How come good Friday is only two days from Easter Sunday?

[joshhuntnm]

Here is a quote you might find helpful:
Jesus prophesied in Matthew 12:40 (NASB) that “just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
The accounts of His death and resurrection as given in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John indicate that Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday, before sundown, which is the beginning of the next day for the Jews, and resurrected on the first day of the week, which is our Sunday, before sunrise.
This puts Jesus in the grave for part of Friday, the entire Sabbath, and part of Sunday. In other words, two full nights, one full day and part of two days, He was in the tomb. Since this is clearly not three full, twenty-four-hour days, do we have a problem of conflict with the prophecy of Jesus in Matthew 12:40?
In Mark 8:31 and Matthew 16:21, Jesus is recorded as saying, “The Son of man will rise again after three days,” and “He will be raised again on the third day”—expressions that are used interchangeably. This can be seen from the fact that the most references to the resurrection state that it occurred on the third day.
Also, Jesus, in addition to the Matthew 12:40 passage, spoke of His resurrection in John 2:19–22, stating that He would be raised up in three days (not the fourth day).
Matthew 27:63 (KJV) gives weight to this idiomatic usage. After the Pharisees tell Pilate of the prediction of Jesus, “After three days I will rise again,” they ask for a guard to secure the tomb until the third day.
If the phrase, “after three days,” was not interchangeable with the “third day,” the Pharisees would have asked for a guard for the fourth day.
That the expression “one day and one night” was an idiom employed by the Jews for indicating a day, even when only a part of a day was indicated, can be seen also in the Old Testament.
For example, I Samuel 30:12, 13 (KJV), “For he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights,” and in the next verse, “My master left me behind… three days ago.”
Just as clearly, Genesis 42:17 shows this idiomatic usage. Joseph imprisoned his brothers for three days; in verse 18, he speaks to them and releases them, all on the third day.
The phrases, “after three days” and “on the third day,” are not contradictory, either to each other or with Matthew 12:40, but simply idiomatic, interchangeable terms, clearly a common mode of Jewish expression.


Josh McDowell and Don Douglas Stewart, Answers to Tough Questions (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1993).

 

[4meta]

The bible speaks clearly...

Prophecy of Jesus sacrificing himself for us.
Daniel 9: 26-27
26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

That's in the midst (middle) of the week when Jesus died on the cross. Friday is not the middle of the week.

How long Jesus will be buried?
Matthew 12: 40
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.

If you count 3 days & 3 nights from Good Friday in current time that means Jesus had rose on Monday. And remember, Friday is not the midst (middle) of the week.

The day of preparation was during the Passover
John 19: 14
14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

The Passover is a 1st High Sabbath
John 19: 31
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.

Jesus Buried Before the Feast of Unleaven Bread (2nd High Sabbath the Day After the Passover)
John 19: 38-42
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.

39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.

42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Matthew 27: 57-62 (Basically repeating what was spoken in John 19)
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:

58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

How Do We Know the Feast of Unleaven Bread is the Next Day After the Passover?
Leviticus 23
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.

6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

7 In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Reason why the Jews had to bury Jesus before this day which means Jesus was buried towards the latter day of the Passover.

Jesus Rose on the Weekly Sabbath Day (Saturday), not Sunday
John 20: 1
20 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.

Let's count (3) days & (3) nights now understanding that Wednesday is the midst (middle of the week). So let's recap.

Jesus died Wednesday evening (1st night buried) Thursday (1st day buried / 2nd night) Friday (2nd day / 3rd night), Saturday (3rd day / Jesus have risen)

Jesus died on Good Friday evening (1st night buried) Saturday (1st day / 2nd night) Sunday 1st day of the week (2nd day / 3rd night) Monday the 2nd day of the week (3rd day....wait-a-minute!...Mary went to the tomb coming into the 1st day of the week & Jesus was already gone).

There is nowhere in the bible that states Jesus rose on Sunday morning. If I am believing incorrectly, please explain to me what I have misunderstood with scriptures, not with your personal thoughts or man's theories.

[Staff edit]

Our bible is more simple than we realize...All you have to do is believe what is written. If you disagree with what is written, that's a problem you have with God's word.

 

[JacksBratt]

The days or our "Easter" are not representative of the true Passover. It is an amalgamation of pagan holidays and our remembrance of the crucifixion.

