From this perspective, we find then a couple of unanswered questions regarding the length of time that Christ had spend in the grave.\u00a0 Did He lie?\u00a0 Under no circumstances is He capable of lying! Scripture says on more than one occasion that He had spent 3 days and 3 nights in the grave \u2013 in the same manner as what Jonah was in the belly of the fish.\u00a0 And furthermore, He had risen on the first day of the week, which is now the Sunday.\u00a0 Let\u2019s examine some scriptures to prove this point:<\/p>\n
- \n
- For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of \u00a0Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth<\/i><\/b><\/span>. Mat 12:40<\/li>\n
- In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre<\/i><\/b>.<\/span> Mat 28:1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When we examine the scriptures from all Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) it seems that the story sequence differs somewhat between the different writers.\u00a0 But the main story line (narrative) about the burial and resurrection of
\nJesus is that:<\/p>\n- \n
- He rose on\u00a0the third day \u2013 after being buried for 3 days and 3 nights;<\/li>\n
- Mary was\u00a0the first one to see Him and who came to the knowledge that He has risen;<\/li>\n
- She was the first one who spoke to Jesus after His resurrection;<\/li>\n
- Whether the\u00a0other woman with Mary also saw what she saw and heard, is not important as the Bible only reflects\/conveys the message what she experienced on this\u00a0first day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Calculating 3 days and 3 nights pose a problem to the statement from Christ and the other scriptures, that He could then not have risen on the first day \u2013 if He was to be crucified on the Friday.\u00a0 The Bible is a factual Book and most facts from the Bible has been collaborated by science through the years.\u00a0 Looking then at facts, if Christ was crucified on the Friday, then the earliest possible day He could rose from the grave was on Monday after 18:00 \u2013 which is in all practical terms Tuesday, the 3rd<\/sup> day of the week. Seeing that this reasoning is not based upon scripture, we will have to revert back and calculate backwards in order to find another answer. By doing this we find then:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Remember\u00a0scripture reveals that Mary went to the tomb early in the morning<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0of the first day<\/span><\/b> and\u00a0found that Christ has already risen.\u00a0The Word of God does not say that He has risen on this time of the\u00a0day.\u00a0 It could have been any time \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 after 18:00 on the Saturday afternoon, as this is when the first day of the week already starts.\u00a0 The Bible\u00a0only collaborates the time (early in the morning before sunrise) when Mary\u00a0went to the grave.<\/li>\n
- Calculating\u00a03 days and 3 nights backwards \u00a0(72 hours),\u00a0 (according\u00a0to the Jewish principle of day time \u2013 18:00 to 18:00 the following day),\u00a0we then come to Wednesday as the most probable day on which Jesus was crucified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
But then again, where does the scripture then feature which clearly indicate that He had to be buried before the Sabbath?<\/p>\n
- \n
- And now when the even was come<\/span>,\u00a0because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath<\/span>, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable\u00a0counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in\u00a0boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.<\/i><\/b> (Mar 15:42 -43)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
From the account of these two verses, it is quite clear that Christ was crucified on a specific day and laid into the tomb before the onset of the Sabbath at 18:00 for the following day.\u00a0 The \u201cpreparation\u201d refers to the fact that the people had to prepare for food, water, etc. for the next day as the law did not allow them to prepare any food on a Sabbath.\u00a0\u00a0In order to completely understand the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we must also understand the Gospel.\u00a0 \u00a0The Apostle Paul declares the main message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, by which:<\/p>\n
- \n
- We are saved through faith<\/span><\/i><\/b>; and<\/li>\n
- \u201cthat\u00a0Christ died for our sins<\/span><\/i><\/b> according to the scriptures;<\/li>\n
- And that He\u00a0was buried<\/span><\/i><\/b>;<\/li>\n
