When the even (evening) was come, there came a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple: he went to Pilate, and begged (asked for) the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed (Matthew 27:57-60).
We know that after his death, some time towards sunset, there came a man of wealth from Arimathea, whose name was Joseph and who was one of Jesus’ followers that went to Pilate to make a request for the body of Jesus. Pilate issued an order, releasing Jesus’ body to Joseph, who took the body, wrapped it in clean linen, and placed it in a new tomb. It was supposed to be Joseph’s resting place, a rock-hewn tomb, cut out of the solid rock. When Joseph finish, he rolled a great stone in front of the entrance and went away.
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher (tomb) be made sure (secure) 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 (deception) shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch (guard): go your way, make it as sure (secure) as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure (secure), sealing the stone, and setting a watch (guard) (Matthew 27:62-66).
We know that the next day following the day of the preparation, as it was known, at the close of the first day of the Passover ceremonies, the chief priest and Pharisees went together to Pilate, asking that he issue an order sealing the tomb until the third day to prevent his disciples from coming, stealing his body, and then telling everyone he came back to life. Pilate told them to use their own temple police, for they could guard it safely enough to ensure that no one could come to steal his body and make that claim. So they went and made safe the place where his body was laid, putting a stamp on the stone. Then they sealed the stone and posted guards to protect it from intruders.
Now let us fill in our chart with what we have discovered thus far. If we were to plot a time line for Jesus, stating with the morning before the Last Supper and ending with the evening before the Passover celebration began. We would discovered that after a very thorough examination of the scriptures, the Last Supper actually took place in the evening after sunset and that his burial occurred less than twenty-four hours later, just as evening had come. We also discovered that there was a preparation period the day before the Last Supper and there was a preparation period the day before the Passover celebration was to begin. We discover that the feast of unleavened bread started the day following the Passover and on this day, there was to be a holy convocation, a holy meeting where the people gathered for worship and all ordinary work ceased. We discovered that it was very much like a Sabbath day.
We know that much of the information continues to be somewhat confusing but we believe that we can now put everything we have into perspective. We think we have gathered enough information and have identified enough events that we can complete our timeline to show when Jesus died and when he was raised from the dead and then some. So let us see what we have thus far and fill in our chart.
Day
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Actual Definition
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Identifying Event for the Day
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Day 3
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Monday evening after sunset
Tuesday evening before sunset
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Preparation for The Last Supper
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Day 4
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Tuesday evening after sunset
Wednesday evening before sunset
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Preparation Day
Jesus has the Last Supper, is arrested, crucified, dies, and is buried in the tomb prior as evening comes.
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Day 5
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Wednesday evening after sunset
Thursday evening before sunset
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Passover Day
Jesus’ first night and first day in the grave.
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Day 6
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Thursday evening after sunset
Friday evening before sunset.
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The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Jesus’ second night and second day in the grave.
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Day 7
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Friday evening after sunset
Saturday evening before sunset
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The Sabbath Day
(the customary rest day on the last day of the week).
Jesus’ third night and third day in the grave.
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Day 1
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Saturday evening after sunset
Sunday evening before sunset
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Resurrection Day
(the first day of the week)
Jesus rises from the grave sometime between Saturday evening, after sunset and Sunday morning, long before sunrise on, which is after the third day.
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As you can see, this information does not support the Good Friday theory. And we know that tradition is hard to break, but will you continue to be held captive by tradition? Will you continue to be destroyed because you have rejected the knowledge? Truth and knowledge, what an interesting combination to have. We will be the first to say that you need to check out all of this information for yourself. Please, do not just take our word for it. Open up whichever Bible version that you have and look at it for yourself. You need to check to make sure that everything that has been discussed is factual and true. Just one little bit of false information can alter the truth and your knowledge. And while this chart, this model does appear to meet every piece of evidence that is mentioned in the scriptures, it does not mean that there could not have been a mistake made. Please, check out the information for yourself and determine for yourself whether it be factual or not. But I have to say, it is very rewarding when you can get all of the right puzzle pieces to come together in the right places, it creates a very interesting picture where all of the pieces are not just randomly laying on the table but oddly enough, appear to connect to each other. As we stated earlier, Good Friday is a religious holiday, observed primarily by Christians, which commemorates the day of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary that does not appear to be based in scripture.
We know some of you have had a problem accepting this line of reasoning, but that be entirely your choice. And no, the Bible does not explicitly state on which specific day of the week Jesus died. This is something that has been left for us to determine based on the scriptural evidence that is in the Bible. And while some will continue to argue their point, just make sure that their arguments satisfy each and every scripture that is related to this event. Then there are those who will argue that in the grand scheme of things, it is not all that important to know what day of the week Christ was crucified. And in the grand scheme of things, that could be true. But remember, we were given a warning to beware of the false prophets or the false teachers who appear to be as sheep for a reason. It was Jesus who said in his word for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Again, in the grand scheme of things, it could be some truth in not knowing the exact day of the week Christ was crucified. Therefore we ask, how can you worship, praise, or even celebrate Jesus if the facts that you base your celebration on are wrong or false? Is the one that is portrayed in songs and stories the true Jesus or is he something that has been created over the years? Who is this person, this Jesus that you believe you know? Is the Jesus that you believe in one for whom you have personally checked all the facts on? Or is the one that you believe in one for whom you have accepted because of something that you have only heard about? Is the Jesus that you believe in one for whom you have come to know personally for yourself? Or is the one that you believe in one for whom you have been taught to accept. Is the one that you believe you know, one of fact? Or is the one that you believe you know, one of fiction? Or is the one that you believe you know a combination of both, some fact and some fiction. Would the combination make him real or false? So many questions to ask and so many answers to find. And as always, you will have to decide which to believe.
Enjoy all of your blessings, for they do be many and remember to be a blessing to others - KW
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