A week in the life of Christ
29th March 2018
The holiday of Pesach, or Passover, falls on the Hebrew calendar date of Nissan 15th to 22nd, eight days, this includes the celebration of Passover and the seven day feast of unleavened bread. It can be a little confusing, but it's not complicated. Starting with the careful reading of scripture, we will need to use a couple of 'Keys' to help unpack this, then understand that a Jewish day starts and ends at sunset (this is where the confusion gets in). The first key is the rule of first mention.
Passover is first mentioned in Exodus 12 where we can 'fix' the dates (14th, 15th). but not the days (Monday, Tuesday). Just remember that Passover is a fixed date; the 15th of Nissan. Later we will be able to fix the days of the week, Monday, Tuesday etc. If you go to Exodus 12 you will read that, The LORD spoke to Moses and said...
"Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb"
followed by some instructions as to the Lamb and then… v6
"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening".
This is the institution of the Passover feast that is to be kept as a memorial to the LORD, forever v14. it is immediately followed by the instruction... v15
"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread"
The first and last days of this seven day feast of unleavened bread shall be 'special' 'high' or 'holy' days or Sabbaths, in which no work shall be done, v16.
"And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you."
The Passover occurs on a fixed calendar date, the same date year after year. Tradition however, seems to have taken precedence over the word of God and the Easter celebrated today is a lunar festival. Since the council of Nicaea, Easter has been calculated to be the first Sunday following the first Full Moon after the Spring equinox. Easter is a transliteration of Ishtar or Astarte the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility… as a lunar festival it falls on a different date every year.
Much confusion has arisen from not distinguishing between days and dates, (at time of writing it is a Sunday, that is the day of the week. 18th is the date). This is another 'key' to unlocking this problem. A lot of time and effort has been wasted in debating the year of our Lord's Crucifixion, most arguing for either 30 or 33AD, (it fell on a Friday in 33AD) but the bible is clear if you count back from "the first day of the week" Matt 28:1, Mk 16:1-2, Lk 24:1 and Jn 20:1. The first day of the week is our Sunday. The Jewish Sabbath is always the last day of the week, our Saturday.
Another important verse needs to be brought to bear, Our Lord Jesus Christ himself declared in Matt 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".
Cut it any way you like but it won't fit between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Bible tells a different story.
The Countdown to the Triumphal Exit.
Nissan 9th. Jn 12:1.
"Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead."
Passover is on the 15th so we only have to count back 6 days to 'fix' this event on the 9th. John tells us in chapter 20:1 "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." Only then do we know the day of the week and we can apply them retrospectively.
10th. Exodus 12:3. John 12:12. (5 days before Passover). Donkeys, Palms and fulfilled Prophecy.
You will see later that this is a Saturday --- Palm Saturday!!
"On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt." (Cf: Zech 9:9).
"the next day" well, that was easy!
Mark's gospel gives the most complete record, so we'll pick up the story in Mk.11:11.
"And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve."
…and that's the end of another day in Jewish history.
11th. Mk 11:12 - 19. (4 days before Passover). The Fig tree cursed and the Temple cleansed.
"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet". v15 "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves." v19 "And when even was come, he went out of the city."
…another day passes.
12th. Mk 11:20 - 13:37. (3 days before Passover). Confrontation.
"And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots."
A very busy day teaching in the Temple Mk 11:20 to 12:44 which is followed immediately by the Olivet discourse, Mk 13.
13th. Mk 14:1 - 11. (2 days before Passover). A woman anoints His head, Judas strikes a deal.
"After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people."
The chief priests are already decided, but are keen that it is done before the feast day, He must be out of their way before sunset of the 14th.
A woman anoints Jesus' head and Judas, indignant goes and makes a deal with the chief priests.
14th. Exodus 12:6. Mk 14:12. (the day before Passover or Preparation day, the day that the Passover Lamb was to be killed). As the Jewish day starts, at sunset, we find the disciples asking of Jesus...
"where do you want to eat passover?" we pick this up in Mark 14 at v12. "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?"
We can fix this day as the 14th day of Nissan when the lamb was to be killed in Exodus 12:6. Here referred to as the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, though it is actually the Preparation day of Matt 27:62, Mk 15:42, Lk 23:54 and Jn 19:14,31,42. It must have been an exceedingly busy day, so focused on preparation for Passover that it had become an integral part of the feast. v16.
"…and they made ready the passover." v17. they sit down together, "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me."
