Jesus was crucified on Thursday

Looks like a possibility.

I would say we have a solid 1 in 7 odds here.

Somewhat interesting but all four gospels agree that Jesus was crucified on parasceue, which means "preparation" "Parasceue" was, at the time of Jesus, and is at this time the name of the day we call "Friday."
The feast of unleavened bread is never called a Sabbath in the Bible. In the NT that was a high Sabbath because ULB fell on the weekly Sabbath.
The weekly Sabbath requires a preparation day since no cooking is permitted on the Sabbath. An annual Sabbath requires no day of preparation since cooking is permitted. There was only one day of preparation in passion week. Friday the day before Jesus was crucified.

saint2 said:

Passover Week according to the Gospel of Mark.
Mark's chronology shows that Jesus was crucified on a Thursday and not on Friday as generally believed.
Bible Gateway passage: Mark 11-16 - New King James Version

The sabbath immediately following Jesus' burial was a two day sabbath, not just one day as generally believed.
This is because Leviticus 23:5-7 made the day following Passover an Unleavened Bread Festival Sabbath.
This Unleavened Bread sabbath festival calls for a sacred assembly. The people were to do no regular work that day.
The Gospel of John (John 19:31) called this special sabbath day a high day (megas G3173).

The year Jesus died, this Unleavened Bread sabbath day was immediately followed by the the regular Saturday seventh day sabbath.
So these two back-to-back sabbaths created one long two day sabbath that year.

Leviticus 23:5-7 states:
5 The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.
6 On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Festival of Unleavened Bread begins;
for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast.
7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

Just as our day runs from one midnight to the next midnight, the Jewish day runs from one sunset to the next sunset.
Below, I've split our day into two parts: the "before sunset" part of our day, and the "after sunset" part of our day.
This procedure aligns the "after sunset" part of our day with the start of a new Jewish day which begins at sunset.

The following chronology shows some of the major events that happened each day of that Passover Week, along with the related verses in the Gospel of Mark.
This chronology uses the Gospel of Mark, chapters 11 through 16, to show the Passover week's events.
Mark's verses are parsed in sequence, and the events happening each day of Passover week are highlighted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------- Sunday -------------------------------------------------------
Palm Sunday Before Sunset
Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly and enters the temple courts and looks around at everything (Mark 11:1-11)

Palm Sunday After Sunset
Jesus and the twelve spend the night in Bethany (Mark 11:11)

----------------------------------------------- Monday -------------------------------------------------------
Monday Before Sunset
On the way back to Jerusalem, Jesus curses the fig tree without fruit (Mark 11:12-14)
Jesus drives merchants from the temple courts (Mark 11:15-17)
Jesus spends the day teaching in the temple courts (Mark 11:18)

Monday After Sunset
Jesus and his disciples leave Jerusalem (Mark 11:19)

-------------------------------------------------- Tuesday ---------------------------------------------------
Tuesday Before Sunset
The cursed fig tree has withered away to its roots (Mark 11:20-23)
In the temple courts, Jesus confronts the chief priests, scribes and elders (Mark 11-27-33)
Again, Jesus teaches in the temple courts but he teaches in Parables (Mark 12:1-44)

Tuesday After Sunset
On the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Jesus foretells end time prophecies (Mark 13:1-37)
It's Two days before Passover and the Unleavened Bread festival (Mark 14:1)
This is Tuesday after sunset, the Unleavened Bread festival is two days later on Thursday after sunset
The chief priests and scribes look for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.(Mark 14:1-2)

-------------------------------------------------- Wednesday -------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Before Sunset
In Bethany, Jesus has dinner with Simon the Leper.
There, a woman anoints Jesus with ointment in preparation for his burial (Mark 14:3-9)
Judas goes to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. (Mark 14:10-11)
Two disciples are sent to Jerusalem to prepare a place and prepare the Passover meal (Mark 14:12-16)