It also fits with our modern industrial age where there is no way your getting 3 days off and maybe a Monday too.

 

[1213]

How come good Friday is only two days away from Easter Sunday?

I think it is a mistake. People have misunderstood what the Bible tells. I have come to conclusion that Jesus

1. The tomb was empty at the morning in the first day of the week that is Sunday. Because the tomb was already empty, Jesus probably rose in the end of Saturday.

Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
John 20:1 (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1)

2. He should have been three days in the tomb. That means Saturday, Friday, Thursday, because the tomb was empty at Sunday morning.

He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
Mark 8:31

3. Tuesday was the day when disciples prepared the last meal (Passover Seder), for the evening. In Jewish system Wednesday begun at nine a clock in the evening.

Now on the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
Matthew 26:17

4. After the meal they went to the Gethsemane (Mark 14:32). And there Jesus was captured (Mark 14:46).

5. Jesus was judged in the morning.

Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.
Mark. 15.1

6. The crucifixion happened at 9:00 A. M.

It was the third hour, [9:00 A. M.] and they crucified him
Mark 15:25

7. Jesus died at 3 P. M.

At the ninth hour (3 P. M.) Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is, being interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"… …Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit.
Mark. 15:34-37

8. And because the following day was Shabbat, disciples wanted to bury Jesus before Shabbat day. It was not weekly Shabbat, but the “special Shabbat” that is the Passover Shabbat after Passover Seder. This means Jesus was buried at Wednesday evening.

Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:31 (Luke 23:53-54, Mark 15:42-43)

9. After the Passover Shabbat, Mary and others prepared the species for Jesus so that they could take them to Jesus, after the weekly Shabbat (Saturday). They couldn’t have done that at Shabbat day, because of the Jewish rules. And perhaps it was long Friday for them, because they had to wait the Shabbat day, before they could go to the tomb.


When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mark 16:1

So, the Biblical story in short is, Jesus was buried at Wednesday evening, before 9 P.M. he was on tomb 3 days, Thursday, Friday and in the end of Saturday he was risen and then his disciples found the tomb empty at Sunday morning.

 

[AFrazier]

Not sure I follow you. The counting of the omer starts on the morrow AFTER the Sabbath, Sunday, Yom HaBikkurim.

Not as it was practiced in the first century. Josephus and the Talmud both confirm that the count towards Pentecost began on the 16th. The implication is that the 15th, although it is only labeled a holy convocation, is still considered a Sabbath.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

According to Josephus, the count towards Pentecost began at First Fruits on the 16th of Nisan, which was, according to Lev. 23:10-15, the morrow after the Sabbath. Although the holy convocation of the 15th is not directly labeled a Sabbath (Lev. 23:7-8), the circumstantial evidence is clear enough that if the 16th is the morrow after the Sabbath, then the 15th is the Sabbath, since the ceremonies and events tied to the 16th are fixed, whereas the weekday of the 16th is arbitrary relative to lunar observation).

At quick glance, it all seems well except ... taking for granted absolutely the "sabbath" in Leviticus 23:11,15,16 for the Seventh Day Sabbath at the same time contradicting yourself, correctly stating, <<the 16th is arbitrary relative to lunar observation>>. Which consistency demands the "sabbath" on the 15th <<is arbitrary relative to lunar observation>> as well!

Therefore at second quick glance it seems very little if anything is well.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

Not as it was practiced in the first century. Josephus and the Talmud both confirm that the count towards Pentecost began on the 16th. The implication is that the 15th, although it is only labeled a holy convocation, is still considered a Sabbath.

...you with <<a Sabbath>> of course meaning the 'weekly' Sabbath.
But in Leviticus 23 the "sabbath" is so called because the priest "laid" the sheaf "down" to "rest" ('shabath') on the passover-"sabbath", "kept in store" over "That Day", "the selfsame BONE day" of the fifteenth of the First Month ... not over the Seventh Day of the week.

 

[AJTruth]

The day begins at sundown. The Sabbath day starts on Friday around 7:15 pm in Jerusalem.

Jesus died a 3pm. He was gone a sunlight on Sunday when Mary shows up.

That's only 36 hours at the most.

