Crucifixion Week

Crucifixion Week and the Harmony of the Gospels

- Section I Paras 1-6

Section I

Paragraphs 1 through 6

Preface

Those who teach that the Last Supper was the Passover feast have blasphemed Christ 3 times over and need to know what those 3 blasphemies are.

Daniel 7:25 KJV, “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

Proverbs 25:2 KJV, "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."

Revelation 1:6 KJV, "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Section I

THE CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS DURING CRUCIFIXION WEEK

1.a. What does the Bible teach about the chronology of events during crucifixion week? On which day was the Last Supper eaten? On which day was Christ crucified? Which day was Passover? Which day did the resurrection take place? By the end of this study, you should have the correct answers to these five questions. Please notice that the first question asks what the Bible teaches. We will not concern ourselves with the teachings of the Jews, nor the teachings of cults, nor the teachings of antichrist groups, nor the teachings of ecclesiastical businesses, nor even the teachings of most of Christianity or those who think that they are Christians. The Bible is our only authority. These other groups are not our authority and their teachings on the chronology of events during crucifixion week are usually in gross error and frequently, even blasphemous. The Scriptures say, in 1 Corinthians 11:19 KJV, "For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

1.b. There are a number of things taught in the Bible which must be studied and understood before anyone can do any meaningful study regarding the chronology of events during crucifixion week. Many pick up the Bible, read a few passages out of the gospels, and say: "Here it is, we now know what took place and when." Unfortunately, if this is all they did, then they know little to nothing about the proper sequence of events during crucifixion week.

1.c. Bible scholars will read numerous books written by their peers and read other works written in past centuries. They will study the exegesis of linguists in all the biblical languages. They will study the works of those who have traveled to Jerusalem, or make the trip themselves and study the steps taken by our Savior in His final days and hours. They will study the customs, mores, and laws of that day, both Roman and Jewish. They will study the geography and topography of the city and street maps. They will dig into the ancient literature of the time, looking for clues from any archeological discoveries that may have been made. They will do it all. And when they are finished digesting all of this, they will know little to nothing about the chronology of events during crucifixion week. Why is this so?

1.d. The reason so little is known, is that hundreds of years ago a few people along the way decided the answers for everyone that followed in history. They concocted man-made rules and ideas that needed to be followed and were determined to make it fit, no matter how many Scriptures they had to twist and improperly translate. They convinced their students of the rightness of their assumptions, and those students in turn convinced their students, until the scholars, pastors, and laymen of today are so dumbed down and so committed to their pre-determined agenda that they have dug a hole for themselves that they not only refuse to climb out of, but could not climb out of even if someone tried to lift them out with a rescue helicopter. It is a sad state of affairs. There is more to be said later in this teaching.

1.e. So, in the following few paragraphs I will detail some of those biblical teachings that one must first familiarize themselves before they can attempt any credible study of the chronology of events during crucifixion week. Then we will move forward to explore the Bible for the correct answers.

PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD

2.a. We know from Exodus 12 that Passover is always on Friday Abib 14, followed immediately by the first day of the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread on Saturday Abib 15.

Exodus 12:6 KJV, "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 [between the evenings]."

Numbers 9:3 TIB, "In the fourteenth day of this month, between the evenings, you shall prepare it according to all its statutes, and according to all its ordinances."

Exodus 12:15 KJV, "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."

Leviticus 23:6 KJV, "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto [Yahowah]: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."

2.b. I use the names of the days of the week that are familiar to us in this century. These names are not in the Bible. Most likely in biblical times the days of a week did not have names and were called day 1, day 2, through day 7. It could also be possible that at the time of Exodus 12, the days were referred to only by their number within the month. Throughout history, including crucifixion week, there was no change: Passover was always Friday Abib 14 and the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread began on Saturday Abib 15. Please ask for our teachings called Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Calendar of Scripture.

2.c. From Exodus 12 we also know that there were four preparation days prior to Passover.

Exodus 12:3 KJV, "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, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:”.

2.d. From Exodus 12 we also know that there were no preparation days prior to the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Exodus 12:29 KJV, "And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual."

