When did Jesus die and come back to life?

[GodLovesCats]

Most people seem to believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday because sundown was the start of that week's Sabbath. The problem with this assumption is Jesus was dead not only three days, but also three nights. There are two nights between Friday at sunset and Sunday at sunrise so that is mathematically impossible unless he rose on a Tuesday.

I actually read an article about that. According to the writer, the only way "on the third day" is the same as "three days and three nights" is if it refers to the third day of the week. Of course, this would move the crucifixion date to a Saturday evening.

1. Saturday night
   
2. Sunday day/night
3. Monday day/night
4. Tuesday morning

This wouldl put The Last Supper on a Friday night - the beginning of a weekly Sabbath.

Another article proposes Jesus was crucified on a Thursday in order to make three nights and a Sunday resurrection. The writer of that one argues the word Sabbath does not have to mean a Friday night-Saturday night break from work because Jewish holidays are their own Sabbaths - meaning it could have been a Thursday night-Friday night Passover Sabbath. It looks like this:

1. Thursday night
2. Friday day/night
3. Saturday day/night
4. Sunday morning

Are either of these ideas Biblical? What about a Wednesday death or Monday resurrection?

Sorry if this post is too long.

 

[Of the Kingdom]

tldr; Likely Jesus died either Thursday or Friday afternoon and resurrected on Sunday. It's complicated.

All of your suggestions are things some people believe. Unfortunately we can never be sure unless God reveals it to us. The early church believed that Jesus died Friday afternoon and was resurrected Sunday morning. They could have been mistaken though. I suspect the day was not considered important early on, and when someone decided to find out (probably about AD 300) they could have gotten it wrong, although I'm sure they tried to get as reliable a date as they could.

One thing I do believe is that Jesus arose on Sunday morning. That was the feast of Firstfruits, which was celebrated from the time of Moses and fulfilled in Jesus. Be aware that some celebrate Firstfruits the day after the first day of unleavened bread, which was a special Sabbath regardless of which day of the week it fell on. I believe God's intent was that Firstfruits should always fall on Sunday, but if not then it could be any day of the week. If Jesus indeed did die on Friday, then both the special sabbath and the regular sabbath took place on Saturday, and either way of calculating the day of Firstfruits would give the same result.

Unfortunately this is something scholars do not always agree on, and I don't think anyone can give you an absolutely definitive answer.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Most people seem to believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday because sundown was the start of that week's Sabbath. The problem with this assumption is Jesus was dead not only three days, but also three nights. There are two nights between Friday at sunset and Sunday at sunrise so that is mathematically impossible unless he rose on a Tuesday.

I actually read an article about that. According to the writer, the only way "on the third day" is the same as "three days and three nights" is if it refers to the third day of the week. Of course, this would move the crucifixion date to a Saturday evening.

1. Saturday night
   
2. Sunday day/night
3. Monday day/night
4. Tuesday morning

This wouldl put The Last Supper on a Friday night - the beginning of a weekly Sabbath.

Another article proposes Jesus was crucified on a Thursday in order to make three nights and a Sunday resurrection. The writer of that one argues the word Sabbath does not have to mean a Friday night-Saturday night break from work because Jewish holidays are their own Sabbaths - meaning it could have been a Thursday night-Friday night Passover Sabbath. It looks like this:

1. Thursday night
2. Friday day/night
3. Saturday day/night
4. Sunday morning

Are either of these ideas Biblical? What about a Wednesday death or Monday resurrection?

Sorry if this post is too long.

What has been discovered is that at the time when Jesus was crucified, it was a High Sabbath and the preparation was on the Wednesday, so He went to the cross on Wednesday afternoon, and He and those crucified with Him had to be taken down before the Thursday because that was the special Sabbath time. So, we had Wednesday night, Thursday, Thursday night, Friday, Friday night, Saturday (the normal sabbath day), Saturday night, and He rose from the dead on Sunday morning. This is why the women could not get to the tomb before Sunday morning, because they could not travel on the Sabbath.

"High Sabbaths, in most Christian and Messianic Jewish usage, are seven annual biblical festivals and rest days, recorded in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.[1][2][3] This is an extension of the term "high day" found in the King James Version at John 19:31."

