Three Days and Three Nights
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a clear picture with just one bible verse will not work
He was buried just before sunset on Wednesday. Just before the annual Sabbath,
the High Day, known as the First Day of Unleavened Bread. The Passover itself is not
a Sabbath. It is even called the preparation day for the High Day (John 19:31).
-Wednesday 14 th passover day<---- Buried just before sunset,
tomb sealed marks clock[in the earth] , [between] dusk and dark[at twilite]
-Thursday 15 th<---- First day of Unleavened Bread
this was the night to be most remembered
-Friday 16 th <---- Preparation day for the weekly Sabbath
Mary Magdalene and her companions bought spices “when the sabbath was past,
the sabbath here is the first high day of unlevened bread
they prepared these spices and then rested on the weekly Sabbath day[next comming day]
-Saturday 17th <---- Resurrection just as Sabbath ended.
[between] dusk and dark he arrose,
exactually [between] the days, makes 3 days 3 nights, if Gods word is to stand.
This is exactly 72 hour just as Christ said it would be (Mat 12:39-40)
-the fact no one recorded or eyewitness saw our Lord rise, sometime before lite
Mar 16:9 Having risen and early first of week he appeared first to
Mary the Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons.
He arose- then early on the first day of the week...
This doesn't say He arose on the first day, it says He arose, one event.
Then on early on the first day of the week another event occurred.
the only sign Christ gave us, is not about celebrating easter, sunday sunrise service.
nor does the bible even tells us to celebrate the ressuraction
He was buried just before sunset on Wednesday. Just before the annual Sabbath,
the High Day, known as the First Day of Unleavened Bread. The Passover itself is not
a Sabbath. It is even called the preparation day for the High Day (John 19:31).
-Wednesday 14 th passover day<---- Buried just before sunset,
tomb sealed marks clock[in the earth] , [between] dusk and dark[at twilite]
-Thursday 15 th<---- First day of Unleavened Bread
this was the night to be most remembered
-Friday 16 th <---- Preparation day for the weekly Sabbath
Mary Magdalene and her companions bought spices “when the sabbath was past,
the sabbath here is the first high day of unlevened bread
they prepared these spices and then rested on the weekly Sabbath day[next comming day]
-Saturday 17th <---- Resurrection just as Sabbath ended.
[between] dusk and dark he arrose,
exactually [between] the days, makes 3 days 3 nights, if Gods word is to stand.
This is exactly 72 hour just as Christ said it would be (Mat 12:39-40)
-the fact no one recorded or eyewitness saw our Lord rise, sometime before lite
Mar 16:9 Having risen and early first of week he appeared first to
Mary the Magdalene, from whom he had cast seven demons.
He arose- then early on the first day of the week...
This doesn't say He arose on the first day, it says He arose, one event.
Then on early on the first day of the week another event occurred.
the only sign Christ gave us, is not about celebrating easter, sunday sunrise service.
nor does the bible even tells us to celebrate the ressuraction
I count all of Saturday being a requirement to fulfill the period of 3 days and 3 nights. That would mean all 12 hours of the daytime of Saturday. That would mean Jesus rose sometime after Saturday. Thus to keep claiming a Saturday for when He rose is to leave logic and instead shows an attempt to keep a tradition of men.
The 15th of the 1st month had to have been on Thursday starting at sunset. It was to be a "high day" per John 19 (and Lev.23).
Thus from sunset Wednesday to Thursday sunset was the "high day", a great sabbath, so they couldn't do any work on that day. Then at sunset Thursday beginning Friday, that was the preparation for the regular weekly sabbath which per custom began at 3 P.M. So they only had time to go buy and prepare the spices on Friday and nothing else. Then on Sunday, after the weekly sabbath, they went to the tomb and discovered He had risen.
Thus from sunset Wednesday to Thursday sunset was the "high day", a great sabbath, so they couldn't do any work on that day. Then at sunset Thursday beginning Friday, that was the preparation for the regular weekly sabbath which per custom began at 3 P.M. So they only had time to go buy and prepare the spices on Friday and nothing else. Then on Sunday, after the weekly sabbath, they went to the tomb and discovered He had risen.
Scripture resolves this.
There is a difference between the Passover (Day) and the Passover Seder (meal).
The Passover is a Day - Nisan 14 (Lev 23:5)(Deut 16:1-2). The Passover lamb is sacrificed at twilight (end of the day)
The Passover Seder is a meal when the Passover Lamb is eaten (Nisan 15) before Midnight.