2.e. Knowing the placement of these two Holy Convocations within a week and within the month of Abib is critical to the proper interpretation of the chronology of events and days during crucifixion week.

Leviticus 23:4-6 KJV, "4 These are the feasts of [Yahowah], even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month [between the evenings] is [Yahowah's] passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto [Yahowah]: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."

3.a. When studying the sequence of events during crucifixion week it is important to understand that these two separate and distinct feasts are both sometimes referred to as unleavened feasts. Passover is referred to as an unleavened feast because it is unlawful to eat leavened bread during the Passover Feast.

Exodus 12:8 KJV, "And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it."

3.b. The seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an unleavened feast because it is unlawful to eat leavened bread during the entire seven days of this celebration.

Leviticus 23:6 KJV, "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto [Yahowah]: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread."

Therefore, sometimes we must determine which of the two unleavened feasts is being written about from the context.

TIME MARKERS

4.a. Time markers in the Scriptures are extremely important in discerning the chronology of events during crucifixion week. What do I mean by time markers? Any number, word, or phrase that lets the reader know the time of day or the day of the month is a time marker. For example, the word even or evening is a time marker. In the Bible the word even/evening has four possible meanings and none of those meanings are the same as our current understanding of the word.

4.b. The word afternoon does not exist in the Bible. The Bible teaches that the time between high noon and sundown is the even or evening time of day. So, a biblical day has only three parts to it: morning, evening, and night. In the phrase between the evenings there are two even/evenings. The Bible teaches that the first even is noon time and the second even is sundown. Sundown occurs when the last sliver of sun disappears on the western horizon; at this point evening is over and night has begun. For more information please ask for our teachings called A Day Begins At Sunrise and Between The Evenings.

4.c. There are other time markers in Scripture as well. And, knowing how to count days and hours is necessary. Please ask for our teaching called Counting Hours.

4.d. Recognizing the time relationship between Passover and the beginning of the count to the Feast of Weeks is important in understanding the sequence of events in crucifixion week. Passover is always Friday Abib 14, the Feast of Unleavened Bread always begins on Saturday Abib 15, and the beginning of the count of seven weeks to Shavuot and Pentecost is always Sunday Abib 16. Please ask for our teaching called Seven Perfect Weeks.

HOW LONG WAS YAHOSHUA'S BODY DEAD

5.a. What does the Bible teach about how long Yahoshua the Christ will be in the heart of the earth when crucified until His resurrection? Let us look at all the Scriptures that give us time markers. Remember, we must consider the whole counsel of God, not just a Scripture or two taken out of context. The context is that all of the Scriptures addressing this subject should be considered as a whole. Some provide more complete information that others do not; such as, Matthew 12:40. But all of the information given by all the various Scriptures must be taken into account in order for us to receive a proper understanding of the topic at hand.

Matthew 12:40 KJV "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." It does not get more clear than this. It was three days and three nights. No other combination can qualify. The time marker of “day” in this verse refers to only the daylight portion of a day. The time marker of “night” in this verse refers to only the night portion of a day. Please note that since Christ Yahoshua died during the day, so when one counts three days and three nights, the count ends on the third night. The count does not end during the day.

Matthew 16:21 KJV, "From that time forth began [Yahoshua] to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." Being raised on the third day necessitates that this time marker of “day” means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well (see Matthew 12:40 above). We know this because we accumulate information as we go through the Scriptures, we do not place the Scriptures in opposition to one another. Since He began His sojourn in the heart of the earth on the first day, how can he complete three days and three nights except that His sojourns ends during the third night. Therefore, this third night is part of the third day.

Matthew 17:23 KJV, "And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the nighttime portion of a day.

Matthew 20:19 KJV, "And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the nighttime portion of a day.

Matthew 26:61 KJV, "And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." Even though this was a false witness speaking, this part of his testimony was true. Refer to John 2:19-20 below. By cross referencing with Mark 14:58 below, we know that when Yahoshua said He would build the temple in three days that He was referring to the temple of His body. He was prophesying that He would rise from the dead on the third day (the nighttime portion of the third day).

Matthew 27:40 KJV, "And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the [execution stake].”