Jesus and the disciples share what would become known as the Last Supper, (remember it is the start of a new day, in the evening) the paschal lamb sits down for His final meal at the commencement of which Judas...
"having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night." (Jn 13:30.)
and then, having eaten, they move out to the garden of Gethsemane, where John 13 to 17 gives us the detail. The betrayal, capture and illegal (Jewish) trial are carried out at night.
Moving into the daylight hours of the same Jewish day, they had to get it rubber stamped by the Romans because under Roman law the Jews were not permitted to put anyone to death...
"And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate." Mk 15:1. (Cf Ex 12:6b. and the whole assembly of the congregation).
Jesus our Passover Lamb is then crucified. At ground zero it appears that everything is lost. Jesus is pronounced dead, his body taken down from the cross and buried, before sunset, the chief priests get their wish to have it all done and dusted before the feast.
In 1st Corinthians 5:7. we are exhorted to…
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
Oh the perfect harmony of holy writ! Now God can "Passover" all of us.
15th. Mk 14:17. (Passover).
The disciples retreat into hiding. It is Passover, Nissan 15th, same date every year, a special Sabbath regardless of whether it is Saturday or not. The bible is silent.
16th.
The first day of the feast of unleavened bread, (Exodus 12:16) a special Sabbath…
Silence.
17th.
An ordinary weekly Sabbath (Saturday)…
Silence.
Sunday 18th. The first day of the week.
Matt 28:1, Mk 16:1-2, Lk 24:1 and Jn 20:1 all state that the women found the tomb empty (very early, while it was still dark) on the first day of the week, this being a Sunday we can then confirm the days of the week counting back. (See Chart). Three days and three nights are completed by 6pm and the Greek/Roman day counted midnight to midnight is completed at midnight thus resurrection occurs between 6pm and midnight. This satisfies both Three days and three nights and On the Third day. He is not here, He is risen.
Passover is first mentioned in Exodus 12 where we can 'fix' the dates (14th, 15th). but not the days (Monday, Tuesday). Just remember that Passover is a fixed date; the 15th of Nissan. Later we will be able to fix the days of the week, Monday, Tuesday etc. If you go to Exodus 12 you will read that, The LORD spoke to Moses and said...
"Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb"
followed by some instructions as to the Lamb and then… v6
"And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening".
This is the institution of the Passover feast that is to be kept as a memorial to the LORD, forever v14. it is immediately followed by the instruction... v15
"Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread"
The first and last days of this seven day feast of unleavened bread shall be 'special' 'high' or 'holy' days or Sabbaths, in which no work shall be done, v16.
"And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you."
The Passover occurs on a fixed calendar date, the same date year after year. Tradition however, seems to have taken precedence over the word of God and the Easter celebrated today is a lunar festival. Since the council of Nicaea, Easter has been calculated to be the first Sunday following the first Full Moon after the Spring equinox. Easter is a transliteration of Ishtar or Astarte the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility… as a lunar festival it falls on a different date every year.
Much confusion has arisen from not distinguishing between days and dates, (at time of writing it is a Sunday, that is the day of the week. 18th is the date). This is another 'key' to unlocking this problem. A lot of time and effort has been wasted in debating the year of our Lord's Crucifixion, most arguing for either 30 or 33AD, (it fell on a Friday in 33AD) but the bible is clear if you count back from "the first day of the week" Matt 28:1, Mk 16:1-2, Lk 24:1 and Jn 20:1. The first day of the week is our Sunday. The Jewish Sabbath is always the last day of the week, our Saturday.
Another important verse needs to be brought to bear, Our Lord Jesus Christ himself declared in Matt 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".
Cut it any way you like but it won't fit between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The Bible tells a different story.
The Countdown to the Triumphal Exit.
Nissan 9th. Jn 12:1.
"Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead."
Passover is on the 15th so we only have to count back 6 days to 'fix' this event on the 9th. John tells us in chapter 20:1 "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." Only then do we know the day of the week and we can apply them retrospectively.
10th. Exodus 12:3. John 12:12. (5 days before Passover). Donkeys, Palms and fulfilled Prophecy.
You will see later that this is a Saturday --- Palm Saturday!!
"On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt." (Cf: Zech 9:9).
"the next day" well, that was easy!
Mark's gospel gives the most complete record, so we'll pick up the story in Mk.11:11.
"And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve."
…and that's the end of another day in Jewish history.
11th. Mk 11:12 - 19. (4 days before Passover). The Fig tree cursed and the Temple cleansed.
