The Catholic Church as well as a number of protestant churches believe that the crucifixion took place on a Friday. And to support that belief, Luke 23:54 is often used as a proof text. That may pose a problem, though, since scripture says that the stay in the heart of the earth would be for three days and three nights. But assuming a Sunday resurrection, a third night would have been missing within that period of time. Any thoughts on how that might be reconciled?
Friday crucifixion?
- Thread starter rstrats
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I've looked into this quite thoroughly in the past and I'm inclined to believe the crucifixion was not on Friday. Everyone agrees they found the empty tomb early on the first day of the week (Sunday), so Friday simply doesn't work. Unless you take Jesus' words "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" as figurative.
Some Sabbath keepers believe His resurrection was actually on the Sabbath; but that's neither here nor there since Friday would really be impossible if that's the case. I only mention it as another aspect to the question.
It's not as important to me as it used to be. It's one of those things that won't ultimately determine someone's fate. I do find it a bit troubling though that so many Evangelicals just believe the Friday tradition without ever questioning it.
Some Sabbath keepers believe His resurrection was actually on the Sabbath; but that's neither here nor there since Friday would really be impossible if that's the case. I only mention it as another aspect to the question.
It's not as important to me as it used to be. It's one of those things that won't ultimately determine someone's fate. I do find it a bit troubling though that so many Evangelicals just believe the Friday tradition without ever questioning it.
There is plenty of evidence that suggests an earlier day for the crucifixion. You can find arguments on youtube that explain it better than I can. The main point raised is that the whole Passover week was considered a Sabbath. Personally, i believe that Jesus spent 3 days and 3 nights in the grave. Some say that the Jews considered any part of a day a whole day. That does not work either. Friday night and Saturday night makes two nights, not three. One day all will be clear. For now, I'm just glad that Jesus died and rose again and for waht that means for those who receive Him.
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I guess I'm kind of looking for responses from Friday crucifixion believers.
But since we're here, a couple of thoughts on your post:
You say the day following Passover was the first day of the 7-day festival of Unleavened Bread. Matthew 26:17 says - "Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
This seems to be saying that the first day of the feast was either on or before the Passover day and not after it.
You also, say "the first and last days of it [the feast] were sabbaths in which no work was to be done (Exodus 12:16). So the sabbath mentioned in Luke is the first UB sabbath, not the weekly sabbath." Nit picking, perhaps, but I'm not aware of where the first day of unleavened bread is ever actually referred to as a "Sabbath".
I guess I'm kind of looking for responses from Friday crucifixion believers.
But since we're here, a couple of thoughts on your post:
You say the day following Passover was the first day of the 7-day festival of Unleavened Bread. Matthew 26:17 says - "Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"
This seems to be saying that the first day of the feast was either on or before the Passover day and not after it.
You also, say "the first and last days of it [the feast] were sabbaths in which no work was to be done (Exodus 12:16). So the sabbath mentioned in Luke is the first UB sabbath, not the weekly sabbath." Nit picking, perhaps, but I'm not aware of where the first day of unleavened bread is ever actually referred to as a "Sabbath".
I'll let Clarke explain it:
"As the feast of unleavened bread did not begin till the day after the passover, the fifteenth day of the month, Lev 23:5, Lev 23:6; Num 28:16, Num 28:17, this could not have been, properly, the first day of that feast; but as the Jews began to eat unleavened bread on the fourteenth, Exo 12:18, this day was often termed the first of unleavened bread. The evangelists use it in this sense, and call even the paschal day by this name. See Mar 14:12; Luk 22:7."
"As the feast of unleavened bread did not begin till the day after the passover, the fifteenth day of the month, Lev 23:5, Lev 23:6; Num 28:16, Num 28:17, this could not have been, properly, the first day of that feast; but as the Jews began to eat unleavened bread on the fourteenth, Exo 12:18, this day was often termed the first of unleavened bread. The evangelists use it in this sense, and call even the paschal day by this name. See Mar 14:12; Luk 22:7."