Matthew 27:62-64 KJV, "62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate. 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first." Since His body died on preparation day, Thursday Abib 13, then after 3 days would be Saturday Abib 15. Thursday is day one, Thursday night is night one; Friday is day two, Friday night is night two; Saturday day is day three, Saturday night is night three. If one tries to count, for even one minute or one second, into Sunday Abib 16 then we are speaking of day four. Matthew 12:40 and Matthew 27:63 must be in agreement with each other. Matthew 12:40 does not support a fourth day of being in the heart of the earth.

5.b. But there is more to be said about Matthew 27:64. The time marker "be made sure until the third day" shows us that the Pharisees apparently believed Yahoshua's prophecy (they believed Him but carried out their plot to murder Him - go figure). One day and night had already passed. It was now the second day of His death and they obviously were not concerned about His body being stolen the first night. They were concerned about the day of Saturday both the day time hours and the nighttime hours that followed. So, when they made known their request to Pilate, it was Friday (Passover). When they requested the tomb be made secure until the third day, they were counting from Friday and going forward in time until Sunday. Yahoshua's prophecy was that He would rise sometime Saturday night, if the Pharisees secured the tomb until Sunday then they felt that they had it covered. In reality, this group of demonized Pharisees were looking to the power of Rome to stop the resurrection power of God. Ignorant men!

Mark 8:31 KJV, "And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” The word day has several meanings and it must be determined from the context which of those meanings apply. We know that Matthew 12:40 sets the stage regarding the count of days and nights in which Yahoshua’s body will be dead. Since He died during the daylight hours, then He must have risen during the nighttime hours of a 24-hour day. Matthew 12:40 uses the word day to mean the daylight portion of a day only and so does Mark 8:31. Therefore, in Mark 8:31 “after three days rise again” is a time marker that indicates that a fourth day cannot enter into the picture. Thus, “after three days” must mean that He rises during the third night.

Mark 9:31 KJV, "For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the nighttime portion of a day.

Mark 10:34 KJV, "And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” As in Matthew 16:21, this third day means both the daylight portion of a day followed by the night portion of the day as well, since it has already been established that He will rise during the nighttime portion of a day.

Mark 14:58 KJV, "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."

Mark 15:29 KJV, "And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,”.

Luke 9:22 KJV, "Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.” Being slain on Thursday Abib 13, preparation day, is the first day and includes Thursday night that follows. Friday, Passover, Abib 14, is the second day and includes Friday night that follows. Saturday, the first day of the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Abib 15, is the third day and it includes Saturday night which follows.

Luke 18:33 KJV, "And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again."

Luke 24:7 KJV, "Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."

Luke 24:46 KJV, "And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:”.

John 2:19-20 KJV, "19 [Yahoshua] answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?" Yahoshua, of course, was speaking of the temple of His body that He would raise up.

Acts 10:40 KJV, "Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;”.

1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV, "And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”.

5.c. There is a possible problem with Matthew 27:63 wherein the Pharisees are reported to have said "after (Strong's 3326 meta μετα) three days". My concern is about the word after. Let us assume that the Greek word meta was the valid choice that the translators had to use. This phrase means to us in modern day English that Christ was not going to rise on the third day, but after the third day, which is the fourth day. If this is exactly what the Pharisees spoke and meant, then they were lying to Pilate. These Pharisees have already shown themselves to be men of low degree without integrity, without the love of God, and actually full of hate for God. So, if they embellished their story to Pilate to suit their own desires, that is not hard for us to believe. What is important for us today, as we study these Scriptures, is not to be confused and believe that we have a verse that claims that Christ will rise on the fourth day, when we know that is not true. At the most we have a Scripture that shows the Pharisees claimed that Christ said the fourth day, when in actuality He never said anything other than the third day.

FOUR SEPARATE DAYS, FOUR SEPARATE EVENTS

6. Keeping these first five paragraphs in mind, let us continue on to the meat of the teaching. We will show the Scriptures from each gospel that identifies the day of the Last Supper. We will show the Scriptures from each gospel that identifies the day of the crucifixion. We will show the Scriptures from each gospel that identifies the day of Passover. And, we will show the Scriptures from each gospel that identifies resurrection day.

Go to Section II paras 7-10