friday. Calendar rules prevented Nisan from starting on that day of the week so that later feast days would not fall on or near the weekly Sabbath.
4) Lastly, if Jesus did not fulfill the feasts that their appointed times, then the prophecies contained in the feasts would not have been fulfilled, and thus would have been false prophecy and Jesus would not have been the Messiah.

Here's the link that will provide additional information:

http://users.aristotle.net/~bhuie/po-eat.htm

Hope this helps.

 

[Catholic Crusader]

We know for certain that our Lord died on Friday (cf. Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31). We know it occurred in the month of Nisan (April) because it was the time of Passover. But the question remains: Why in the synoptic Gospels does Jesus celebrate the Passover on Thursday night (and, of course, given the fact that Passover fell on Friday in that year, this would be expected), but in the Gospel of John, Friday is "the day of preparation"? According to John, Passover fell on Saturday, which is why he refers to it as a "great Sabbath day" (cf. John 19:31). It was not only the Sabbath, but it was Passover as well. We still have to deal with this apparent contradiction.

According to The Navarre Study Bible, in Mark’s Gospel the Pharisees and Sadducees had a different way of celebrating feast days (51-52). The Pharisees were strict in their observance. If the fifteenth of Nisan fell on Friday, then that would be the day they celebrated the Passover. The Sadducees, on the other hand, were more liberal and had no problem with moving a feast day in certain situations. This practice is analogous to our modern practice of moving some feast days to Sunday when they actually occur during the week (as is commonly practiced with the feast of the Epiphany). It could also be likened to the bishops declaring a holy day not obligatory because of the day upon which it happens to fall. For example, if a holy day falls on a Friday, the bishops will sometimes dispense Catholics from the obligation of attending Mass on that particular holy day for that year.

What does all of this mean? When Jesus actually celebrated the Passover, he did it in the traditional way of the Pharisees. That is what we see in the synoptic Gospels. With the Pharisees, Jesus kept the Passover strictly in accord with what Moses said in Ex. 12. However, when John wrote about Christ’s passion, he does not put the emphasis on the Lord’s Supper that the synoptic Gospel writers do. In fact, he does not mention the Lord’s Supper at all. He emphasizes the crucifixion. Only in passing, as he describes the activity of the day, does John mention that it was "the day of preparation." John was not speaking of the practice of Jesus and the apostles; he was speaking of the practice of the Sadducees, who had a large number of priests in their camp and great influence in the culture at the time. This fact explains why John calls Friday the "day of preparation" instead of Thursday. The Sadducees, who moved the Passover to Saturday, celebrated the day of preparation on Friday, rather than on Thursday as Jesus and the apostles did.

 

[Vic C.]

Well in my Aussie Bushy thinking, and I can't put my accent on the keyboard.

HE carked in Friday---laid down on Saturday---sprung back to life on the Sunday. And here we are Mate, on a Monday morning, and we know that HE was crucified three days ago, and not 60 hours ago.

Now, 40 days also doesn't mean 40 days, but a long period of time.

Big difference. Jesus gave us a prophecy:

"... the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.".

Very specific, unless Jesus was lying. Three days and three nights. Plus He was the Lamb of God, the fulfillment of the sacrificial Passover lamb, which by Law, had to be inspected four days, beginning on Nisan 10, which would have started at sunset, before the day we call, Palm Sunday.

Keeping in line with the overall feast days and the prophecies pointing to His death is much more important than the fact that He may have broke tradition by celebrating the Passover meal a day earlier. He was/IS the Son of God, who knew His time of earth must end on Passover Eve, according to Law and Scripture.

Yep, Friday is the day, the day before the Sabbath.

Which Sabbath, Mal? There were two Sabbaths that week, the weekly and the High Sabbath. We've explained all this already.

John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. KJV

Matthew 28: 1 And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,... YLT

When there were two (or more) Sabbaths in a week, the weekly Sabbath was referred to as the first due to it's weekly consistency.

