HOW MANY HOURS WAS JESUS DEAD ON THE CROSS?

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MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#1
Watchman Nee (in a book I'm reading) sounds like he said Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours.
"So far as the experience of co-death in the Christian life is concerned, it is mainly included in this representative period six hours."
I checked the account of the Passover on this matter, in Numbers 9.
Num 9:3
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
KJV
Num 9:12
12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
KJV
But according to this chart I found online, it sounds like He was dead on the cross for 3 hours, judging by the details of the Passover, as to having started in the evening, and that eating of it was to finish before morning. So maybe he guessed a bit incorrectly, as to how long Jesus was dead on the cross.
https://www.theisraelofgodrc.com/Hebrew
 
G

Godsgirl83

Guest
#3
from wikipedia:
Watchman Nee, Ni Tuosheng, or Nee T'o-sheng (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; November 4, 1903 – May 30, 1972), was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher who worked in China during the 20th century. In 1922, he initiated church meetings in Fuzhou that may be considered the beginning of the local churches. During his thirty years of ministry, Nee published many books expounding the Bible. He established churches throughout China and held many conferences to train Bible students and church workers. Following the Communist Revolution, Nee was persecuted and imprisoned for his faith and spent the last twenty years of his life in prison. He was honored by Christopher H. Smith (RNJ) in the US Congress on July 30, 2009.[1]
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,776
113
#4
Watchman Nee (in a book I'm reading) sounds like he said Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours.
Correct. But that not mean He was dead during that time. It means that He was suffering as no man has ever suffered. But He died in an instant, and He also chose the timing of His death.
 

FlyingDove

Senior Member
Dec 27, 2017
1,267
432
83
#5
Watchman Nee (in a book I'm reading) sounds like he said Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours.
"So far as the experience of co-death in the Christian life is concerned, it is mainly included in this representative period six hours."
I checked the account of the Passover on this matter, in Numbers 9.
Num 9:3
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
KJV
Num 9:12
12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
KJV
But according to this chart I found online, it sounds like He was dead on the cross for 3 hours, judging by the details of the Passover, as to having started in the evening, and that eating of it was to finish before morning. So maybe he guessed a bit incorrectly, as to how long Jesus was dead on the cross.
https://www.theisraelofgodrc.com/Hebrew
Op question: HOW MANY HOURS WAS JESUS DEAD ON THE CROSS?

Mark 15:25 And it was the third hour (9am) & they crucified him. Mk 15:34 9th hr , verse 37 Jesus dies (3pm)

Jesus is on the cross for 6 hrs & dies. His body is removed before sundown (Jn 19:38, Mk 15:46).

At death (3pm) Jesus Spirit left is body & broke thru the Spiritual barrier as he passed thru & split the Temple veil in 1/2 (Matt 27:50-51).

In the garden of Eden Cherubim angels were sent to block sinful man from God's presents (Gen 3:24, Heb 9:1-9)

There were Cherubim angels on the top (a symbol of protecting) of the Ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:22) in the Holies of Holies. There were Cherubim angels embroidered on the veil (Ex 26:31) warning sinful man not to enter the Holies of Holies where the presents dwelt.

There was 1 exception per yr on the Day of Atonement when the High Priest was allowed to enter. Not without a sacrifice's & incense (Lev 16:12-13).
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
113
#6
Watchman Nee (in a book I'm reading) sounds like he said Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours.
"So far as the experience of co-death in the Christian life is concerned, it is mainly included in this representative period six hours."
I checked the account of the Passover on this matter, in Numbers 9.
Num 9:3
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
KJV
Num 9:12
12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
KJV
But according to this chart I found online, it sounds like He was dead on the cross for 3 hours, judging by the details of the Passover, as to having started in the evening, and that eating of it was to finish before morning. So maybe he guessed a bit incorrectly, as to how long Jesus was dead on the cross.
https://www.theisraelofgodrc.com/Hebrew
According to Matthew 27:46, about the ninth hour — 3:00 pm is approximate time of having "yielded up the ghost":

Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.



Then, when "even" ... evening ... was come:

Matthew 27:

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


So Jesus hung on the cross after having given up the ghost from approximately 3:00 to "evening". I do not see any specific time mentioned ... just "even" (evening).

Then Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus, treated His body with myrrh and aloes, wrapped His body in linen, and laid His body in Joseph of Arimathaea's tomb.