 

[GodLovesCats]

Where do you get four nights in the Bible from?

 

[HTacianas]

Most people seem to believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday because sundown was the start of that week's Sabbath. The problem with this assumption is Jesus was dead not only three days, but also three nights. There are two nights between Friday at sunset and Sunday at sunrise so that is mathematically impossible unless he rose on a Tuesday.

I actually read an article about that. According to the writer, the only way "on the third day" is the same as "three days and three nights" is if it refers to the third day of the week. Of course, this would move the crucifixion date to a Saturday evening.

1. Saturday night
   
2. Sunday day/night
3. Monday day/night
4. Tuesday morning

This wouldl put The Last Supper on a Friday night - the beginning of a weekly Sabbath.

Another article proposes Jesus was crucified on a Thursday in order to make three nights and a Sunday resurrection. The writer of that one argues the word Sabbath does not have to mean a Friday night-Saturday night break from work because Jewish holidays are their own Sabbaths - meaning it could have been a Thursday night-Friday night Passover Sabbath. It looks like this:

1. Thursday night
2. Friday day/night
3. Saturday day/night
4. Sunday morning

Are either of these ideas Biblical? What about a Wednesday death or Monday resurrection?

Sorry if this post is too long.

There are two discrepancies in the crucifixion/resurrection narrative of the bible. One, the "and three nights" is a known emendation to the text. It was not in the original. In reading Matthew 12:40:

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.

It is more likely that the original read:

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

The original may or may not have read "three days".

The other discrepancy is in the calendar used in describing the narrative. Jesus was an Essene. The Essenes used a different calendar than did the temple authorities. To the Essenes, in that year, passover fell one day earlier than the passover of the temple. It is unknown which passover Jesus was crucified on, the Essene passover or the temple passover. Matthew, Mark, and Luke have it that Jesus was crucified on the temple passover, while John has it as the Essene passover.

So we have a condition where Jesus could have eaten the passover meal on one day, and then been crucified on passover the next day. Either would be appropriate.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

That adds up correctly, but was The Last Supper really on a Tuesday?

If Jesus rose exactly three days and three nights after His burial (just before sunset; see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34), the only candidate for His resurrection is the very end of the Sabbath at sunset. Counting back three full days, then, Jesus must have died on the previous Wednesday, which would have been the day of the Passover (Jesus and His disciples had observed the Passover the evening before). The first day of Unleavened Bread began just minutes after Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus sealed His tomb.

The gospel account says that, after this, His disciples and the women kept the holy day on Thursday (Mark 16:1). On Friday, the preparation day for the weekly Sabbath, the women prepared spices for His embalming (this was a normal workday; see Luke 23:56), then kept the weekly Sabbath. When they came to the tomb early Sunday morning, He had already risen some time before. He rose exactly three days and three nights from His interment (a full 72 hours) at sunset as the weekly Sabbath ended. This shows that there were two Sabbaths—a high day and a weekly Sabbath—during the time of His burial, not one!

 

[GodLovesCats]

I also want to know why it is so confusing even Roman, Greek, and Eastern Orthodox Catholics can't time Resurrectoin Day right. They celebrate two weeks after Protestant congregations because there is something abouto 14 days in the Gospels.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Where do you get four nights in the Bible from?

He could have risen on the Saturday evening after sunset. The open tomb was discovered on Sunday morning when the angels told the woman that Jesus was not there, but had risen. The Bible doesn't say that He actually rose on Sunday morning.

 

[Ttalkkugjil]

They journeyed through Galilee, their last trip with Jesus through these scenes.

He did no preaching at this time. He wanted to be alone with his disciples, for their instruction hadn't yet proceeded to the point it should reach before his Passion. He referred to his suffering, above all. His teaching touched upon this lesson.

The Passion was so before him that he speaks of it in the present. He's given to people. First Judas would give him to the Jewish rulers, then these would give him to the Roman governor.

☆ The redeemer, having might, given to people. And they kill him. That was, in their opinion, his end. ☆

For him, however, it's only the beginning. After three days he'll arise.

After all the teaching and referring to the prophecy that Jesus had fulfilled, the disciples went along the way with him in ignorance as to what he was saying. At the same time they were afraid to ask him.