- And that he\u00a0rose again the third day<\/span><\/i><\/b> according to scriptures. (1Co 15:1-4)<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Let\u2019s refer back to the time of Israel in Egypt \u2013 their deliverance from bondage – and the initial implementation of the 7 Feasts of Israel.\u00a0 We need to do this in order to fully comprehend the plan of deliverance that God has brought for His people on their way to the promised land.\u00a0 But their deliverance from Egypt was only a foreshadow of the final deliverance and salvation plan of God for all mankind through Christ.<\/p>\n
There is a deep revelation in connection with the three feasts that is celebrated at the same time and it starts with the feast of Passover<\/i><\/b> (14th<\/sup> day) and continues over the next 7 days and includes 2 other feasts, such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread <\/i><\/b>and First fruits<\/i><\/b> (Barley harvest).\u00a0 All these feasts refer to and is a type of the work and ministry of Jesus Christ<\/span><\/b>.<\/p>\n
With Passover<\/span><\/i><\/b>,\u00a0 they would kill a lamb (which originated in Egypt with the last plague and the blood had to be smeared on the door posts), and eat the Unleavened Bread<\/span><\/i><\/b> also as a reminder of the same time when they did not have the time to leaven the bread because of the haste to leave Egypt.\u00a0 But all three feasts refer to Jesus Christ as follows:<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n \n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Passover<\/b><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n First \u00a0 Month,<\/p>\n
14th \u00a0 Day<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Israel\u2019s \u00a0 Deliverance<\/p>\n
out \u00a0 of Egyptian<\/p>\n
bondage<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Death \u00a0 of the true Lamb of God on the Cross<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Justification \u00a0 by faith in the<\/p>\n
\u00a0Blood. Repentance, regeneration, redemption \u00a0 adoption<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Unleavened Bread<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n First \u00a0 Month,<\/p>\n
15th-21nd \u00a0 Day<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n The \u00a0 going out of Egypt<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n The \u00a0 burial of Christ<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Sanctification \u00a0 and Separation from evil. Water Baptism<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n \n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
First fruits<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n First \u00a0 Month,<\/p>\n
18th \u00a0 Day<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Crossing \u00a0 the Red Sea<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n The \u00a0 Resurrection of\u00a0 Christ<\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Walking \u00a0 in resurrection and newness of life<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Jesus Christ was crucified exactly on the Feast of Passover to completely fulfill the feast and the true meaning behind it all \u2013 to finally bring salvation and redemption through His blood and sacrifice.\u00a0 He is also the Unleavened Bread being broken and eaten by His people, because He is the Bread of Life (Joh 6:48) and also the First Fruit from the resurrection from death.<\/p>\n
The 1st<\/sup> century people in Judea measured their days from sunset to sunset.\u00a0 After sunset on the 13th<\/sup> day (which in actual fact is the start (evening to day) of the 14th<\/sup> day, Jesus ate the Passover with his disciples and introduced the New Testament Passover (the Lord\u2019s Supper).\u00a0 He was in actual fact then taken into custody the same night and then whipped and crucified on Wednesday the 14th<\/sup> and died before 15:00 the same day and buried before sunset.<\/p>\n
The next day (Thursday) of the feast (first day of Unleavened Bread) was a special \u201chigh day\u201d and also a Sabbath.\u00a0 (See Lev 23:6-7<\/i><\/b>).\u00a0 The first day of the feast of unleavened Bread was also seen from the Law as a holy day and therefore also a High Sabbath.\u00a0 Therefore, in the week of Jesus\u2019s crucifixion there were two Sabbath\u2019s (the annual Sabbath (Wednesday\/Thursday) of the Feast and the weekly one on Friday\/Saturday).\u00a0\u00a0 Then Jesus also rose on the third day {which is now the 18th<\/sup> day of the feast when they celebrated the Feast of First fruits (Barley harvest)} and therefore Christ completely fulfilled all three feasts.