The Last Supper is not the Passover Seder. They did not eat Lamb at the Last Supper. But it was on Nisan 14, the start of Passover (day).
The Passover Seder is referred to in shorthand as "the Passover" but is clearly to be eaten after Jesus' Crucifixion (John 18:28). It includes the sacrificial lamb, and is consumed at the start of Nisan 15 (first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread)
Unfortunately, both are referred to as "Passover" and its up to us to sleuth out the distinction. In this case, the OT reveals the NT.
There is a difference between the Passover (Day) and the Passover Seder (meal).
The Passover is a Day - Nisan 14 (Lev 23:5)(Deut 16:1-2). The Passover lamb is sacrificed at twilight (end of the day)
The Passover Seder is a meal when the Passover Lamb is eaten (Nisan 15) before Midnight.
The Last Supper is not the Passover Seder. They did not eat Lamb at the Last Supper. But it was on Nisan 14, the start of Passover (day).
The Passover Seder is referred to in shorthand as "the Passover" but is clearly to be eaten after Jesus' Crucifixion (John 18:28). It includes the sacrificial lamb, and is consumed at the start of Nisan 15 (first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread)
Unfortunately, both are referred to as "Passover" and its up to us to sleuth out the distinction. In this case, the OT reveals the NT.
The phrase “heart of the earth” is used one time in the scripture. And is also referred to as the “belly of the whale” . What does “heart of the earth” represent? Seeing it speaks of someone alive as in God cannot die.
Mat 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.
In Jonas it is described as suffering (reason of mine affliction ) in tribulation called hell .Is hell the work of suffering tribulation?
Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Did Christ in effect cry out of the belly of hell when he cried out to the father remove this cup as to the beginning of three days and nights of suffering begining on Wenesday?
Mat 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.
In Jonas it is described as suffering (reason of mine affliction ) in tribulation called hell .Is hell the work of suffering tribulation?
Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Did Christ in effect cry out of the belly of hell when he cried out to the father remove this cup as to the beginning of three days and nights of suffering begining on Wenesday?
Thanks,
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 1Pe 3:18
Good point we can see that in respect to the suffering of Christ beforehand and the glory that did follow. They were removed from the temporal holding cell awaiting the trial when Christ said it was finished preaching the gospel to us. The first resurrection the graves as the Bosom of Abraham, the invisible presence of God were opened and appeared in heaven witness by the angels. .
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.1Pe 1:9
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 1Pe 3:18
Good point we can see that in respect to the suffering of Christ beforehand and the glory that did follow. They were removed from the temporal holding cell awaiting the trial when Christ said it was finished preaching the gospel to us. The first resurrection the graves as the Bosom of Abraham, the invisible presence of God were opened and appeared in heaven witness by the angels. .
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.1Pe 1:9
The Jews keep the Passover on the evening[start] of the 15th of Nisan.
But is this the correct day to observe the Passover?
The three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke show that on the night Jesus Christ was betrayed,
He and His disciples prepared and kept the Passover (Matthew 26:18,Mark 14:12, 16; Luke 22:15)
The Jews, however, kept it 24 hours later (John 18:28).
Who kept the right day? could Jesus Christ have kept the Passover on the wrong day?
Jesus Christ indeed kept the right day and that it is the Jews who today keep Passover
on the wrong day.
But is this the correct day to observe the Passover?
The three Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke show that on the night Jesus Christ was betrayed,
He and His disciples prepared and kept the Passover (Matthew 26:18,Mark 14:12, 16; Luke 22:15)
The Jews, however, kept it 24 hours later (John 18:28).
Who kept the right day? could Jesus Christ have kept the Passover on the wrong day?
Jesus Christ indeed kept the right day and that it is the Jews who today keep Passover
on the wrong day.
Back to the Beginning
Leviticus 23: “These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations,
which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover” (verses 4-5).
Notice first that this is God’s Passover—not the Jews’—and the day it is to be kept
is the 14th, not the 15th.
the days are to begin and end at even, or sunset (see Lev 23:32; Deut 16:6; Psalm 104:19).
the Passover begins at sunset, at the beginning of the 14th.
The Jewish community observes their Passover on the 15th beginning at sunset.
Leviticus 23:6 tells us that the first day of Unleavened Bread is on the 15th.
the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are different and separate festivals.
Before covering the events of the Passover in the New Testament,
let’s first review the events as they occurred in the Old Testament.
