Christ’s Death and Resurrection-Specific Info

Christ died Friday - Arose Sunday – Did not eat the Passover Lamb

 

Info on Passover/Feast Unleavened Bread related to Christ’s death and resurrection:

The month of Nisan begins on a full moon (Nu 28:14, Ps 104:19) – Our time is March or April.

Date: Jewish dates of the month (Nisan 10, 14, 15, 16) are the same, the days can be different depending on the year, when the moon becomes full – Our dates change with the days remaining the same: Mon, Fri, Sat, Sun

Time: Jewish days started at sunset and ended at sunset 24 hours later. Will use approximate times of 6pm to 6am for 12 hours of night and 6am to 6pm for 12 hours of light for a 24 hour day. Our days start at 12 am to 6pm for 6 hours of night - 6 am to 6pm for 12 hours of light - 6pm to 12 pm for 6 hours of night for 24 hour day regardless of when the sun sets.

Jewish first month (Ex 12:2) was changed to Abib (Ex 23:15) then to Nisan (Est 3:7).

Dates of Passover/Feast Unleavened Bread - Ex 12:1-30

Nisan 10 – Select lamb or goat without blemish for Passover lamb - Ex 12:3-5

Nisan 14 – Passover Day/Preparation Day – slaughter lamb 3-5pm - all yeast to be removed - Ex12:6, Nu 28:16

Nisan 15 – Sabbath beginning Feast Unleavened Bread – Passover Feast eaten Ex 12:15-16, Nu 28:17-18

Nisan 16-20 – Regular days of Feast of Unleavened Bread – No yeast eaten – Ex 12:18-20, Nu 28:17

Firstfruits: 1st day of week or day after regular Sabbath during Festivals – Lev 23:9-14

Nisan 21 – Sabbath ending Feast of Unleavened Bread Festival – Ex 12:16, Nu 28:25

Calendar with days, times (actual time was sundown to sunrise, will use approximate times).

*Nissan 9 – Sunday - Jesus travels to Bethany and is anointed by Mary – Jn 12:1

*Nisan 10 – Monday - Selection Day of Lamb / Palm Monday

Sun 6pm-12am 

Mon 12am-6am

Mon 6am-12pm

Mon 12pm-6pm: Select lamb to be killed for the Passover Feast - Ex 12:3 / Jesus rode in on a donkey on Palm Monday and was the people’s selection – Matt 21:1-11, Jn 12:12-19

*Nisan 14 – Friday – Passover/Preparation Day / Good Friday 

Thur 6pm-12am –Passover, Preparation Day (Jn 19:14, 31, Matt 27:62, Mk 15:42, Lk 23:15) - All yeast removed (Dt 16:3-4) / Jesus sent the disciples  ahead to make preparation, make sure all yeast had been removed from house, make ready for this evening’s meal, and the Passover Supper for the following evening (Matt 26:17-25). While Jesus was eating the meal, He institutes the Lord’s Supper offering His body in the bread and His blood in the wine as replacement for the sacrificial Passover lamb (Matt 26:26-29).  Jesus and the disciples go to Mount of Olives (Matt 26:30).       

Fri 12am-6am At Gethsemane Jesus is arrested (Matt 26:36, 47-50). Questioned by the High Priest (Jn 18:12-14, 19-23).      

Fri 6am-12pm Jesus is brought before Sanhedrin (Matt 15:1), before Pilate, before Herod, back to Pilot (Lk 22:66-23:24) where He is tried, beaten,(Jn 19:1-5) and sent to be crucified between 9am-12 pm (Mk 15:33, Lk 23:44).

Fri 12pm-6pm - 3-5pm Passover lamb sacrificed and slaughtered: Jesus dies at 3pm (Matt 27:45-50, Lk 23:44) which is when the Passover lamb is slaughtered (Ex 12:6). - The temple curtain, through which only the High Priest could enter to approach God with a sacrifice for believers’ sins, was torn in two (Lk 23:45) - The earth quakes when Jesus dies (Matt27:51) – Many dead believers were brought to life (Matt 27: 52-53) - Jesus is buried before sunset of the Sabbath (Lk 23: 52-54) - Day 1 in grave.   