John 19:

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.



 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#7
According to Matthew 27:46, about the ninth hour — 3:00 pm is approximate time of having "yielded up the ghost":

Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.



Then, when "even" ... evening ... was come:

Matthew 27:

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


So Jesus hung on the cross after having given up the ghost from approximately 3:00 to "evening". I do not see any specific time mentioned ... just "even" (evening).

Then Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus took the body of Jesus, treated His body with myrrh and aloes, wrapped His body in linen, and laid His body in Joseph of Arimathaea's tomb.

John 19:

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.
Thanks! I spent several days now, studying over the story of Jesus' crucifixion. It was confusing and difficult at times, to get it all to make perfect sense. But I think I've improved on that by this time. I found that He was put on the cross at 12 PM. That represents the Jewish time term, "6th hour" - I found out, online. And I found that Jesus died at 3 AM, as you said! According to the Jewish calendar, that was "the 9th hour."

Matt 27:46

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
KJV
And yes, Joseph of Arimathea - buried Jesus that night, since the authorities had forbidden that any of the bodies be buried on "the day of preparation". Now, what the "day of preparation" was - is still unclear to me. Though it appears to have been on a 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
KJV
 

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MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#8
from wikipedia:
Watchman Nee, Ni Tuosheng, or Nee T'o-sheng (Chinese: 倪柝聲; pinyin: Ní Tuòshēng; November 4, 1903 – May 30, 1972), was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher who worked in China during the 20th century. In 1922, he initiated church meetings in Fuzhou that may be considered the beginning of the local churches. During his thirty years of ministry, Nee published many books expounding the Bible. He established churches throughout China and held many conferences to train Bible students and church workers. Following the Communist Revolution, Nee was persecuted and imprisoned for his faith and spent the last twenty years of his life in prison. He was honored by Christopher H. Smith (RNJ) in the US Congress on July 30, 2009.[1]
Yes, interesting to know facts like this about him! I have a number of his books, as my brother's wife recently let me take all the books I wanted from the stacks of books she wanted to get rid of. So plan to be reading them gradually - now.
 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#9
Thanks! I spent several days now, studying over the story of Jesus' crucifixion. It was confusing and difficult at times, to get it all to make perfect sense. But I think I've improved on that by this time. I found that He was put on the cross at 12 PM. That represents the Jewish time term, "6th hour" - I found out, online. And I found that Jesus died at 3 AM, as you said! According to the Jewish calendar, that was "the 9th hour."

Matt 27:46

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
KJV
And yes, Joseph of Arimathea - buried Jesus that night, since the authorities had forbidden that any of the bodies be buried on "the day of preparation". Now, what the "day of preparation" was - is still unclear to me. Though it appears to have been on a 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
KJV
I was wrong. I looked at the Jewish time clock again. I see He was put on the cross at 12:00 noon, and that He died at 3:00 in the afternoon.
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
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#10
Now, what the "day of preparation" was - is still unclear to me.
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
KJV
The preparation is the term for preparation for Passover and the feast of unleavened bread.

And one thing that is important to remember is that the Jewish day begins in the evening.

According to Leviticus 23:5-6 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. 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.

The Passover meal is eaten at "even" on the 14th and the 7-day feast of unleavened bread begins on the 15th, and from the 14th day at even to the 21st day at even, only unleavened bread is eaten and no leaven is to be found in the house:

Passover meal:

Exodus 12:

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it

...

10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.


Feast of unleavened bread:

Exodus 12:

15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

16 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.

17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.


So the "preparation" referred to in John 19:31 is the preparation that is done prior to the Passover meal / feast of unleavened bread.



 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
804
317
63
#11
The preparation is the term for preparation for Passover and the feast of unleavened bread.

And one thing that is important to remember is that the Jewish day begins in the evening.

According to Leviticus 23:5-6 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. 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.

The Passover meal is eaten at "even" on the 14th and the 7-day feast of unleavened bread begins on the 15th, and from the 14th day at even to the 21st day at even, only unleavened bread is eaten and no leaven is to be found in the house:

Passover meal:

Exodus 12:

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it

...

10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.


Feast of unleavened bread:

Exodus 12:

15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

16 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.

17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.

18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.

20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.