-Between the Two Evenings
First of all, the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed “in the evening” (Exodus 12:6)
on the 14th day of the first month. “In the evening” is between sunset and dark.
Deuteronomy 16:6 confirms this when it says the lamb was sacrificed “at even,
at the going down of the sun.” “the time between sunset and deep twilight.”
Exodus 12:8 says the Israelites were to eat the Passover meal “in that night.” Which night?
The one mentioned in verse 6: the 14th. After that, God smote the firstborn “this night”
(verse 12). Not the next night—this night—the 14th!
That is why, in Numbers 28:16, it says, “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is
[the passover of the Lord]” (we see also Leviticus 23:5-6).
5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is [the Lord's passover].
6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread
unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
The events of the Passover occur in the 14th. And the events of
the first day of Unleavened Bread occur in the 15th!
Exodus 12:21-22 the Israelites were not to leave their houses until morning.
If they did, they would have died. This is why they were to burn their leftovers
the next morning (verse 10).the morning after the Passover is still the 14th
—the day portion of the 14th.
(verse 11)
11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet,
and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is [the Lord's passover].
-
Deuteronomy 16:1 says they left Egypt “by night.” Their exodus from Egypt
then had to be that following night, or the night[start] of the 15th.
This was to be a “night to be much observed” (Exodus 12:42).
This is confirmed in Numbers 33:3: “And they departed … on the fifteenth day
of the first month; on the morrow AFTER the passover .…”
the spoiling of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:33-36). This could have only taken place on the
afternoon of the 14th, just hours before [the Israelites left Egypt the night of the 15th].
-
How did the Passover get its name originally? “For the Lord will pass through to smite
the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts,
the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your
houses to smite you. … That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who
passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians,
and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped” (Exodus 12:23, 27).
God passed over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on their doorpost.
God also passes over (forgives) our sins when we repent of them and come
under the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us.
Kept on the 14th Many Generations Later
When the Hebrew children would ask about this service years later, the parents were to
respond, “It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover” (Exodus 12:27). this is God’s Passover,
and God said “the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover” (Lev 23:5).
Many generations later, the Israelites were still keeping the Passover on the 14th.
They kept the Passover on the correct day when they were in the wilderness (Numbers 9:5).
When they entered into the Promised Land, they were still all in agreement (Joshua 5:10).
King Josiah kept the Passover on the 14th (2 Chronicles 35:1). We also read in Ezra’s time
they were still keeping it on the 14th (Ezra 6:19), and this was about 519 b.c.
But the New Testament Jews Keep it a Day Later
the Jews were not all keeping the same day as Jesus Christ did and commanded.
“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” (John 2:13).
Here it is called “the Jews’ Passover”—not “the Lord’s Passover.”
The Jewish confusion most likely arose in the third century before Christ.
The Palestinian Jews were under Egyptian control from 301 to 198 b.c.
“While the Egyptians allowed the Jews to retain their ancient calendar, there was a
change made in the beginning of the day—it became common to begin the day at sunrise.
This custom was adopted, and persisted among the Jews even down to New Testament times
Leviticus 23: “These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations,
which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover” (verses 4-5).
Notice first that this is God’s Passover—not the Jews’—and the day it is to be kept
is the 14th, not the 15th.
the days are to begin and end at even, or sunset (see Lev 23:32; Deut 16:6; Psalm 104:19).
the Passover begins at sunset, at the beginning of the 14th.
The Jewish community observes their Passover on the 15th beginning at sunset.
Leviticus 23:6 tells us that the first day of Unleavened Bread is on the 15th.
the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are different and separate festivals.
Before covering the events of the Passover in the New Testament,
let’s first review the events as they occurred in the Old Testament.
-Between the Two Evenings
First of all, the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed “in the evening” (Exodus 12:6)
on the 14th day of the first month. “In the evening” is between sunset and dark.
Deuteronomy 16:6 confirms this when it says the lamb was sacrificed “at even,
at the going down of the sun.” “the time between sunset and deep twilight.”
Exodus 12:8 says the Israelites were to eat the Passover meal “in that night.” Which night?
The one mentioned in verse 6: the 14th. After that, God smote the firstborn “this night”
(verse 12). Not the next night—this night—the 14th!
That is why, in Numbers 28:16, it says, “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is
[the passover of the Lord]” (we see also Leviticus 23:5-6).
5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is [the Lord's passover].