Here is a calendar of 30AD, the most likely year the crucifixion took place.

http://www.hebcal.com/hebcal/?year=30&v ... t+Calendar

 

[tim-from-pa]

We know for certain that our Lord died on Friday (cf. Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31).

Don't buy it. I already stated reasons regarding the Sabbath. This is a prime example of what I oftentimes call the "Gentilization of the Hebrew calendar". Did you read the article link? Apparently not. The person calls the Lord God "Yeshua" which is Hebrew. Either this is a converted Christian with Hebrew background, or he/she has Jewish interests. When someone from such a background talks about their own calendar, I listen.

Try as one might, Friday sundown to Sunday predawn is not 3 days and 3 nights. Stop trying to make them fit and thus giving a skeptic or atheist more ammunition to "prove" the bible wrong, not to mention laughing at Christians because they can't count to 3. It's tradition of men that say Christ was crucified on a Friday. There's not one stitch of scripture that clearly says it was on a Friday.

 

[Vic C.]

We know for certain that our Lord died on Friday (cf. Matt. 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:31). We know it occurred in the month of Nisan (April) because it was the time of Passover. But the question remains: Why in the synoptic Gospels does Jesus celebrate the Passover on Thursday night (and, of course, given the fact that Passover fell on Friday in that year, this would be expected), but in the Gospel of John, Friday is "the day of preparation"? According to John, Passover fell on Saturday, which is why he refers to it as a "great Sabbath day" (cf. John 19:31). It was not only the Sabbath, but it was Passover as well. We still have to deal with this apparent contradiction.

CC, I think the source of this info is interjecting days of the week into the above scriptures that can't be substantiated. I also think that have a misunderstanding of the meaning of High Sabbath (or Special Shabbatot).

I agree with Tim, we must trust Jewish sources on this over man-made Christian tradition. Here's a link to go along with Tim's.

We just can't brush off the fact that there were two Sabbaths and not one, during our Passion Week. We also cannot look at Jesus' three days and nights as just a metaphor or figure of speech without violating prophecies and making Him out to be a false Prophet. :-?

Peace

 

[Catholic Crusader]

Did you read the WHOLE THING?

 

[tim-from-pa]

Did you read the WHOLE THING?

Yes we did, and those points were already adequately answered. The bottom line is that trying to figure a time line and days of the week should revolve around the prophetic feast days and the time Christ said he'd be in the tomb. The rest of the interpretations are circumstantial, and indeed do not contradict these premises based in Scripture. Again, Friday night in the grave (which is really Saturday by Jewish reckoning) until predawn Sunday morning is not 3 days and 3 nights. It makes no mathematical sense.

 

[Catholic Crusader]

[quote="Catholic Crusader":4ced7]Did you read the WHOLE THING?

Yes we did, and those points were already adequately answered. The bottom line is that trying to figure a time line and days of the week should revolve around the prophetic feast days and the time Christ said he'd be in the tomb. The rest of the interpretations are circumstantial, and indeed do not contradict these premises based in Scripture. Again, Friday night in the grave (which is really Saturday by Jewish reckoning) until predawn Sunday morning is not 3 days and 3 nights. It makes no mathematical sense.[/quote:4ced7]

Half a day is still a day. If I work one hour on a Monday and one hour on a Tuesday, it is proper for me to say "I worked two days last week"

 

[samuel]

Ok, if you know anything about me, it is that I am hardheaded. I did some research, and came up with an article, where the man has done his homework. It explains all the days sounding the crucifixion, and pretty well leaves no argument for a Thursday crucifixion. And a few other interesting ideas thrown in also. Read it carefully, so you understand all that it says. Its long so you might! want to bring your lunch.

In order to understand the significance of the Jewish feasts, we must comprehend their purpose and timing. The most complete description of the feasts is found in Leviticus 23. Each of the feasts have both a historic and prophetic significance. They celebrate a historical event in Israel's past, but also are a prophecy of future events which have been, or will be, fulfilled. The first four feasts were fulfilled by Jesus Christ during the actual celebration of those feast days. The last three will be fulfilled at His second coming.