<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n 13th<\/sup>\u00a0day of month<\/i><\/b><\/td>\n 14th<\/sup>\u00a0day <\/i><\/b><\/td>\n 15Th<\/sup>\u00a0day<\/i><\/b><\/td>\n 16Th<\/sup>\u00a0day<\/i><\/b><\/td>\n 17Th<\/sup>\u00a0day <\/i><\/b><\/td>\n 18th<\/sup>\u00a0day <\/i><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Tuesday <\/b><\/td>\n \n Wednesday<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Thursday<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Friday<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Saturday<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Sunday<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n High\u00a0Sabbath<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/td>\n <\/td>\n Normal\u00a0Sabbath<\/strong><\/em><\/td>\n 1st <\/sup>day of week<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Ate \u00a0 Passover with disciples evening after 18:00<\/td>\n \n Passover<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n Feast of Unleavened Bread<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
<\/td>\n <\/td>\n \n First Fruits<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n Was \u00a0 arrested and imprisoned<\/td>\n Whipped and \u00a0 crucified<\/p>\n Buried \u00a0 before sundown<\/td>\n
In the \u00a0 grave<\/td>\n In the \u00a0 grave<\/td>\n In the \u00a0 grave<\/p>\n Rose again\u00a0after 3 days and 3 nights (72 hours) – just after sunset<\/td>\n
Met with:<\/p>\n Mary in \u00a0 the morning<\/p>\n
The 11 in \u00a0 evening<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
The Word of God gives true evidence in this regard from the book of John:<\/p>\n
\u201c<\/i><\/b>When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. S<\/i><\/b>ince it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for <\/span><\/i><\/b>that Sabbath was a high day),<\/i><\/b><\/span> the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be <\/i><\/b>taken away. (Joh 19:30-31) <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
So, the real answer about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was all along written in the Word of God but unfortunately it was the Roman Catholic Church who changed the celebration dates of it all \u2013 for whatever reason I don\u2019t know.\u00a0 He was never crucified on a Friday, but on the Wednesday and buried before sunset and rose again after sunset on Saturday evening \u2013 which makes it three days and three nights (72 hours).\u00a0\u00a0 The women who went to the tomb only arrived on the morning of the first day, but by then Jesus had already risen to fulfill His word.\u00a0 They did not see the resurrection \u2013 they only found an empty tomb.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/b>And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen<\/span>; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mar 16:6 \u2013 ESV) <\/i><\/b><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Keeping the Sabbath: <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
This is also another important point to consider here.\u00a0 Keeping\/celebrating the Sabbath is an ongoing point of debate which recently once again gained a lot of momentum as specific groups are pushing this theology. First of all, you do not \u201ccelebrate\u201d <\/i>the Sabbath, you have to \u201ckeep it\u201d<\/i> according to the Jewish Law and all of its stipulations. Through various debates and discussions I have seen how Christians try to blend the aspects of the Law with the principles of Grace through the Sabbath, which of course is not correct according to scripture.\u00a0 The Sabbath was never given to the heathen nations who accepted Christ – they received righteousness through faith in Christ.<\/p>\n
According to the 7th<\/sup> day Adventists, the day of worship was changed by a Roman king from the Sabbath to the Sunday, being the 1st<\/sup> day of the week.\u00a0 They would even go as far as to proclaim that it is due to the worshipping of the Sun \u2013 referring to Sunday.\u00a0 What does the Word teaches us?<\/p>\n
Yes, man should only work 6 days and rest upon the 7th<\/sup> and also to use this day to glorify God for all of His provision and protection.\u00a0 It is also a time to spend with family and with the Word of God. I don\u2019t want to go much deeper in the way it should be spend, but more so on the specific day.<\/p>\n
When we look once again at the introduction of the Feasts of Israel in the book of Leviticus, we see the following:<\/p>\n
- \n
- The declaration of the Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits;<\/li>\n
- On the 18th<\/sup> day the Feast of First Fruits should be celebrated; (Lev 23:11-14)<\/li>\n
- Then from verse 15: <\/span><\/b>\n
- \n
- 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<\/span><\/b> shall be complete: <\/b><\/li>\n
- Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath<\/span><\/b> shall ye number fifty days<\/span><\/b>; and ye shall offer a new meat offering<\/span><\/i> unto the LORD. <\/b><\/li>\n