The Gospel's hidden from people until the Spirit opens heart and mind.

 

[~Anastasia~]

I also want to know why it is so confusing even Roman, Greek, and Eastern Orthodox Catholics can't time Resurrectoin Day right. They celebrate two weeks after Protestant congregations because there is something abouto 14 days in the Gospels.

Not exactly.

I fear you're getting misinformation.

The difference between Orthodox Pascha (celebration of the Resurrection) and Easter as set by Catholicism (and followed by Protestantism) is not 14 days. This year it is 7 days. Recently they fell on the same day. There is no set number of days difference. It's a different means of calculating.

 

[HeartenedHeart]

Most people seem to believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday because sundown was the start of that week's Sabbath. The problem with this assumption is Jesus was dead not only three days, but also three nights. There are two nights between Friday at sunset and Sunday at sunrise so that is mathematically impossible unless he rose on a Tuesday.

I actually read an article about that. According to the writer, the only way "on the third day" is the same as "three days and three nights" is if it refers to the third day of the week. Of course, this would move the crucifixion date to a Saturday evening.

1. Saturday night
   
2. Sunday day/night
3. Monday day/night
4. Tuesday morning

This wouldl put The Last Supper on a Friday night - the beginning of a weekly Sabbath.

Another article proposes Jesus was crucified on a Thursday in order to make three nights and a Sunday resurrection. The writer of that one argues the word Sabbath does not have to mean a Friday night-Saturday night break from work because Jewish holidays are their own Sabbaths - meaning it could have been a Thursday night-Friday night Passover Sabbath. It looks like this:

1. Thursday night
2. Friday day/night
3. Saturday day/night
4. Sunday morning

Are either of these ideas Biblical? What about a Wednesday death or Monday resurrection?

Sorry if this post is too long.

The error, or misunderstanding, is in what you perceive the meaning of "three days and three nights" to mean in conjunction with the phrase "in the heart of the earth". The phrase "in the heart of the earth" does not mean 'grave', and the three days and nights began 'thursday' night in the Garden of Gethsemane. If you would like to consider those terms from the Bible, let me know.

Here is the schedule:


[the 7th Day Sabbath of the LORD thy God]

Jesus at Lazarus' house in Bethany [Mt. Olivet] – [John 12:1]


[the first [day] of the week]

Jesus Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, "the next day" from leaving Lazarus' house, Hosanna! - [John 12:12,13; Matthew 21:10; Mark 11:11], goes to the Temple, and after looking around, leaves, since it was close to evening back out unto Mt. Olivet.


[the second [day] of the week]

Jesus comes back, curses the fig tree, goes to the Temple, and cleanses the Temple for the Second [last] time of the Money Changers - [Matthew 21:12,13,17; Mark 11:12,15,16,17,19], and Jesus goes back out.


[the third [day] of the week]

Jesus comes back, the Fig tree is withered up from the roots, goes to the Temple, and has the final teachings to the Pharisees, etc - [Matthew 21:18,23; Mark 11:20,27].

This was the "two days" before the "Passover" - [Matthew 26:1-2; Mark 14:1; Luke 21:37-38, 22:1].

Jesus tells the Jewish nation, that their house is forever left desolate, no more fruit again - [Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 13:32-35].

Jesus said, that He still had to do "cures" and "cast out devils" "to day, tomorrow and the third day" and be done - [Luke 13:32,33]

Jesus had been "daily" in the Temple - [Matthew 26:55; Mark 14:49; Luke 19:47, 22:53; John 18:20]


[the fourth [day] of the week]

The "tomorrow" [Luke 13:32,33]


[the fifth [day] of the week]

The "Third Day" [Luke 13:32,33], being done.