The feasts are as follows:
1. Passover: [Ex. 12:1-14 & Lev. 23:4,5] On the 10th day of the first month, Nisan, [roughly equivalent to April on our calendar], every family of Israel was to take a lamb, without blemish, and separate it from the flock. On the evening of the 14th the Passover lamb was killed, cooked, and eaten during the night. The blood was applied on the door posts and lintel. This feast celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. But, like all of the feasts, it also has a prophetic meaning. It looked forward to the sacrifice of the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world." This was clearly demonstrated by Paul when he wrote, "For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us." [1 Cor. 5:7]. Not only did Jesus fulfill this feast symbolically, but also quite literally. On the 10th of Nisan, Palm Sunday, Jesus rode down the mount of Olives on a colt. He was crucified four days later on Passover.

2. Unleavened Bread: [Lev. 23:6-8] The day following Passover, the 15th of Nisan, began the feast of Unleavened bread. This feast covered seven days, from the 15th to the 21st of Nisan. The first and last days, [15th & 21st], were "High Sabbath" days, although they do not necessarily fall on the weekly Sabbath. "High Sabbath" days are mandatory rest days which occur during some feast days. They are identified in Lev. 23:7, 8, 21, 24, 27, 28, 32, 35, 36, 39. Just as with the weekly Sabbath, the day before any "High Sabbath" is a "preparation day." This means Passover, the 14th, is also the "preparation day" for the "High Sabbath" on the 15th, [see: John 18:28, 19:14,31]. The feast of Unleavened Bread celebrates the journey of the children of Israel through the wilderness, when God fed them with manna from heaven and supplied water out of the rock. This feast was fulfilled by Jesus during the Feast of Unleavened Bread when He said, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." [John 6:51]. Jesus was crucified on Passover. His body [His flesh] was laid in the tomb just before sunset, when the "High Sabbath" of the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. His body laid in the tomb for the first three days of this feast, from the 15th through the 17th of Nisan.

3. Firstfruits: [Lev. 23:9-14] During the seven day Feast of Unleavened Bread fell a Sunday. In the year of the crucifixion, Sunday fell on the 18th of Nisan, three days after Jesus was put in the tomb. On this Sunday, called the Feast of Firstfruits, each Israelite family brought a single bundle of barley to the Temple. The priest would then wave it before the Lord. This bundle represented the very first of the harvest. It was gathered at the beginning of the harvest and given to the Lord. Jesus fulfilled this feast as well. He rose from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits. The Apostle Paul said, "But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept."..."For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." [1 Cor. 15:20,23]. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of our resurrection.

4. Pentecost: [Lev. 23:15-21] From the feast of Firstfruits, the Jews were to count seven Sabbaths, [49 days]. The Sunday following the seventh Sabbath, was the Feast of Pentecost, [which means "fiftieth"]. This feast commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mt. Sinai. On that day God himself came down in a cloud on Mt. Sinai in fire and smoke and a blast of God's trumpet, to establish His covenant with His people. This feast was also a prophecy of the coming of the New Covenant which was consummated on the same day, the Day of Pentecost, with a mighty rushing wind, tongues of fire and miraculous demonstrations of the Holy Ghost. Even though the disciples were trained by Jesus for their task of world evangelism, Jesus instructed them to remain in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit which came on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost.
The first four feasts were fulfilled by Jesus both symbolically and literally at His first coming. The last three will be fulfilled by Jesus at His second coming. Since the first four feasts were fulfilled on the very days God commanded His people to celebrate them, it is reasonable to conclude that the remaining three feasts will also be fulfilled on the actual feast days as well.

5. Feast of Trumpets: [Lev. 23:23-25] God commanded Israel to keep a "High Sabbath" on the first day of the seventh month, by blowing a series of trumpets. Although the Scripture does not specify what this feast represents, it possibly looked forward to the fall of Jericho. In the days of Joshua, they were instructed to march around the city of Jericho seven days. Each day the trumpets were blown by the priests, but the people kept silent. On the last day, they marched around the city seven times with the seven priests blowing seven trumpets. When the last trumpet sounded, the people raised a great shout, and the walls of the city fell flat. Is it a coincidence that Paul said we will be raised at the "last trumpet?" [1 Cor. 15:54]. Is it also a coincidence that at the rapture there will be a great "shout?" [1 Thes. 4:16].