Wednesday After Sunset (Passover Begins)
The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month (Leviticus 23:5)
Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples (Mark 14:17-25)
Jesus and disciples go to Mount Olives to a place called Gethsemane where Jesus prays to his Father (Mark 14:26-42)
Judas arrives with a mob and chief priests, scribes and elders. They take Jesus captive and begin his torture (Mark 14:43-52)
Jesus goes before Jewish Council where they condemn him as deserving death(Mark 14:53-65)

------------------------------------------------ Thursday ----------------------------------------------------
Thursday Before Sunset
In the morning, the Jewish Council hand Jesus over to Pilate. Pilate hands him over to be crucified (Mark 15:1-15)
The soldiers torture him, crown him with thorns, and mock him saluting him as "King of the Jews!" (Mark 15:16-20)
They crucify Jesus at 9 AM Thursday and he dies six hours later at 3 PM (Mark 15:21-39)
it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath (Mark 15:42)
Joseph of Arimathea, buries Jesus in a tomb before sunset (Mark 15:43-47)

Thursday After Sunset (Unleavened Bread Festival sabbath begins)
A special Unleavened Bread sabbath day festival begins now at sunset (Leviticus 23:5-7)
Jesus now lies dead in the tomb for the first of three nights.

---------------------------------------------- Friday --------------------------------------------------------
Friday Before Sunset
The special Unleavened Bread sabbath festival remains in effect until sunset.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb

Friday After Sunset (Regular seventh day sabbath begins)
At sunset, the Unleavened Bread sabbath festival ends and the regular seventh day sabbath begins.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb for the second of three nights.

----------------------------------------------- Saturday -----------------------------------------------------
Saturday Before Sunset
The regular Saturday seventh day sabbath remains in effect until sunset.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb.

Saturday After Sunset
The two back to back sabbaths;
--- the special high Unleavened Bread sabbath and the regular Saturday seventh day sabbath, now end.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb for the third night.

------------------------------------------------- Sunday -----------------------------------------------------
Easter Sunday
The sabbaths over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bring spices, so that they might anoint Jesus.
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun has risen, they go to the tomb. (Mark 16:1-2)
Jesus has already risen from the dead and has left the tomb (Mark 16:6)

Jesus began Passover day (i.e. sunset Wednesday till sunset Thursday) with the Last Supper.
At the end of that day he will lie dead in the tomb for three nights - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Jesus was tortured for about eighteen hours on the day of Passover.
First nine hours by the Jews (circa 9 PM Wednesday to 6 AM Thursday)
Then nine hours by the Romans (circa 6 AM Thursday to 3 PM Thursday)

Matthew 12:40
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster,
so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.

This prophecy of Matthew 12:40 was fulfilled by Jesus during this Passover Week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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If you use the common narrative you have Jesus traveling during Sabbath which is illegal for Jew to do so it had to be wrong

Why is this controversial theology? It has no bearing on theology.

Even though the Israelites did not reckon time/days like we do(Friday, Saturday etc), it wouldn’t chronologically fit for Christ to have died on a Friday.

he said he would be in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights - there are only 2 nights between Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, so a Friday death is out.

NomNomPizza said:

you have Jesus traveling during Sabbath which is illegal for Jew to do so it had to be wrong

Click to expand...

eh, Jesus often made examples of doing 'illegal' things and why they were legal to do based on the spirit He was doing them in, I would say that argument might be a little shakey applied here. He's got the whole "Lord of the Sabbath" title going here, I can't see him getting stopped by a travel ban if he felt it was necessary or His Father's Will to travel on that day.

Matthew 12:1

1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath."
3Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread,a which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.
5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? 6 But I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.
7 I f only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’b you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

-
What ever is most popular among churches most often will not be the correct practice or teaching.

saint2 said:

You're right. Controversial but no bearing on theology. My bad.

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No, please forgive me. I was in a bad mood when I read it. I don't even know why I typed what I did. My apologies.

On seventeen separate occasions, Jesus or His friends spoke of the timetable involving His death and resurrection.

• Ten times it was specified that the resurrection would take place on the "third day" (Mat.16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Mark 9:31; 10:34, Luke 9:22; 13:32; 18:33; 24:7,46).
• On five occasions they said, "in three days" (Matthew 26:61; 27:40, Mark 15:29, John 2:19-20).
• Twice they used the phrase, "after three days" (Matthew 27:63, Mark 8:31).
• And one time only Jesus spoke of His death as "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40).