6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread
unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
The events of the Passover occur in the 14th. And the events of
the first day of Unleavened Bread occur in the 15th!
Exodus 12:21-22 the Israelites were not to leave their houses until morning.
If they did, they would have died. This is why they were to burn their leftovers
the next morning (verse 10).the morning after the Passover is still the 14th
—the day portion of the 14th.
(verse 11)
11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet,
and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is [the Lord's passover].
-
Deuteronomy 16:1 says they left Egypt “by night.” Their exodus from Egypt
then had to be that following night, or the night[start] of the 15th.
This was to be a “night to be much observed” (Exodus 12:42).
This is confirmed in Numbers 33:3: “And they departed … on the fifteenth day
of the first month; on the morrow AFTER the passover .…”
the spoiling of the Egyptians (Exodus 12:33-36). This could have only taken place on the
afternoon of the 14th, just hours before [the Israelites left Egypt the night of the 15th].
-
How did the Passover get its name originally? “For the Lord will pass through to smite
the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts,
the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your
houses to smite you. … That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s passover, who
passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians,
and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped” (Exodus 12:23, 27).
God passed over the houses that had the blood of the lamb on their doorpost.
God also passes over (forgives) our sins when we repent of them and come
under the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Passover, sacrificed for us.
Kept on the 14th Many Generations Later
When the Hebrew children would ask about this service years later, the parents were to
respond, “It is the sacrifice of the Lord’s Passover” (Exodus 12:27). this is God’s Passover,
and God said “the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s passover” (Lev 23:5).
Many generations later, the Israelites were still keeping the Passover on the 14th.
They kept the Passover on the correct day when they were in the wilderness (Numbers 9:5).
When they entered into the Promised Land, they were still all in agreement (Joshua 5:10).
King Josiah kept the Passover on the 14th (2 Chronicles 35:1). We also read in Ezra’s time
they were still keeping it on the 14th (Ezra 6:19), and this was about 519 b.c.
But the New Testament Jews Keep it a Day Later
the Jews were not all keeping the same day as Jesus Christ did and commanded.
“And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” (John 2:13).
Here it is called “the Jews’ Passover”—not “the Lord’s Passover.”
The Jewish confusion most likely arose in the third century before Christ.
The Palestinian Jews were under Egyptian control from 301 to 198 b.c.
“While the Egyptians allowed the Jews to retain their ancient calendar, there was a
change made in the beginning of the day—it became common to begin the day at sunrise.
This custom was adopted, and persisted among the Jews even down to New Testament times
Christ Instructed Keeping Passover on 14th
Christ was killed in the afternoon[daytime] of the 14th. But Christ keep the Passover
the night portion of the 14th—that is, the night before the day Christ was crucified.
Insisting that because John mentions the Passover as occurring on the evening after
Christ’s sacrifice, that the Passover Christ kept the previous evening was just a Last Supper
or some kind of “love feast.” But Christ makes it very clear in Matthew, Mark and Luke
that the disciples were to prepare the Passover.
“Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed
to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2). Clarke’s Commentary states regarding this verse:
“This feast began on the fourteenth day of the first moon, in the first month, Nisan, and it lasted
only one day; but it was immediately followed by the days of unleavened bread, which were seven,
so that the whole lasted eight days, and all the eight days are sometimes called the feast of the
passover, and sometimes the feast or days of unleavened bread.”
-
these days were generally called the Passover or the feast of Unleavened Bread, meaning the
whole eight days, including the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Matthew says,
“after two days is the feast of the passover.” In Mark 14:1 it says, “After two days was the
feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread.” And in Luke 22:1 it says, “Now the feast of
unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.”
All three use slightly different terminologies, but the meaning is the same.
The same is true for John 19:14. On the day Christ was crucified, John wrote that the
“preparation of the passover” was at hand. It is true that this was just before Christ died
on the afternoon of the 14th; but in verse 31, John makes it clear what this preparation was for.
“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.”
At sunset, after Christ died, the “high day,” or holy day (the first day of Unleavened Bread),
began. The Jews were preparing for their passover, not “the Lord’s” (Leviticus 23:5).
Matthew 26:17-18 read: “Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples
came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is
at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.”
The Greek word for “passover” in these two verses is pascha. Strong’s Concordance
defines this word as, “the Passover, the meal, the festival.” Any lexicon verifies this definition.
