February 7, 2013: The Last Week of Jesus Life: A Biblical Study

Transcription

1 The Last Week of Jesus Life A Biblical Study According to tradition, Jesus is said to have died on Friday. This is known as Good Friday. However, Scripture cannot support a Friday death and a Sunday resurrection if Jesus spent three days and three nights in the grave. When asked by the Jewish leaders to give them a sign that He was the Messiah, Jesus makes a prophecy concerning Himself in Matthew12:39-40, which confirms He would be in the grave for three days and three nights. That Scripture says an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of Jonas: 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. This Scripture indicates that Jesus would be in the grave for three days and three nights. However, if He was crucified on Friday and arose early Sunday morning, there is no way that He could have been in the grave three days and three nights. We cannot be totally sure of any of those dates, but we can use the Scriptures to narrow down that last week of Jesus life better than it has been done, and it does not support a Friday crucifixion. Using John 12:1 as a starting point, we see that six days before the Passover Jesus was in Bethany. We know that according to Exodus 12:1-6, the Passover was celebrated on the 14th day of the first month on the Jewish calendar. This month would be Nisan (also called Abib). Now if we count the time, we can figure that Jesus would have to die on Wednesday in order to remain in the grave three days and three nights, and arise on Sunday, the first day of the week. Six days before the Passover would be the 9th of Nisan. The

2 Jews included the first day and the last day when counting sequential days. Nearly all of Scripture refers to Christ in some way. Since the Passover lamb was to be killed on the 14th day of Nisan (Jesus is our Passover according to I Cor. 5:7), so should Christ die likewise on the 14th day of Nisan. If, then, Christ is to die on the Passover, He would be crucified on Wednesday the day of preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread celebrated on the 15th of Nisan (see Mark 15:42-43). It should be noted here that the Passover is considered to be a Sabbath day because no work could be done (see Leviticus 23:1-7). Taking all of this into account we can reason that six days before the Passover (using John 12:1, our starting point) when Jesus was in Bethany would be Friday and not Saturday as most people believe. Therefore, Jesus last week began on Friday in Bethany, the 9th of Nisan. The following gives the days and events of Jesus last week as I have found it by Scripture: Friday, the 9th of Nisan: Jesus in Bethany (John 12:1) Saturday, the 10th of Nisan: The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem (John 12:1; 12:12). Since most people think Jesus entered Jerusalem on Sunday this day is called Palm Sunday by Christians, but it happened on Saturday, the 10th of Nisan.

3 Sunday, the 11th of Nisan: Jesus cursed the fig tree (Mark 11:12-13). Monday, the 12th of Nisan: Jesus and the disciples see the fig tree withered (Mark 11:20). Jesus gives The Parable of the Vineyard Owner (Mark 12:1-12). Jesus answers the Herodians, Sadducees, and the Pharisees (Mark 12:13-40). Jesus gives The Olivet Discourse (Sermon on the Mount of Olives) and talks about the Tribulation (Matt. 24:1-51). Jesus gives the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13). The Sanhedrin Council conspires to kill Jesus (Matt. 26:1-5; Mk. 14:1-2 please note verse 1 where it states they conspired two days before the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, which would be Wednesday. Remember, these things are happening on Monday.) Judas bargains with the priests to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-5). Tuesday, the 13th of Nisan: Preparation for the Passover and the Lord s Supper (Luke 22:7-20). Tuesday Night: Jesus foretells Peter s denial (Luke 22:31-34), Jesus arrest, and mocking (Luke 22:54-65) Wednesday Morning, the 14th of Nisan: The Passover: Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin Council (Luke 22:66-71); Jesus appears before Pilate; Jesus appears before Herod, and sent back to Pilate, and is sentenced (Luke 23:1-25); Jesus

4 carried to Calvary (Luke 23:26-32); Jesus is crucified at 9:00 am, the third hour (Mark 15:25); darkness covers the earth for 3 hours from 12:00, the sixth hour, until 3:00, the ninth hour (Luke 23:44). Jesus hung on the cross from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Wednesday Afternoon: Jesus is buried (Luke 23:52-54). In verse 54, the Sabbath here refers to the Feast of Unleavened Bread (see Leviticus 23:6-7; note especially John 19:31 where this Sabbath day is described as a high day indicating it was different from the regular weekly Sabbath day). Thursday, the 15th of Nisan: Feast of Unleavened Bread, no work is done, making it a Sabbath day (Leviticus 23:6-7). Since the Feast of Unleavened Bread was a holy convocation, just like the weekly Sabbath day, no work could be done so the women could not prepare the ointments for the Lord s body on that day. Note: The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate saying, Sir we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. They then asked Pilate to secure the tomb to prevent Jesus disciples from stealing the body. This happened on the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the day that followed the preparation which was the Passover, the day Jesus was crucified. Friday the 16th of Nisan: The women prepared ointments and spices for Jesus body (Luke 23:56). This took most of the day and at 6:00 pm the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) began so

5 they could not go to anoint Jesus body until after the Sabbath was over (this would be at 6:00 pm on Saturday). Saturday, the 17th of Nisan: This was the weekly Sabbath and no work can be done (Exodus 20:8-9). The women could not go to the grave until after 6:00 pm which ended the Sabbath (Luke 23:56). Sunday, the 18th of Nisan: When the women get to the tomb to anoint Jesus body early Sunday morning, the Resurrection had already taken place (Luke 24:1-3)). Christ arose between 6:00 pm on Saturday night (the end of the Sabbath day) and 6:00 am Sunday morning. Conclusion: If Jesus died on Friday, He would only be in the grave Friday night which is one night, and Saturday which would be only one day. The prophecy Jesus gave the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 12:38-40 says that He would be in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. Jesus also said that all Scripture would be fulfilled in Him and for Matthew 12:40 to be fulfilled, Jesus would have to die on Wednesday in order to be in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. Thursday, Friday and Saturday would be three days. Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night would be 3 nights. Since the Sabbath was over at 6:00 pm on Saturday, Jesus arose between 6:00

6 pm Saturday and 6:00 am Sunday morning.