*Nisan 15 – Saturday – Double Sabbath, weekly Sabbath and special Sabbath on 1st day Feast of Unleavened Bread - Night of the Passover Feast

Fri 6pm-12am: Sunset Sabbath started - all who were ceremonially clean ate the Passover Feast that night (Jn 19:28) - the entire lamb had to be eaten or burned before the following morning (Ex 12:8-11,46) – no work allowed except preparation of food for the celebration (Ex 12:16) / No one can go to the grave on the Sabbath (Lk 23:56)

Sat 12am-6am: 

Sat 6am-12pm                             

Sat 12pm-6pm: Day 2 in grave

*Nisan 16 – Sunday - First day of week – Firstfruits presented to the Lord / Easter Sunday

Sat 6pm-12am 

Sun 12am-6am - Day 3 in grave

Sun 6am-12pm Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures and on the third day arose from the dead (Lk 24:46) - The Heavenly Father’s Firstfruits are presented to the world (1Cor 15:23). After sunrise the earth shook as Jesus arose and an angel rolled away the stone from the tomb (Matt 28:2) – The angel announced to the woman that Jesus had arisen (Matt 28:5-7) – Jesus appeared to the women (Matt 28:9-10), to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20:13-18).

Sun 12pm-6pm – Jesus appeared to the two men on their way to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-33), to Peter (Lk 24:34) then to His disciples (Jn 20:19-20) – Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!!!

 

Passover Feast Supper Confusion

There is confusion because Passover and the Feast of Unleavened bread overlapped each other. The Passover Feast was actually eaten on Nisan 15, the first day of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened Bread’s Preparation Day, when all yeast had to be removed, was actually on Passover Day Nissan 14. Therefore Preparation Day could be considered part of The Feast of Unleavened Bread making this celebration 8 days, while the Passover Feast could be considered part of the Passover making it 2 days. The total eight days could also be referred to as the Feast of Unleavened Bread or the Passover as they were both used to describe this celebration, depending on which one was considered the most important. The only clear way of determining what day or event was being referred too is to know what actually was done on that day.

Jesus was crucified on Nissan 14, Passover Day, also called Preparation Day, the day before the Sabbath of the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which this year fell on the day of the regular Sabbath Day. All gospel writers agree on that (Jn 19:14-16, 31, 42, Matt 27:62, Mk 15:42, Lk 23:54). Jesus died on Preparation day around 3pm in the afternoon, the same time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered. The next Jewish calendar day, Nissan 15, the 1st day of The Feast of Unleavened Bread, was the night the Passover lamb was to be eaten (Ex 12:8). The Passover Lamb meal would be eaten around 8pm, which was around 5 hours after Christ had died, around 3 hours after Christ was buried. Christ could not have eaten the Passover Lamb meal. Jesus followed the law to the littlest detail (Matt 5:17-18) and would not have eaten the Passover except on the required night of Nissan 15. Moreover Nissan 15 is a special Sabbath (Jn 11:55-56) and no church leaders would allow or participate in a crucifixion on a Sabbath Day (Jn 19:31). 

Let us also clarify Matthew 26:17-22, Mark 14:12-17, Luke 22:7-18. These verses begin on Nissan 14 just after sunset (Lk 22:7), around 6pm, when Jesus and the disciples were outside Jerusalem (Mk1212-13). The disciples asked Jesus where He wanted them to make preparations for the Passover (Matt 26:17). Jesus very likely had kept the location secret so Judas could not have Him arrested before He could eat His last meal with the disciples. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to meet with the owner and prepare the Passover (Lk 22:8). To understand what prepare the Passover meant one must understand what was to be done at that specific time. The first part of Passover/ Preparation day was used to remove all the yeast from the house, one’s possession (Dt 16:4). All yeast was to be removed, including good food as well all the crumbs from bread or other yeast containing foods. Jewish verses were often said as one looked in every corner and crook of the house. It was not only customary, but practical to remove the yeast at the beginning of Nissan 14, instead of waiting until the end of the day when it had to be removed. One had a much better chance of selling their yeast containing food to foreigners if they were ready to sell in the morning. It was also much easier to start the unleavened meals with a clean house so they would not be mixed with food that contained yeast. For Jesus and the disciples it was much easier to prepare the Passover before they moved in. For they would live, eat, and sleep in this room through the Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread which would be 8 days (Ac 1:13). By removing the yeast first, the disciples could spread out and not have to worry about moving their belongings or the food they brought when removing the yeast. This preparation, which was required by ceremonial laws (Ex 12:19-20), did not take very long. For the disciples started to Jerusalem after sunset, when Nisan 14 would begin, and Jesus not only returned in the evening (Mk 14:17), but ate that evening (Jn 13:2). The evening was between sunset and night, probably 1 to 2 hours in duration. So traveling to Jerusalem, removing yeast, making a meal, and eating of the meal was done within this time period. This meal was not the Passover Feast for it had to be eaten at night (Lev 12:8). This meal was eaten in the evening in a reclining position (Matt 26:20). There is a good probability that unleavened bread was eaten in the Lord’s Supper so the room would not have to be cleaned of yeast again, but the removal of yeast was not required until the end of the day. The next morning it was customary to begin preparing the Passover Feast of unleavened bread, bitter herbs and getting a lamb slaughtered at the temple under the watch of the priest and Levites between 3-5 pm. The full lamb would be roasted to be eaten the following night which would be on Nissan 15. Jesus had already been tried, tortured, crucified dying at the same time as the lambs were slaughtered, and in the grave before the Passover feast was eaten (see calendar above).