Without question, all of these various expressions are used to describe the very same event. There seems to be no controversy regarding this point. "The third day," "in three days," "after three days," and "three days and three nights" are equivalent terms used in the scripture in reference to the resurrection of Jesus.
Expressions Cannot Be Literal
Now we ask the question: Can all of these expressions be taken in a strictly literal sense and still harmonize with each other? Absolutely not! For example, "after three days" would certainly have to be interpreted as longer than seventy-two hours. "In three days" could mean anytime less than seventy-two hours, and "three days and three nights" could only mean exactly seventy-two hours to the second. And "the third day" presents even greater problems as we shall notice in a moment.
Does this sound terribly confusing? If so, it is only because men have placed their own interpretation upon the meaning of God's Word. We must let the scripture explain itself, and especially, we must let Christ provide definitions for the words which He spoke. It would be a mammoth mistake to seize upon any one of the expressions used and force its strict compliance with our interpretation without reference to the other sixteen texts on the subject.
Inclusive Reckoning
The only way we can harmonize all of these apparently contradictory statements of Jesus is to understand them in the light of inclusive reckoning of time. This was the method used throughout the scripture in computing time, and we must apply the same method now, unless we want mass confusion. The unreasonable insistence upon the use of twentieth century English idioms of speech to interpret first century Greek or Hebrew has led to some extreme views indeed. Jesus and His friends spoke and wrote in harmony with the common literacy usage of the day, and that usage recognized inclusive reckoning of time. In simple language, this means that any part of a day was counted as a whole day.
Before we turn to the scripture for confirmation of this principle, let us read the authoritative statement of the Jewish Encyclopedia on the matter.
"A short time in the morning of the seventh day is counted as the seventh day; circumcision takes place on the eighth day, even though, of the first day only a few minutes after the birth of the child, these being counted as one day." Jewish Encyclopedia, Volume 4, page 475.
How clearly this defines the Hebrew method of computing time. Any small part of a day was reckoned as the entire twenty-four hour period. It is the Hebrew form of speech and language. Scores of contradictions would appear in both Old and New Testament if this principle were ignored. We must compare Scripture with Scripture and use the idiom of the language in which the scripture was written. Inclusive reckoning was taken for granted by all writers of the Scripture.

For a lengthy 11 page article discussing all the various arguments.
Three Days and Three Nights

saint2 said:

Passover Week according to the Gospel of Mark.
Mark's chronology shows that Jesus was crucified on a Thursday and not on Friday as generally believed.
Bible Gateway passage: Mark 11-16 - New King James Version

The sabbath immediately following Jesus' burial was a two day sabbath, not just one day as generally believed.
This is because Leviticus 23:5-7 made the day following Passover an Unleavened Bread Festival Sabbath.
This Unleavened Bread sabbath festival calls for a sacred assembly. The people were to do no regular work that day.
The Gospel of John (John 19:31) called this special sabbath day a high day (megas G3173).

The year Jesus died, this Unleavened Bread sabbath day was immediately followed by the the regular Saturday seventh day sabbath.
So these two back-to-back sabbaths created one long two day sabbath that year.

Leviticus 23:5-7 states:
5 The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month.
6 On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Festival of Unleavened Bread begins;
for seven days you must eat bread made without yeast.
7 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

Just as our day runs from one midnight to the next midnight, the Jewish day runs from one sunset to the next sunset.
Below, I've split our day into two parts: the "before sunset" part of our day, and the "after sunset" part of our day.
This procedure aligns the "after sunset" part of our day with the start of a new Jewish day which begins at sunset.