"And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet". v15 "And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves." v19 "And when even was come, he went out of the city."
…another day passes.
12th. Mk 11:20 - 13:37. (3 days before Passover). Confrontation.
"And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots."
A very busy day teaching in the Temple Mk 11:20 to 12:44 which is followed immediately by the Olivet discourse, Mk 13.
13th. Mk 14:1 - 11. (2 days before Passover). A woman anoints His head, Judas strikes a deal.
"After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people."
The chief priests are already decided, but are keen that it is done before the feast day, He must be out of their way before sunset of the 14th.
A woman anoints Jesus' head and Judas, indignant goes and makes a deal with the chief priests.
14th. Exodus 12:6. Mk 14:12. (the day before Passover or Preparation day, the day that the Passover Lamb was to be killed). As the Jewish day starts, at sunset, we find the disciples asking of Jesus...
"where do you want to eat passover?" we pick this up in Mark 14 at v12. "And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?"
We can fix this day as the 14th day of Nissan when the lamb was to be killed in Exodus 12:6. Here referred to as the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, though it is actually the Preparation day of Matt 27:62, Mk 15:42, Lk 23:54 and Jn 19:14,31,42. It must have been an exceedingly busy day, so focused on preparation for Passover that it had become an integral part of the feast. v16.
"…and they made ready the passover." v17. they sit down together, "And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me."
Jesus and the disciples share what would become known as the Last Supper, (remember it is the start of a new day, in the evening) the paschal lamb sits down for His final meal at the commencement of which Judas...
"having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night." (Jn 13:30.)
and then, having eaten, they move out to the garden of Gethsemane, where John 13 to 17 gives us the detail. The betrayal, capture and illegal (Jewish) trial are carried out at night.
Moving into the daylight hours of the same Jewish day, they had to get it rubber stamped by the Romans because under Roman law the Jews were not permitted to put anyone to death...
"And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate." Mk 15:1. (Cf Ex 12:6b. and the whole assembly of the congregation).
Jesus our Passover Lamb is then crucified. At ground zero it appears that everything is lost. Jesus is pronounced dead, his body taken down from the cross and buried, before sunset, the chief priests get their wish to have it all done and dusted before the feast.
In 1st Corinthians 5:7. we are exhorted to…
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
Oh the perfect harmony of holy writ! Now God can "Passover" all of us.
15th. Mk 14:17. (Passover).
The disciples retreat into hiding. It is Passover, Nissan 15th, same date every year, a special Sabbath regardless of whether it is Saturday or not. The bible is silent.
16th.
The first day of the feast of unleavened bread, (Exodus 12:16) a special Sabbath…
Silence.
17th.
An ordinary weekly Sabbath (Saturday)…
Silence.
Sunday 18th. The first day of the week.
Matt 28:1, Mk 16:1-2, Lk 24:1 and Jn 20:1 all state that the women found the tomb empty (very early, while it was still dark) on the first day of the week, this being a Sunday we can then confirm the days of the week counting back. (See Chart). Three days and three nights are completed by 6pm and the Greek/Roman day counted midnight to midnight is completed at midnight thus resurrection occurs between 6pm and midnight. This satisfies both Three days and three nights and On the Third day. He is not here, He is risen.
Living He loved me, Dying He saved me,
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising He justified, Freed me for heaven,
One day He's coming,
Oh, glorious day.
Buried He carried my sins far away.
Rising He justified, Freed me for heaven,
One day He's coming,
Oh, glorious day.
Acts 12 confirms this where we see that King Herod, Luke and the Jewish church (little flock) of the time, recognised Easter (Ishtar) and Passover as entirely different things. Reading from v1;
"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
As we saw in Exodus, the 'days of unleavened bread' follow after the Passover (Ex12:18). And we can plainly see that Herod 'took' Peter during the 'days of unleavened bread' (following Passover) and that Easter is a yet future event. v3 specifically mentions the 'Festival of Unleavened Bread', to put Unleavened Bread before Passover' is to put the cart before the horse, it must therefore be a different event.
"Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."
As we saw in Exodus, the 'days of unleavened bread' follow after the Passover (Ex12:18). And we can plainly see that Herod 'took' Peter during the 'days of unleavened bread' (following Passover) and that Easter is a yet future event. v3 specifically mentions the 'Festival of Unleavened Bread', to put Unleavened Bread before Passover' is to put the cart before the horse, it must therefore be a different event.
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