[the sixth [day] of the week; preparation]

Gather twice as much, Christ Jesus the anti-typical Manna, Exodus 16:25,26

The "spices" "had been" [Mark 16:1] purchased sometime after the Crucifixion and before burial so that they could "prepare" [Luke 23:56] them to bring on the "first [day] of the week" [Luke 24:1], even as we see Joseph of Arimathaea doing for the linen - [Mark 14:46]

1st Evening Part - [Matthew 26:31,34; Mark 14:27,30]
1st Morning [Light] Part - [Matthew 27:21; Mark 15:1]


Abib/Nisan 14th; Christ Jesus our Passover is Sacrificed for us - [1 Corinthians 5:7],


[the 7th Day Sabbath of the LORD thy God]

Jesus remained in the Tomb all Sabbath - anti-type Manna - Exodus 16:29,30

The Disciples were keeping the Sabbath according to the Commandment - [Exodus 20:8-11; Luke 23:54,56]

2nd Evening and 2nd Morning Parts - [Matthew 27:58-66, 28:1; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:52-53,54; John 19:38-42]

Abib/Nisan 15th - Seasonal Feast Sabbath [First Day of Unleavened Bread, without corruption] - [Leviticus 23:5-8]


[the first [day] of the week]

Christ Jesus, preserved and Risen - Anti-type Manna - Exodus 16:32-34, He is risen before sunrise as was His custom to pray unto His Father, Mark 1:35, as was in type Joshua 3:1.

3rd Evening and 3rd Morning Parts, Christ Risen and shown alive - [Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:2-20; Luke 24:1-29; John 20:1-23]

Abib/Nisan 16th; Christ the Firstfruits/Wavesheaf Offering, Anti-Type Resurrection - [1 Corinthians 15:20,23].

Jesus was walking with the disciples on the Road to Emmaus on the "first [day] of the week", as the day was closing out, being "the third day since these things" were done [Luke 24:21],


[the second [day] of the week]

Jesus was still walking with the two disciples on the Road to Emmaus as the first [day] of the week was closing, and it becomes Evening - [Luke 24:29,35, etc]

 

[prodromos]

The Gospels are clear. Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation and rose on the third day, which was the first day of the week. The expression "three days and three nights" is obvious synecdoche. Friday evening is "one day and one night", Saturday is "one day and one night" and Sunday morning is "one day and one night". Together they are "three days and three nights".
Every other attempt I have seen which tries to reconcile "three days and three nights" contradicts Christ rising on the third day, which was confirmed by the disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. If it has Christ rising on anything other than the third day then it is false.

 

[GodLovesCats]

Also, what is Abib/Nison !4? All of these events happened during Nisan.

 

[FireDragon76]

Jesus didn't "come back to life", he was resurrected, there is an important distinction to be made. He was made subject to corruption and death just as we are (he could bleed and his organs could be destroyed, after all), but after the resurrection he no longer was subject to them because he had destroyed the power of sin and death.

 

[GodLovesCats]

What difference does it make (besides the reason, of course) whether Jesus or someone else was hung and bled to death, then later lived again, whether he "came back tob life" or was "resurrected"?

 

[FireDragon76]

What difference does it make (besides the reason, of course) whether Jesus or someone else was hung and bled to death, then later lived again, whether he "came back tob life" or was "resurrected"?

Because Christianity is about sacramental participation in his resurrected and glorified life, a life that conquered sin and death. If he were just a walking zombie, none of us would want that sort of life, would we?

 

[GodLovesCats]

Certainly not. I just read literally (Asperger's syndrome trait) and can't always see a difference when both terms are identical in dictionaries.

 

[FireDragon76]

Certainly not. I just read literally (Asperger's syndrome trait) and can't always see a difference when both terms are identical in dictionaries.

Resurrection has a difference connotation that merely coming back to life, though.

In simpler, more concrete terms, Jesus now is alive in such as way as to be beyond being hurt and killed, and our hope as Christians is that we will be where he is also, one day.

 

[GodLovesCats]

I always wondered why archaeologits can't just look for a Jewish calendar for whatever year Jesus died (I have read both 31 and 33) to see what day of the week Nisan 14 was on. That would settle it.

 

[FireDragon76]

I always wondered why archaeologits can't just look for a Jewish calendar for whatever year Jesus died (I have read both 31 and 33) to see what day of the week Nisan 14 was on. That would settle it.

The exact date is not critical. Nobody loses their salvation because they celebrate Easter on the wrong day. I'm comfortable enough with the traditional dating.

East and West use slightly different calendars. The western calendar is based on more modern astronomical observations. Greek Orthodox had good astronomers, too, but the laity wouldn't accept the change back in the 20's when it was proposed.