The following chronology shows some of the major events that happened each day of that Passover Week, along with the related verses in the Gospel of Mark.
This chronology uses the Gospel of Mark, chapters 11 through 16, to show the Passover week's events.
Mark's verses are parsed in sequence, and the events happening each day of Passover week are highlighted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------- Sunday -------------------------------------------------------
Palm Sunday Before Sunset
Jesus enters Jerusalem triumphantly and enters the temple courts and looks around at everything (Mark 11:1-11)

Palm Sunday After Sunset
Jesus and the twelve spend the night in Bethany (Mark 11:11)

----------------------------------------------- Monday -------------------------------------------------------
Monday Before Sunset
On the way back to Jerusalem, Jesus curses the fig tree without fruit (Mark 11:12-14)
Jesus drives merchants from the temple courts (Mark 11:15-17)
Jesus spends the day teaching in the temple courts (Mark 11:18)

Monday After Sunset
Jesus and his disciples leave Jerusalem (Mark 11:19)

-------------------------------------------------- Tuesday ---------------------------------------------------
Tuesday Before Sunset
The cursed fig tree has withered away to its roots (Mark 11:20-23)
In the temple courts, Jesus confronts the chief priests, scribes and elders (Mark 11-27-33)
Again, Jesus teaches in the temple courts but he teaches in Parables (Mark 12:1-44)

Tuesday After Sunset
On the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Jesus foretells end time prophecies (Mark 13:1-37)
It's Two days before Passover and the Unleavened Bread festival (Mark 14:1)
This is Tuesday after sunset, the Unleavened Bread festival is two days later on Thursday after sunset
The chief priests and scribes look for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.(Mark 14:1-2)

-------------------------------------------------- Wednesday -------------------------------------------------
Wednesday Before Sunset
In Bethany, Jesus has dinner with Simon the Leper.
There, a woman anoints Jesus with ointment in preparation for his burial (Mark 14:3-9)
Judas goes to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. (Mark 14:10-11)
Two disciples are sent to Jerusalem to prepare a place and prepare the Passover meal (Mark 14:12-16)

Wednesday After Sunset (Passover Begins)
The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month (Leviticus 23:5)
Jesus eats the Passover meal with his disciples (Mark 14:17-25)
Jesus and disciples go to Mount Olives to a place called Gethsemane where Jesus prays to his Father (Mark 14:26-42)
Judas arrives with a mob and chief priests, scribes and elders. They take Jesus captive and begin his torture (Mark 14:43-52)
Jesus goes before Jewish Council where they condemn him as deserving death(Mark 14:53-65)

------------------------------------------------ Thursday ----------------------------------------------------
Thursday Before Sunset
In the morning, the Jewish Council hand Jesus over to Pilate. Pilate hands him over to be crucified (Mark 15:1-15)
The soldiers torture him, crown him with thorns, and mock him saluting him as "King of the Jews!" (Mark 15:16-20)
They crucify Jesus at 9 AM Thursday and he dies six hours later at 3 PM (Mark 15:21-39)
it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath (Mark 15:42)
Joseph of Arimathea, buries Jesus in a tomb before sunset (Mark 15:43-47)

Thursday After Sunset (Unleavened Bread Festival sabbath begins)
A special Unleavened Bread sabbath day festival begins now at sunset (Leviticus 23:5-7)
Jesus now lies dead in the tomb for the first of three nights.

---------------------------------------------- Friday --------------------------------------------------------
Friday Before Sunset
The special Unleavened Bread sabbath festival remains in effect until sunset.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb

Friday After Sunset (Regular seventh day sabbath begins)
At sunset, the Unleavened Bread sabbath festival ends and the regular seventh day sabbath begins.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb for the second of three nights.

----------------------------------------------- Saturday -----------------------------------------------------
Saturday Before Sunset
The regular Saturday seventh day sabbath remains in effect until sunset.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb.

Saturday After Sunset
The two back to back sabbaths;
--- the special high Unleavened Bread sabbath and the regular Saturday seventh day sabbath, now end.
Jesus lies dead in the tomb for the third night.

------------------------------------------------- Sunday -----------------------------------------------------
Easter Sunday
The sabbaths over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bring spices, so that they might anoint Jesus.
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun has risen, they go to the tomb. (Mark 16:1-2)
Jesus has already risen from the dead and has left the tomb (Mark 16:6)

Jesus began Passover day (i.e. sunset Wednesday till sunset Thursday) with the Last Supper.
At the end of that day he will lie dead in the tomb for three nights - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Jesus was tortured for about eighteen hours on the day of Passover.
First nine hours by the Jews (circa 9 PM Wednesday to 6 AM Thursday)
Then nine hours by the Romans (circa 6 AM Thursday to 3 PM Thursday)

Matthew 12:40
For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster,
so for three days and three nights the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth.