The only verses which need extensive explanation to remain in context are Luke 22:15-16. The old American Standard Bible probably has these verses most accurate, “And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” One has to understand Jesus knew what was before Him as He ate His last supper with the disciples (Matt 26:18). Jesus would soon be arrested, tried, tortured and crucified. He would have all believers’ sins put on His shoulders as He died.  It was hard to say goodbye, to leave the disciples He loved. Jesus told His disciples, “With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you” Lk 22:15 KJV. Jesus had a desire, Jesus desired to eat the Passover Feast once more with His beloved Disciples. Yet Jesus would do His Father’s will (Mk 14:36), would be unable to eat the Passover with His disciples. Jesus would willing be crucified, would die, would be in the grave when the Passover Feast was eaten. There is a great significance why Jesus did not eat the Passover lamb, Jesus was the Passover Lamb (1Cor 5:7)! In Christ’s Last Supper (Lk 22:16+18), the last meal He would ever eat on earth, Jesus offered all believers a new celebration, The Lord’s Supper (Mk 14:22-25, 1Cor 11:20). Jesus as our Passover Lamb offers His body in the bread, His blood in the wine (Matt 26:26-29), as the New Covenant (Lk 22:20) feast believers are to partake of (1Cor 10:16-17). All Old Covenant ceremonies are needed no more (Heb 8:13).

 

Palm Monday Nissan 10 - Friday Nissan 14 day Jesus was crucified – Sunday Jesus arose 

John tells us Jesus traveled to Bethany 6 days before Passover (Jn 12:1) and then made the triumphal entry the next day (Jn 12:12), which was Nisan 10. Therefore only Friday could be Nisan 14. For no travel of more than 1/3 of a mile outside of town (See * 1 at end of article), nor work by people, nor work by animals (a donkey could not be ridden) was allowed by the commandment on a regular Sabbath (Ex 16:29, Dt 5:14). If Thursday was Nissan 14 Jesus could not have traveled to Bethany on the Sabbath, Nissan 9 (see below). If Wednesday was Nisan 14, the triumphal entry would have been on the Sabbath, Nisan 10 (see below).  Jesus could not have traveled to get the donkey or ridden it, nor could the people have worked to cut down branches (Matt 21:8). Moreover Jesus was waiting for the right time to come and knew the chief priests had many watching for Him. Jesus avoided the temple until He could come with friends from Bethany so the chief priests would be scared of the crowd and not arrest Him (Jn 11:54-57, 12:12, 17-19). 

Nissan: Bethany trip/Triumphant entry fit only Friday as Nissan 14.