So the "preparation" referred to in John 19:31 is the preparation that is done prior to the Passover meal / feast of unleavened bread.
So it looks like Jesus died on the day of preparation (Matthew 27:62), which was the first day of the Passover. Maybe the Jewish time clock I found was incorrect. So that Jesus died in the evening (Leviticus 23:5) & (in the 9th hour - Matthew 27:46), as in the original Passovers of Old Testament times.

As for the day of the week Jesus must have died on, it seems it must have been Thursday, since He rose on the first day of the week (Sunday - Matthew 28:1) and He had to have been dead for 3 days (Matthew 12:40) before He rose .
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#12
So it looks like Jesus died on the day of preparation (Matthew 27:62), which was the first day of the Passover. Maybe the Jewish time clock I found was incorrect. So that Jesus died in the evening (Leviticus 23:5) & (in the 9th hour - Matthew 27:46), as in the original Passovers of Old Testament times.
I believe Jesus gave up the ghost at the exact time He fulfilled all that was needed up to that point. Just before giving up the ghost, Jesus stated "it is finished".

As far as your Jewish time clock, the clock you posted is accurate and is based on a 12 hour day. There is also the 12 hours of night. Scripture talks about "night watches". That is another timetable that should be looked into if you are interested.



 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
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#13
Is not every day preceding any of the Sabbaths a day of preparation for the Sabbat? Let me know...
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
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#14
Is not every day preceding any of the Sabbaths a day of preparation for the Sabbat? Let me know...
Yes, I believe so.

Exodus 20:10 states that the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates

That being the case, I believe on the day before the sabbath there was work done in preparation for the weekly sabbath ... meals prepared for the next day. Not sure what would be done about needing to care for livestock ... milk the cows, feeding, etc., etc.

I know the no work on the sabbath was carried to such an extreme that Jesus had to provide correction as to the meaning. In Mark 3, Jesus healed a man on the sabbath day and He was watched in order that He might be accused and destroyed.


I also know that when the children of Israel were fed manna from heaven when they were in the wilderness, each day they were to collect as much manna as they would need that day in order to feed their household and that on the day before the sabbath they were to collect double the daily amount in order to not work on the sabbath.

Exodus 16:

26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

27 And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none.

28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

30 So the people rested on the seventh day.



 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
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#15
When talking to certain Pharisees, Jesus-Yeshua declared how they left out the most important principles of the law, that is the application of faith, justice and mercy.

Our Father frowns on a man who mistreats his beast(s), so it stands to reason any duty in His dight is just fine on the Sabbath. Thank you for the clear response.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,582
3,616
113
#16
Watchman Nee (in a book I'm reading) sounds like he said Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours.
"So far as the experience of co-death in the Christian life is concerned, it is mainly included in this representative period six hours."
I checked the account of the Passover on this matter, in Numbers 9.
Num 9:3
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
KJV
Num 9:12
12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
KJV
But according to this chart I found online, it sounds like He was dead on the cross for 3 hours, judging by the details of the Passover, as to having started in the evening, and that eating of it was to finish before morning. So maybe he guessed a bit incorrectly, as to how long Jesus was dead on the cross.
https://www.theisraelofgodrc.com/Hebrew
Well you are indeed correct that the Biblical Passover starts at sundown.. As ll days in the Bible start at sundown.. On the first passover day the Hebrews first ate the Lamb after having smeared it's blood over the door posts.. Then the next borning ( which was still the day of penitcost for it did not end till evening came) the started their journy out of Israel..
 
Mar 23, 2016
7,021
1,673
113
#17
Well you are indeed correct that the Biblical Passover starts at sundown.. As ll days in the Bible start at sundown.. On the first passover day the Hebrews first ate the Lamb after having smeared it's blood over the door posts.. Then the next borning ( which was still the day of penitcost for it did not end till evening came) the started their journy out of Israel..
Passover is in the evening of the 14th day. The next day, the 15th, is the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, and it is a holy convocation in which no work is to be done. Also, no work is to be done on the 7th day:

Leviticus 23:

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.

8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.



 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
7,582
3,616
113
#18
Passover is in the evening of the 14th day. The next day, the 15th, is the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, and it is a holy convocation in which no work is to be done. Also, no work is to be done on the 7th day:

Leviticus 23:

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.

8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
True.. I know this.. In the Bible the evening of the 14th comes before the day time of the 14th..