This prophecy of Matthew 12:40 was fulfilled by Jesus during this Passover Week.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click to expand...

Jesus became our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), and He was crucified at the exact required time of the Old Testament passover lamb. That had to be on Wednesday evening, the preparation day.

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

John 19:30-31
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
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

You're correct that starting at sunset (beginning Thursday, a high day) was a different sabbath than the regular weekly sabbath. There were 2 sabbaths that week, the first one the "high day" required per the feast.

Wednesday, the preparation the passover to be sacrificed at evening = the time Lord Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. They then rushed to bury His body before sunset, because at sunset would begin (Thursday) a high day, a sabbath.

3 days and 3 night count required per Jesus:
Thursday sunset to morning = 1st night
Thursday morning to sunset = 1st day
Friday sunset to morning = 2nd night
Friday morning to sunset = 2nd day
Saturday sunset to morning = 3rd night
Saturday morning to sunset = 3rd day
End of 3 days and 3 nights.
Sunday began at sunset Saturday = sometime after sunset Jesus rose, and then was seen while it was still dark.

Davy said:

* * *

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Davy said:

Jesus became our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7), and He was crucified at the exact required time of the Old Testament passover lamb. That had to be on Wednesday evening, the preparation day.
Mark 15:42
42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
KJV
John 19:30-31
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
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
You're correct that starting at sunset (beginning Thursday, a high day) was a different sabbath than the regular weekly sabbath. There were 2 sabbaths that week, the first one the "high day" required per the feast.
Wednesday, the preparation the passover to be sacrificed at evening = the time Lord Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. They then rushed to bury His body before sunset, because at sunset would begin (Thursday) a high day, a sabbath.
3 days and 3 night count required per Jesus:
Thursday sunset to morning = 1st night
Thursday morning to sunset = 1st day
Friday sunset to morning = 2nd night
Friday morning to sunset = 2nd day
Saturday sunset to morning = 3rd night
Saturday morning to sunset = 3rd day
End of 3 days and 3 nights.
Sunday began at sunset Saturday = sometime after sunset Jesus rose, and then was seen while it was still dark.

Click to expand...

Incorrect. All these arguments have already been addressed in this thread by me and others.
The first and last day of Unleavened bread are never called a "Sabbath" anywhere in the OT. Both are "Holy convocations," no servile work is to be done but the preparation and cooking of food is specifically permitted.
All four gospels agree that Jesus was crucified on "Parasceue," which means "preparation." At the time of Jesus to this day the Greek name for Friday is "parasceue/preparation"
There was one preparation day in passion week, Friday the day before the weekly Sabbath, the only Sabbath in the week.
See my [Post #4]and [Post# 13] this thread.

saint2 said:

You're right Davy in that Jesus became our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
The Mosaic Law (Exodus 12:1-18) requires that the Passover sacrificial lamb be selected on the tenth day of the first month. In the OP this is diagramed as "Sunday Before Sunset" where Jesus is shown entering Jerusalem triumphantly.
This sacrificial lamb is to be kept for four days. Then on the fourteenth day of the first month, this lamb is to be slaughtered at twilight. It is the LORD's Passover. In the OP this is diagramed as "Thursday Before Sunset" at which time Jesus was crucified and died that Thursday before sunset.

Click to expand...

But for the fact that all four gospels agree that Jesus was crucified on παρασκευη/parasceue, which means "preparation." At the time of Jesus, to the present day, parasceue/preparation is the Greek name of the day we call Friday.
The first and last day of unleavened bread [ULB] are holy convocations. Neither day was ever called a "Sabbath" anywhere in the OT.
Unlike the weekly Sabbath the preparation/cooking of food is specifically permitted. Exodus 12:15-16
Therefore there was no "preparation day" preceding first and last day of ULB.
There was only one Sabbath in passion week and only one preparation/Friday.

saint2 said:

You're right Davy in that Jesus became our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).