 9                                 10                          11  12   13   14 

Fri (Bethany trip)            Palm Sat *(can’t travel/work) Sun-Mon-Tues-Wed   

Sat *(Bethany/can’t travel)   Palm Sun                                Mon-Tues-Wed-Thur  

Sun (Bethany trip)                 Palm Mon                               Tues-Wed-Thur-*Fri

 

*Died on Friday Nissan 14 around 3PM, Arose on Sunday Nissan 16 after sunrise*

The women rested on the Sabbath

The women went to the tomb and saw Jesus body, but rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment (LK 23:56). The commandment is to work 6 days but rest on the seventh day (Ex 20:8-11). This refers to the regular Sabbath, the day after Christ died. Festival Sabbaths are under ceremonial laws, they are not in the commandment. So Christ died on Friday and the woman rested on Saturday. Saturday was both a regular Sabbath and the 1st day Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

The Third Day

1. Sunday was the third day from Christ’s death. Fri – 1, Sat - 2, Sun – 3. Luke 24:20.

2. Jesus tells us the Scriptures foretold, “He would rise from the dead on the third day.” Luke 24:46.

3. Jesus tells us many more times that He will rise on the third day. Matt 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, Luke 9:22, 18:33, 24:7

4. It is clear what Jesus means by on the third day, you count the partial day you are on. Luke 13:32

5. The Apostles tell us Jesus arose on the third day. Acts 10:40, 1Cor 15:4

6. Jesus tells us He will rise in three days. When you count all of the days, as was the practice of the Jews, this means the same as on the third day. Mk 8:31, 9:31, 10:34, Jn 2:19

7. Jesus was not going around telling some He would die on the third day and others He would die in three days without having both mean the same. John counts both the first and last day when counting the six days before Passover, for the sixth day was the day before the triumphal entry on Nisan 10 or Nisan 9. So Nissan 9-1, 10-2, 11-3, 12-4, 13-5, 14-6, all the dates and days are counted as was customary. (Jn 12:1+12)     

8. All Christ’s believers and adversaries understood this meaning, no one in the Bible questioned His resurrection except in terms of three days, or on the third day (Matt 27:40, 63-64, Jn 2:20).

The Earth Shook, Jesus announced His death and resurrection

When Jesus died the earth shook (Matt 27:51), when the angels came to roll back the stone as Jesus arose the earth shook once more (Matt 28:2). Jesus announced when He died and arose so all would know it was the third day (Lk 24:7). Friday 1st day, Saturday 2nd day, Sunday the third day

 

There is one verse that makes some believe that Jesus was not crucified on Friday, Matt 12:40. Here Jesus tells us that He will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Most believe this to be a Jewish expression of time in which a day could mean partial days without a night or partial nights without a day at the beginning or end of a succession of days. That “on the third day” means the same as “in three days”, which is the same as “three days and three nights”. All use partial days which can count as days and nights when used in sequence. The counting of the partial first and last day was clearly used at this time (see 7 above). Moreover this is just one verse compared to 15 above (see 1-6) which tell us Jesus arose on the third day, or arose in three days, which mean the same. For the crucifixion to be on Thursday one would have to change these 14 verses (see 1-6 above), plus somehow change the Bethany trip (see above). It is very improbable for Thursday to be the day of crucifixion. For Wednesday you would not only have to change these 14 verses (see 1-6 above) but also this date would never work with the triumphant entry (see above). You also have to change the resurrection date to Friday or Sat afternoon/early evening, depending on how you changed the three days. This means changing the Sunday Resurrection, the earthquake, why the guards were there, and the story on the road to Emmaus. Wednesday is highly improbable as the crucifixion day. A Friday crucifixion and Sunday Resurrection are highly probable, best fit the context of the Bible.     

 

Palm Monday – Good Friday was Nissan 14 so Palm Monday was Nissan 10

Jesus was crucified on Preparation Day which is Nissan 14. On Nissan 10 Jesus had to be presented and accepted as the lamb without blemish. If Friday was Nissan 14 then Monday would have to be Nisan 10.

 

The year of Christ’s death and resurrection was around 28-30 AD

Jesus began His ministry around the age of 30 (Lk 3:23).

Jesus began His ministry about 46 years after the temple had begun being built (Jn 2:20).

The temple was started around 19 B.C. so 46 – 19 B.C. + 1 year (for crossing B.C. to A.D. as had no zero at this time) makes it around 26 A.D. when Jesus began His Ministry

Jesus ministry was a little over three years, as He attended three Passover Celebrations (Jn 2:13, 6:4, 11:55-57)

So Jesus death and Resurrection was roughly between 28-30 AD when He was about 33 years old

This is an estimate for we do not know the exact time

 

Mahlon H. Smith Virtualreligion.net/iho/Sabbath.html

*1 - 155-21   

 

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