 

[AFrazier]

[Staff edit]

<<the afternoon preceding the Last Supper was the first day of unleavened bread>>???
How do <<Mark and Luke both tell us that... it was... the afternoon preceding the Last Supper>>?
And where do <<Mark and Luke both tell us that... it was... the afternoon preceding the Last Supper>>?

When each said that it was the day the Passover slain, and were subsequently sent to make ready the Passover. That means it was the 14th day, prior to 2:30 in the afternoon.

At quick glance, it all seems well except ... taking for granted absolutely the "sabbath" in Leviticus 23:11,15,16 for the Seventh Day Sabbath at the same time contradicting yourself, correctly stating, <<the 16th is arbitrary relative to lunar observation>>. Which consistency demands the "sabbath" on the 15th <<is arbitrary relative to lunar observation>> as well!

Therefore at second quick glance it seems very little if anything is well.

I'm not contradicting myself. The 15th, by implication of observance, was considered a Sabbath. While I do not hold to the mid-week crucifixion concepts, it is obvious that the 15th was treated as a Sabbath, at least as it concerns the count towards Pentecost.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

I used to always believe that Christ rose on Sunday but - after doing my own research, I've been leaning towards an earlier day in the week for both the crucifixion (Wednesday) and resurrection (Friday) even though, in the end, it shouldn't matter because the fact was that He told them that he would arise in three days. During the time between the crucifixion and the resurrection, He literally went into Hell and took the keys of death and Hell from Lucifer!!!

Actually it DOES matter to fulfill moedim...

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

[QUOTE="AFrazier, post: 71186782, member: 386052While I do not hold to the mid-week crucifixion concepts, it is obvious that the 15th was treated as a Sabbath, at least as it concerns the count towards Pentecost.[/QUOTE]

The count starts on the morrow of the weekly Sabbath...on Sunday...

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

...you with <<a Sabbath>> of course meaning the 'weekly' Sabbath.
But in Leviticus 23 the "sabbath" is so called because the priest "laid" the sheaf "down" to "rest" ('shabath') on the passover-"sabbath", "kept in store" over "That Day", "the selfsame BONE day" of the fifteenth of the First Month ... not over the Seventh Day of the week.

15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

If there was a "Sabbath" during the week, how do you count Sabbaths after that for 50 days? Those are ALL WEEKLY 7th day Sabbaths...so Yom Habbikurim is ALWAYS on a SUNDAY.

 

[AFrazier]

[QUOTE="AFrazier, post: 71186782, member: 386052While I do not hold to the mid-week crucifixion concepts, it is obvious that the 15th was treated as a Sabbath, at least as it concerns the count towards Pentecost.

The count starts on the morrow of the weekly Sabbath...on Sunday...[/QUOTE]
I cited the sources. [Staff edit]. Josephus and the Talmud both say the count starts from the 16th. Josephus was a Pharisee who lived in the first century, contemporary with Christ.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Not as it was practiced in the first century. Josephus and the Talmud both confirm that the count towards Pentecost began on the 16th. The implication is that the 15th, although it is only labeled a holy convocation, is still considered a Sabbath.

15 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

The 14th (Friday, the preparation day) was when Yeshua was killed with the lambs. 15th was a weekly Sabbath day and high day. Sunday the 16th was Yom HaBikkurim, the day He rose. Yom HaBikkurim and Shavuot are ALWAYS on a Sunday.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

The count starts on the morrow of the weekly Sabbath...on Sunday...[Staff edit]. Josephus and the Talmud both say the count starts from the 16th. Josephus was a Pharisee who lived in the first century, contemporary with Christ.

[Staff edit]. If say your 16th day starts on a Tuesday, are there 7 Tuesday Sabbaths for 50 days? NO. The morrow after the Sabbath is ALWAYS SUNDAY.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

In John 19:31, John does not say that it was a High Sabbath. What he actually says is that the upcoming Sabbath was going to be a “great day,” not a “great Sabbath;” ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου … “for great was the day of that Sabbath.” And since the Sabbath that week fell on the 16th of the month, which was First Fruits and the Waving of the Sheaf, and also the beginning of the count to Pentecost, which fell in this case on a Saturday, it was, in fact, a high day in Passover week on which the Sabbath would fall.

John does say that <<it>> "the Preparation, was", with so many words, "the day of that Sabbath",
John 19:31
… ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν …
... because it was the preparation ...

… ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου
... for that sabbath day was an high day

. . . οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν,
. . . the Jews therefore, because it was the preparation,

ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πειλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη
besought Pilate that their legs might be broken

ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα·
that the bodies should not remain on the cross

ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου·
on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day)

καὶ ἀρθῶσιν (τὰ σώματα) .
and they might be taken away.

[*http://biblehub.com/nestle/mark/15.htm Nestle Greek New Testament 1904
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ, ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου, ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πειλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη καὶ ἀρθῶσιν.

RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005 Greek Orthodox Church 1904 Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν― ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου― ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πιλάτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη, καὶ ἀρθῶσιν.]

 

[JacksBratt]

[Staff edit]

Sorry, but buried Friday and Risen by Sunday before sun up............not three days and three nights.

You can choose not to agree. You can choose to disagree. All is fine with me... However, Jesus does not lie. He was in His grave for three nights and three days and Crucifixion on Friday and stone rolled away on Sunday before daylight, has absolutely no way of providing enough hours.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

John does say that <<it>> "the Preparation, was", with so many words, "the day of that Sabbath",
John 19:31
… ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν …
... because it was the preparation ...

… ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου
... for that sabbath day was an high day

. . . οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν,
. . . the Jews therefore, because it was the preparation,

ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πειλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη
besought Pilate that their legs might be broken

ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα·
that the bodies should not remain on the cross

ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου·
on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day)

καὶ ἀρθῶσιν (τὰ σώματα) .
and they might be taken away.

[*http://biblehub.com/nestle/mark/15.htm Nestle Greek New Testament 1904
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ, ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου, ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πειλᾶτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη καὶ ἀρθῶσιν.

RP Byzantine Majority Text 2005 Greek Orthodox Church 1904 Stephanus Textus Receptus 1550
Οἱ οὖν Ἰουδαῖοι, ἵνα μὴ μείνῃ ἐπὶ τοῦ σταυροῦ τὰ σώματα ἐν τῷ σαββάτῳ ἐπεὶ Παρασκευὴ ἦν― ἦν γὰρ μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνου τοῦ σαββάτου― ἠρώτησαν τὸν Πιλάτον ἵνα κατεαγῶσιν αὐτῶν τὰ σκέλη, καὶ ἀρθῶσιν.]

Because it was the 1st day of ULB and also a weekly Sabbath, the 15th. The day of preparation was on Friday the 14th.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

Because it is wrong. If say your 16th day starts on a Tuesday, are there 7 Tuesday Sabbaths for 50 days? NO. The morrow after the Sabbath is ALWAYS SUNDAY.

AFrazier is right, and you are wrong.
AFrazier:
<<Josephus and the Talmud both say the count starts from the 16th. Josephus was a Pharisee who lived in the first century, contemporary with Christ.>>

So does Leviticus 23:11,15,16. Read post 87, #87

 

[AFrazier]

[Staff edit].
No, it's 50 days from the 16th. This is directly from Josephus. I'm not wrong.

"But on the second day of unleavened bread, which is the sixteenth day of the month, they first partake of the fruits of the earth, for before that day they do not touch them. And while they suppose it proper to honor God, from whom they obtain this plentiful provision, in the first place, they offer the first-fruits of their barley, and that in the manner following: They take a handful of the ears, and dry them, then beat them small, and purge the barley from the bran; they then bring one tenth deal to the altar, to God; and, casting one handful of it upon the fire, they leave the rest for the use of the priest. And after this it is that they may publicly or privately reap their harvest. They also at this participation of the first-fruits of the earth, sacrifice a lamb, as a burnt-offering to God. When a week of weeks has passed over after this sacrifice, (which weeks contain forty and nine days,) on the fiftieth day, which is Pentecost, but is called by the Hebrews Asartha, which signifies Pentecost, they bring to God a loaf, made of wheat flour, of two tenth deals, with leaven; and for sacrifices they bring two lambs; and when they have only presented them to God, they are made ready for supper for the priests; nor is it permitted to leave any thing of them till the day following."

There's another passage as well, and the Talmud speaks about it at length. Whatever tradition you keep in the here and now, in the first century Pentecost was counted from the 16th. It's a fact, not an opinion.