The Mosaic Law (Exodus 12:1-18) requires that the Passover sacrificial lamb be selected on the tenth day of the first month. In the OP this is diagramed as "Sunday Before Sunset" where Jesus is shown entering Jerusalem triumphantly.

This sacrificial lamb is to be kept for four days. Then on the fourteenth day of the first month, this lamb is to be slaughtered at twilight. It is the LORD's Passover. In the OP this is diagramed as "Thursday Before Sunset" at which time Jesus was crucified and died that Thursday before sunset.

Click to expand...

See this:
Six Days Before the Passover (John 12:1) - Appendix to the Companion Bible



E.W. Bullinger's Appendix 156 from The Companion Bible:
"We are furnished by Scripture with certain facts and fixed points which, taken together, enable us (1) to determine the events which filled up the days of "the last week" of our Lord's life on earth; (2) to fix the day of His crucifixion; and (3) to ascertain the duration of the time He remained in the tomb.

The difficulties connected with these three have arisen (1) from not having noted these fixed points; (2) from the fact of Gentiles' not having been conversant with the law concerning the three great feasts of the LORD; and (3) from not having reckoned the days as commencing (some six hours before our own) and running from sunset to sunset, instead of from midnight to midnight.

To remove these difficulties, we must note :--

1. That the first day of each of the three feasts, Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, was "a holy convocation", a "sabbath" on which no servile work was to be done. See Lev. 23:7, 24, 35. Cp. Ex. 12:16.
   "That Sabbath" and the "high day" of John 19:31, was the "holy convocation", the first day of the feast, which quite overshadowed the ordinary weekly sabbath.
   
   It was called by the Jews Yom tov ( = Good day), and this is the greeting on that day throughout Jewry down to the present time.
   
   This great sabbath, having been mistaken from the earliest times for the weekly sabbath, has led to all the confusion.
   
   
2. This has naturally caused the further difficulty as to the Lord's statement that "even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40). Now, while it is quite correct to speak according to Hebrew idiom of "three days" or "three years", while they are only parts of three days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this, where "three nights" are mentioned in addition to "three days". It will be noted that the Lord not only definitely states this, but repeats the full phraseology, so that we may not mistake it. See the subject fully discussed in Ap. 144.
   
   
3. We have therefore the following facts furnished for our sure guidance :
   1. The "high day" of John 19:31 was the first day of the feast.
      
      
   2. The "first day of the feast" was on the 15th day of Nisan.
      
      
   3. The 15th day of Nisan, commenced at sunset on what we should call the 14th.
      
      
   4. "Six days before the passover" (John 12:1) takes us back to the 9th day of Nisan.
      
      
   5. "After two days is the passover" (Matt. 26:2. Mark 14:1) takes us to the 13th day of Nisan.
      
      
   6. "The first day of the week", the day of the resurrection (Matt. 28:1, &c.), was from our Saturday sunset to our Sunday sunset. This fixes the days of the week, just as the above fix the days of the month, for:
      
      
   7. Reckoning back from this, "three days and three nights" (Matt. 12:40), we arrive at the day of the burial, which must have been before sunset, on the 14th of Nisan; i.e. before our Wednesday sunset.
      
      
   8. This makes the sixth day before the passover (the 9th day of Nisan) to be our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.
   Therefore Wednesday, Nisan 14th (commencing on the Tuesday at sunset), was "the preparation day", on which the crucifixion took place : for all four Gospels definitely say that this was the day on which the Lord was buried (before our Wednesday sunset), "because it was the preparation [day]" the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, "for that sabbath day was a high day", and, therefore, not the ordinary seventh day, or weekly sabbath. See John 19:31

1. It follows, therefore, that the Lord being crucified on "the preparation day" could not have eaten of the Passover lamb, which was not slain until the evening of the 14th of Nisan (i.e. afternoon). On that day the daily sacrifice was killed at the 6th hour (noon) and offered about the 7th hour (1 p.m.). The killing of the Passover lambs began directly afterwards. Thus it is clear, that if the killing of the Passover lambs did not commence until about four hours after our Lord had been hanging upon the Cross, and would not have been concluded at the ninth hour (3 p.m.) when "He gave up the ghost;" -- no "Passover lamb" could have been eaten at the "last supper" on the previous evening.
   