6. The Day of Atonement: [Lev. 23:26-32] The Feast of Trumpets is followed by ten days called by modern Jews, "the days of awe." This is a time of national repentance for Israel. The 10th day of the seventh month is the Day of Atonement. On this day the priest entered the Holy of Holies into the presence of God to sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. The Passover clearly represents personal salvation, [each family had their own lamb, and celebrated Passover at home]. But the Day of Atonement represents national salvation for Israel. Only one sacrifice was offered for the whole nation. The Bible makes it clear that at the second coming of Christ, the surviving Jews will look upon Christ and be saved in a day. [cf. Zech. 12:9,10 & 13:1, Rom. 11:25-27, Rev. 1:7] If there is any day on the Jewish calendar which is a prophecy of the second coming of Christ to overthrow the world kingdoms and deliver His people Israel, this is it.

7. The Feast of Tabernacles: [Lev. 23:33-43] Five days after the Day of Atonement is the Feast of Tabernacles. From the 15th to the 22nd of the seventh month was a time of the greatest rejoicing. It was the festival of all festivals. Israel was commanded to build tents [tabernacles] and live in them during the feast days. This commemorated how God brought them out of Egypt, through the wilderness into the promised land. Secondly, they were to cut off branches of palm trees and wave them, rejoicing before the Lord. Even the Jews today recognize that the Feast of Tabernacles looks forward to the Kingdom of the Messiah. Zechariah 14:16-21 states clearly that after Christ sets up His Kingdom the people will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles as a yearly memorial. Also, Revelation 7:9-17 describes the saints who have come through the "great tribulation." This scene takes place at the inauguration of Christ's Kingdom. It depicts a grand celebration with the saints waving "palm branches." Why are they waving palm branches? Obviously they are celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. The marriage supper will likely take place during this feast, [Isa. 25:6-8].

There is another day that is celebrated by Israel, Channukah. It begins 75 days after the Day of Atonement [the 25th day of the ninth month - or in our December] and lasts for 8 days. Channukah is not mentioned in the Old Testament, because it began to be celebrated during the period between the Old Testament and New Testament. Basically, it is a celebration of the cleansing of the Temple after the Jews defeated Antoichus Epiphanies. Antiochus was a Syrian King who invaded Jerusalem, defiled the Temple by placing an image of Zeus in the Temple, and offering a pig on the altar. He persecuted the Jewish people terribly, and they began a gorilla resistance against him. Eventually, they recaptured Jerusalem, and immediately set about to cleanse the Temple. So, in essence, this is the celebration of the cleansing and rededication of the Temple to God. It is referred to one time in the New Testament, where Jesus was present in Jerusalem for Channukah.
John 10:22-23
22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch.
(KJV)

That Channukah is always 75 days after The Day of Atonement may be related to an interesting prophecy in Daniel.
Dan 12:12
12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
(KJV)

1,335 days is exactly 75 days more than the 1260 days that Antichrist will reign. So, if the Antichrist is destroyed on the Day of Atonement, then the extra 75 days lands us directly on the first day of Channukah. It seems likely this has to do with the rededication of the Millennial Temple, from which Christ will rule.
Since Jesus fulfilled the first four feasts on the actual feast days, we can conclude that He will fulfill the last three in the same manner. This means that the battle of Armageddon will likely be on the Day of Atonement, the 10th day of the seventh month. Could the rapture be the same day? Or, could it be perhaps 10 days earlier on the Feast of Trumpets?

 

[tim-from-pa]

Half a day is still a day. If I work one hour on a Monday and one hour on a Tuesday, it is proper for me to say "I worked two days last week"

So, count for me if you please what you consider day 1, day 2, and day 3? Thanks.