The Day of Crucifixion

I think the best and most scholarly treatment of this is Raymond E. Brown's 2-volume The Death of the Messiah. Appendix II of that work spends 25 pages addressing the biblical and historical issues in dating the crucifixion & resurrection.

It would be impossible to reproduce all of that information here, but the short answer would be that Jesus was crucified on Friday and died before sundown (the Jewish day begins at sundown, and the Sabbath consequently begins at sundown on Friday. MT 27:62 identifies the day after Jesus' death as the Sabbath. Luke 23:54 points out that after Jesus was buried the Sabbath was about to begin. John 19:31 points out that there was concern to get the bodies off the crosses before the Sabbath began.

Some folks argue against Friday because of MT 12:40 (Son of Man/Humanity spending 3 days & three nights in the heart of the earth) and the subsequent MT 28:1 where the women come to the tomb just after the close of the Sabbath (Saturday night). Most scholars point out that the MT 12 passage is a metaphorical reference to Jonah, not a literal timetable (particularly in light of the later biblical passages).

Joshua

[ March 21, 2002, 01:24 PM: Message edited by: Rev. Joshua Villines ]

 

Brown was a Roman Catholic Priest, but during his lifetime he was widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable New Testament scholars in the world. His commentary on John (although now somewhat dated) is still used in baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian classrooms around the country.

Brown's ecumenical recognition comes from the fact that like OT & NT scholars from most traditions, he focuses on the text; not on church tradition/doctrine/theology.

Joshua

 

I do not celebrate Easter because of its pagan origins. People can argue there is nothing wrong with celebrating Easter, but they cannot deny its pagan origins. To be Biblically accurate, should one not celebrate Easter on Monday? Jesus was crucified on Friday and remained in His tomb for three days and three nights.

Hmmm...

Friday - Saturday = 1 day
Saturday - Sunday = 2 days
Sunday - Monday = 3 days



By His grace, Christopher

 

Christopher, much of our observance of Easter is, unquestionably, pagan in origin (it wouldn't be called "Easter" if it weren't).

Nevertheless, Matthew 28:1 makes it clear that it was just after the Sabbath, at the dawn of the first day of the week, that the women came to the tomb and found it empty. This would be Sunday morning.

Joshua

 

One other note, easter eggs, bunnies, etc. are pagan in origin.

Worshipping the risen Christ, on the other hand, it one of our oldest Christian practices.

I would encourage you not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Joshua

 

I worship the risen Saviour everyday, not once a year.

 

christopher, why miss a chance to invite some one to church that is lost on the day called easter when most of the pagan world for one of the two days (christmas being the other) of the year sees fit to do their christian duty and go to church? (i know we invite people to church all the time) but it can be a perfect chance to get that pagan to Christ.
maybe it should be called 1st fruits? also barnabas you look nothing like i pictured you. HMMM you look much younger i suppose? doesnt john talk about a double high day? I would put the day ON WEDNESDAY.

 

AAAAYYYYEEEEEEMEN!!!!!

 

barnabas the verse i'm referring to is john 19: 31, in refer, to the "high day". i would put the day of the crucifixion on wednesday.

 

Just looking at a calendar can be helpful. The Jews used a lunar calendar to determine the exact times of their feast days. The only year that even comes close to the bible account of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ is 31 AD. In 31 AD the preparation day (John 19:31 & 42) for the feast of the Passover was on Wednesday. The following day was a special High Sabbath, the first day of Passover (John 19:31 cf Leviticus 23:6 & 7). The first day of passover was always a special high Sabbath regardless of what day of the week it fell on (Leviticus 23:6 & 7). The first day of Passover was on 15th day of the month of Nisan (sometimes called Abib) and coresponds to our March-April. The 15th of Nisan, in 31 AD fell on a Thursday, for the sabbath that was looming at sundown Wednesday was not the weekly sabbath, but the special high sabbath, the first day of Passover. On Friday the ladies went shopping - to buy the spices for the "embalming" process, rested on the regular Sabbath, Saturday, and got to the grave "as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week" or just before sun up on Sunday, and the tomb was already empty! Wednesday sundown through Saturday sundown, 3 days and 3 nights in the grave, and arose after sundown on what we call Saturday, but what a Jew would call the first day of the week, or Sunday. Three days and three nights in the tomb (Matthew 12:40).

 

Even though I believe Christ died on Wednesday and arose on Sunday, the exact time is not nearly as important as the fact of His death, burial, and resurrection! 1 Corinthians 15 makes it clear that when it happened is not as important as what happened!

 

Thomas,

It pains me to say it, but we are in complete agreement here.

Joshua

 

Hmmmmmm. Is it too late to change my position?

 

In Scripture, references to any part of the day could make up a day. Jesus said he would be in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. That was a Jewish idiom. 72 hours could fulfill that just as well as Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. The latter part is what actually happened. Buried on Friday and arose Sunday morning. Hey, the catholics actually have something right.