- This refer to the Feast of Pentecost<\/span><\/i><\/b>.\u00a0 The time when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the people in the upper room. The time when the Church of Christ was born in the fire of the Holy Spirit. The time when Peter spoke one message and 3000 people came to repentance and was baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 (See Acts chapter 1 and 2). \u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Counting then 7 full weeks makes it 49 days and the Feast of Pentecost to be held on the next day \u2013 the 50th<\/sup> day.\u00a0 Jesus Christ ascended to heaven on the 40th<\/sup> day after His resurrection and 10 days later, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples in the upper room.\u00a0 Christ has fulfilled this Feast as well by fulfilling His promise of not leaving them or forsaking them, but by coming back again through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in His children. \u00a0But the good part to remove any doubt about which day to use as the \u201csabbath\u201d or the day of worship for the Church dispensation<\/span><\/strong>, please consider the following:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Christ rose on the 1st<\/sup> day <\/strong><\/span>of the week \u2013 which is also an important day for us who believes in His resurrection;<\/li>\n
- The 50th<\/sup> day \u2013 on which the Holy Spirit was poured out \u2013 the very day on which the Church was born in the Fire of the Holy Spirit, is also the 1st<\/sup> day<\/strong><\/span> of the week. In our terminology, a Sunday!<\/li>\n
- Lev 23:21 declares that this day (according to the Law) should also be a \u201choly convocation unto you\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/em> \u2013 which means a Sabbath.<\/li>\n
- Which basically means and confirms that when you have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, you have already received\/came into His rest (sabbath).\u00a0 This 1st<\/sup> day of the week (or 8th day), rather refer to the last Feast still to be fulfilled, and that is the Feast of Tabernacles. This Feast is the only Feast that has 8 days \u2013 and the 1st<\/sup> day on which the Church has been born and on which we CELEBRATE Christ and His awesome grace towards us, is in actual fact the fulfillment of the 8th<\/sup> day<\/strong> <\/span>which is still to come. The number 8 stands for \u201cnew beginnings\u201d.<\/li>\n
- We celebrate Christ in the power of His resurrection on the 8th day.\u00a0 A day of new beginnings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Because we have received Grace and been delivered from the bondage of the Law, we serve Jesus in the Spirit and therefore we should do it any day and every day.\u00a0 It is not a Sunday-thing \u2013 it is an everyday-thing!<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
Past Eric Heath (D.Th) is the President of Galilee International Ministries (SA) in Pretoria and is available to lecture or minister on specific subjects as required. He can be contacted through this website.\u00a0 <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
- The 50th<\/sup> day \u2013 on which the Holy Spirit was poured out \u2013 the very day on which the Church was born in the Fire of the Holy Spirit, is also the 1st<\/sup> day<\/strong><\/span> of the week. In our terminology, a Sunday!<\/li>\n
- Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath<\/span><\/b> shall ye number fifty days<\/span><\/b>; and ye shall offer a new meat offering<\/span><\/i> unto the LORD. <\/b><\/li>\n
- Then from verse 15: <\/span><\/b>\n
- \u201cthat\u00a0Christ died for our sins<\/span><\/i><\/b> according to the scriptures;<\/li>\n
- We are saved through faith<\/span><\/i><\/b>; and<\/li>\n
- Calculating\u00a03 days and 3 nights backwards \u00a0(72 hours),\u00a0 (according\u00a0to the Jewish principle of day time \u2013 18:00 to 18:00 the following day),\u00a0we then come to Wednesday as the most probable day on which Jesus was crucified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- Remember\u00a0scripture reveals that Mary went to the tomb early in the morning<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0of the first day<\/span><\/b> and\u00a0found that Christ has already risen.\u00a0The Word of God does not say that He has risen on this time of the\u00a0day.\u00a0 It could have been any time \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 after 18:00 on the Saturday afternoon, as this is when the first day of the week already starts.\u00a0 The Bible\u00a0only collaborates the time (early in the morning before sunrise) when Mary\u00a0went to the grave.<\/li>\n
- In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre<\/i><\/b>.<\/span> Mat 28:1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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