   
2. With these facts before us, we are now in a position to fill in the several days of the Lord's last week with the events recorded in the Gospels. By noting that the Lord returned to Bethany (or to the Mount of Olives) each night of that week, we are able to determine both the several days and the events that took place in them."

(continued...)

THE SIXTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER,
THE 9TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset)

MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
The Lord approaches Jerusalem from Jericho ............. 19:1-10
He passes our Thursday night at the house of Zacchaeus 19:5
And delivers the Parable of the Pounds 19:11-27
He proceeds toward Jerusalem 19:28
He sends two disciples (apenanti) for an "ass" and a "colt" (two animals) 21:1-7
And makes His first entry from Bethphage (not Bethany) (Ap. 153) 21:8, 9
He is unexpected, and they ask "Who is this?" 21:10, 11
He cleanses the Temple 21:12-16
He returns to Bethany 21:17 12:1


THE FIFTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER,
THE 10TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.)

The Lord passes the Sabbath at Bethany; and after sunset (on our Saturday), the first of three suppers was made, probably at the house of Lazarus, in Bethany (Ap. 157) ............. .............. ................. 12:2
At this supper the first of two anointings took place (Ap. 158) 12:3-11


THE FOURTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER,
THE 11TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset),
the Gentile "Palm Sunday".

The second, or triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He sends two disciples (katenanti) for a colt (one animal). See Ap. 153 ............... 11:1-7 19:29-35 12:12-
The Lord starts from Bethany (not Bethphage) and is met by multitudes from Jerusalem (Ap. 153). 1:8-10 19:36-40 12:12-19
He weeps over the city. 19:41-44
He enters the Temple, looks around. 11:11-
And Returns to Bethany. 11:11



THE THIRD DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER,
THE 12TH DAY OF NISAN
(Our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset).

In the morning (our Monday a.m.) the Lord returns to Jerusalem. 21:18 11:12
The Fig-tree cursed. 21:19-22 11:13, 14
The Temple. Further cleansing. 11:15-17 19:45, 46
In the Temple. Further teaching. "Certain Greeks". 19:47- 12:20-50
Opposition of Rulers. 11:18 19:-47, 48
He goes out of the city (probably to Bethany; see Luke 21:37, 38, below). 11:19



THE SECOND DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER,
THE 13TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset).

In the morning (our Tuesday a.m.) on the way to Jerusalem, the question of the disciples about the Fig Tree. 11:20-26 .............
In Jerusalem again; and in the Temple. 21:23-27 11:27-33 20:1-8
In Jerusalem teaching in Parables; and questions. 21:28-23:39 12:1-44 20:9-21:4
The first great prophecy, in the Temple (Ap. 155). 21:5-36
(Parenthetical statement as to the Lord's custom during this week). 21:37, 38
The second great prophecy, on the Mount of Olives. 24:1-51 13:1-37
The second great prophecy, continued (Ap. 155). 25:1-46
"After two days is the Passover". 26:1-5 14:1, 2
He returns to Bethany, and is present at the second supper in the house of Simon the leper. The second Anointing. See Ap. 157 and 158. 26:6-13 14:3-9



THE DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER -- THE 14TH DAY OF NISAN --
"THE PREPARATION DAY" -- THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION.
(Our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset).