Verse 19 continues, “And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready
the passover.” They made ready the Passover—same Greek word. If this event was only
referring to a final meal or last supper, certainly the word pascha would not have been inspired.
Notice Mark’s account: “And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house,
The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?”
(Mark 14:14). Same Greek word—pascha. This same word is also used in Luke 22: 15
“And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer”
Let’s again notice Matthew 26:18: “And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him,
The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.”
Those who advocate a 15th-of-Nisan Passover and say this was just some kind of final dinner
are actually saying Jesus Christ did not know what He was talking about! Jesus said,
“I will keep the Passover … with my disciples.”
This makes it plain that when Jesus gathered with His disciples the night He was betrayed
by Judas, it was indeed the Passover!
-
The next morning, after the betrayal, the Jews brought Jesus before the Sanhedrin. (John 18:28)
“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves
went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover”
This was before [the Jews’ passover]. The holy day was to start at sunset of that evening. Remember,
the Jews did not want to kill Him on a feast day for fear of what the people might do (Matthew 26:5).
They also wanted to be sure that the bodies did not remain on the stake during the holy day (John 19:31).
Then around 3 o’clock in the afternoon on the 14th, Christ died (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
The Passover meal and sacrifice all occurred on the 14th of Nisan.
we read that the Jews’ Passover was at hand, that is exactly what it was—the Jews’ Passover!
Christ was killed in the afternoon[daytime] of the 14th. But Christ keep the Passover
the night portion of the 14th—that is, the night before the day Christ was crucified.
Insisting that because John mentions the Passover as occurring on the evening after
Christ’s sacrifice, that the Passover Christ kept the previous evening was just a Last Supper
or some kind of “love feast.” But Christ makes it very clear in Matthew, Mark and Luke
that the disciples were to prepare the Passover.
“Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed
to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2). Clarke’s Commentary states regarding this verse:
“This feast began on the fourteenth day of the first moon, in the first month, Nisan, and it lasted
only one day; but it was immediately followed by the days of unleavened bread, which were seven,
so that the whole lasted eight days, and all the eight days are sometimes called the feast of the
passover, and sometimes the feast or days of unleavened bread.”
-
these days were generally called the Passover or the feast of Unleavened Bread, meaning the
whole eight days, including the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Matthew says,
“after two days is the feast of the passover.” In Mark 14:1 it says, “After two days was the
feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread.” And in Luke 22:1 it says, “Now the feast of
unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.”
All three use slightly different terminologies, but the meaning is the same.
The same is true for John 19:14. On the day Christ was crucified, John wrote that the
“preparation of the passover” was at hand. It is true that this was just before Christ died
on the afternoon of the 14th; but in verse 31, John makes it clear what this preparation was for.
“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.”
At sunset, after Christ died, the “high day,” or holy day (the first day of Unleavened Bread),
began. The Jews were preparing for their passover, not “the Lord’s” (Leviticus 23:5).
Matthew 26:17-18 read: “Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples
came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is
at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.”
The Greek word for “passover” in these two verses is pascha. Strong’s Concordance
defines this word as, “the Passover, the meal, the festival.” Any lexicon verifies this definition.
Verse 19 continues, “And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready
the passover.” They made ready the Passover—same Greek word. If this event was only
referring to a final meal or last supper, certainly the word pascha would not have been inspired.
Notice Mark’s account: “And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house,
The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?”
(Mark 14:14). Same Greek word—pascha. This same word is also used in Luke 22: 15
“And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer”
Let’s again notice Matthew 26:18: “And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him,
The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.”
Those who advocate a 15th-of-Nisan Passover and say this was just some kind of final dinner
are actually saying Jesus Christ did not know what He was talking about! Jesus said,
“I will keep the Passover … with my disciples.”
This makes it plain that when Jesus gathered with His disciples the night He was betrayed
by Judas, it was indeed the Passover!
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The next morning, after the betrayal, the Jews brought Jesus before the Sanhedrin. (John 18:28)
“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves
went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover”
This was before [the Jews’ passover]. The holy day was to start at sunset of that evening. Remember,
the Jews did not want to kill Him on a feast day for fear of what the people might do (Matthew 26:5).
They also wanted to be sure that the bodies did not remain on the stake during the holy day (John 19:31).
Then around 3 o’clock in the afternoon on the 14th, Christ died (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).
The Passover meal and sacrifice all occurred on the 14th of Nisan.
we read that the Jews’ Passover was at hand, that is exactly what it was—the Jews’ Passover!