The plot of Judas Iscariot to betray the Lord. 26:14-16 14:10, 11 22:1-6
The "preparation" for the last supper (*1). 26:17-19 14:12-16 22:7-13
"The even was come" (our Tuesday after sunset) when the plot for the betrayal was ripe for execution. 26:20 14:17
The last supper, commencing with the washing of the feet. 13:1-20
The announcement of the betrayal, &c. 26:21-25 14:18-21 13:21-30
The supper eaten, the "New Covenant" made (Jer. 31:31). The lamb abolished, bread and wine substituted. 26:26-29 14:22-25 22:14-23
The first prophecy of Peter's denials (Ap. 160). 13:31-38
The strife; who should be the greatest, &c. 22:24-30
The second prophecy of Peter's denials (Ap. 160). 22:31-34
The final appeal to His first commission (Luke 9:3). 22:35-38
The last discourse to the eleven, followed by His prayer. 14:1-17:26
They go to Gethsemane. 26:30-35 14:26-29 22:39 18:1
The third prophecy of Peter's denials (Ap. 160). 14:30, 31
The agony in the garden. 26:36-46 14:32-42 22:40-46
The apprehension of the Lord (Ap. 165). 26:47-56 14:43-50 22:47-54 18:2-11
The escape of Lazarus (see notes on Mark 14:51, 52). 14:51, 52
The trials: continued throughout our Tuesday night. 26:57-27:31 14:53-15:19 22:54-23:25 18:12-19:13
About the sixth hour (our Tuesday midnight) Pilate said "Behold your King". 19:14, 15
Led away to be crucified. 27:31-34 15:20-23 23:26-31 19:16, 17
And "led with Him" two "malefactors" (kakourgoi) (Ap. 164). 23:32, 33 19:18
Discussion with Pilate about the Inscriptions (Ap. 168). 19:19-22
The dividing of the garments. 27:35-37 15:24 23:34 19:23, 24
"It was the third hour, and they crucified Him" (our 9 a.m. Wednesday). 15:25, 26
"Then were there two robbers" (lestai) crucified with Him" (Ap. 164). 27:38 15:27, 28
The revilings of the rulers, both "robbers", and one "malefactor". 27:39-44 15:29-32 23:35-43
The Lord's mother and John. 19:25, 27
"The sixth hour" (our Wednesday noon) and the darkness (Ap. 165). 27:45-49 15:33 23:44, 45
"The ninth hour" (our Wednesday 3 p.m.) and the expiring cry (Ap. 165). 27:50 15:34-37 23:46 19:28-30
Subsequent events 27:51-56 15:38-41 23:47-49 19:31-37
Buried in haste before sunset (our Wednesday about 6 p.m.), before the "high day" (the first day of the Feast began), our Wednesday sunset. 27:57-66 15:42-47 23:50-56 19:38-42



"THE FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST" - "THE HIGH DAY" (Yom tov) - THE 15TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.)
THE FIRST NIGHT AND FIRST DAY IN THE TOMB.

THE SECOND DAY OF THE FEAST - THE 16TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.)
THE SECOND NIGHT AND SECOND DAY IN THE TOMB.

THE THIRD DAY OF THE FEAST - "THE (WEEKLY) SABBATH" - THE 17TH DAY OF NISAN
(Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.)
THE THIRD NIGHT AND THIRD DAY IN THE TOMB.

"THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" - THE 18TH DAY OF NISAN
(Our Saturday sunset : "the third day" of Matt. 16:21, &c.; not the third day of the Feast.)


Thus the Resurrection of the Lord took place at our Saturday sunset or thereabouts on "the third day"; cp. "after three days" (Matt. 27:63. Mark 8:31.). 28:1-10 16:1-18 24:1-49 20:1-23


[For the sequence of events connected with and following the Resurrection, see Ap. 166.]
It will be seen from the above that we have neither power nor authority to alter or shift any day or date; or to change the order or position of any of the events recorded in the Holy Writ. Each day is marked by a return to Bethany during the last week (up to the Preparation Day); and each day is filled with the recorded events.

It follows, therefore, that the Lord was crucified on our Wednesday; was buried on that day before sunset; and remained "three days and three nights" in the tomb, as foretold by Him in Matt. 12:40; rising from the dead on "the third day", "the first day of the week". The fixed days and dates, at either end, hold the whole period as in a vice, and place the whole subject on a sure foundation.



(*1) The words in Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7 refer to "the first day of unleavened bread", which was the 14th day of Nisan, and therefore "the preparation day". That is why the Lord goes on to tell the two disciples to go and make preparation for the Passover.