“Deborah’s Drash”
“Sitting at the feet of
Yeshua”
A Daily Devotional/Bible Study
based on the Hebraic/Jewish Roots of Christianity
Today’s Date: March 28
This Months
Theme – The Spring Feasts of Messiah – Passover/Pesach, Unleavened Bread, First
Fruits, ` Pentecost/Shavuot
Click
below for Blank Devotional Journal to use with your Studies
Weekly Torah Portion[1]
for the week- New Torah Cycle Begins!
Click
Here For Current Torah Reading Schedule
Daily Bible Reading
Schedule:
Tenach/Old Testament
Reading:
1 Kings 15:25-17:24
Tehillim/Psalms
Reading:
Psalm 134:1-3
Mishlei/Proverbs
Reading:
Proverbs 17:9-11
Brit Hadasha/New
Covenant:
Acts 10:23-48
Hebrew Daily
Word/Phrases:
Zeruah
(Z’ruah) Hebrew for “arm” in the animals
“shoulder” the shank bone on the sedar plate representing
The Pashal
sacrifice.
Meditation
Verse
Galatians 2:20 Complete Jewish Bible
20 When the
Messiah was executed on the stake as a criminal, I was too; so that my proud ego
no longer lives. But the Messiah lives in me, and the life I now live in my
body I live by the same trusting faithfulness that the Son of God had, who
loved me and gave himself up for me[2]
Quote Of The Day:
Christ In The Passover – Moshe Rosen
“The Lords
redemption of Israel needed to be stamped indelibly on the minds and hearts of
future generations. He intended that
the ancient experience should have a lasting effect on His people; it’s importance must be
reinforced with regularity fo all time”
Deborah’s Drash Commentary:
WHAT DAY OF
THE WEEK WAS CHRIST CRUCIFIED?
by Lori Eldridge
(all scriptures NIV unless otherwise noted)
Ever since I found out that Christ
couldn't have been born on the traditional Christmas holiday, because it would
have been too cold for the shepherds to be out in the fields at that time of
year, I lost interest in celebrating his birth that late in the year. I did
some more research and found out that both Christmas and Easter were originally
pagan holidays incorporated into the church by the Roman Emperor Constantine
around the 4th century C.E. merely to draw the populace into the church. Also,
the secular over-emphasis of both Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny has been a
real turn-off for participation in either holiday other than on a spiritual
level.
About six months ago I became involved in
a mailing list on the internet that was peopled by both Christians and Jewish
members and have since started learning Hebrew to facilitate my Bible studies.
I recently became aware of the Feast of Passover and how it coincided with the
time of Christ's crucifixion and started researching that festival with the
intention of celebrating the resurrection at that time. This peaked my
curiosity enough to spur me on to researching the day of the week that Christ
was actually crucified. Although I am a Christian I don't have a personal
preference for one day over the other--I just want to make sure I'm observing
the right day.
Most of the reports I've seen concerning
the crucifixion date believe Wednesday is the day Christ was crucified, a few
believe it was Thursday, and some on Friday. I could see flaws in the reasoning
of almost every document I read which I believe was due to a basic problem
related to the Jewish terminology where it concerns the time of day compared to
how the western world determines time. I don't claim to have all the answers
but I believe I've figured out the only day that could work for the crucifixion
and I would like to submit my ideas for consideration. First I'll start with
what we know for sure:
JEWISH vs ROMAN RECKONING OF TIME
Most of the confusion relating to the
crucifixion can be traced to the way a Jewish person interprets time as
compared to someone from the west. The Jewish "day" starts at Sunset
(which changes slightly depending on the season). Therefore, their day is
getting dark when it begins. During the time of Christ they adopted the Roman
practice of counting 4 "watches" during the night. Each watch started
approximately 9:30, 12:00 midnight, 2:30 (called the cockcrow watch), and 5 am.
From sunrise they divided the day in sections into what they termed
"hours". Thus when they said that something happened at the 6th hour
it was about noon or 6 hours after sunrise, not 6 A.M like we would reckon time.
A Roman "day", however, started
at midnight (as does most of the western world) so when their day began it
would be dark and would soon be getting light--just the opposite of the Jewish
day. Most scholars agree that John wrote the Gospel of John late in the first
century. He often used Greek terms in his writing which indicates he was
heavily influenced by Greek culture. Further evidence is seen in that he would
often interpret the meaning of Hebrew words which would have been unnecessary
if he had been writing for a Jewish audience. Also, Irenaeus stated that John
published his Gospel during his residence at Ephesus--the capital of the Roman
province of Asia. Therefore he was obviously writing to the Gentiles and would
have used terminology related to the time of day that Gentiles would have
understood.
An example of this confusion of different
terminology's involves when Christ was nailed to the cross. According to Mark
it was the third hour (third hour since sunrise or 9 am) (Mark 15:25). However
John says it was "about the sixth hour" when he was still being
sentenced by Pilate and before he was led to the cross (John 19:14). The
difference lies in the fact that John is thinking Roman time which starts at
midnight and thus it was about 6 am. It probably took a few more hours for
Christ to make his way to the cross and not hard to imagine that it was
accomplished by 9 AM.
Some of the confusion relates to terms
used to describe the Passover Feast itself:
RULES FOR SELECTION OF PASSOVER LAMB
|
"The Lord said to
Moses and Aaron in Egypt, 'This month is to be for you the first month
[Nisan], the first month of your year. Tell the whole community of Israel
that on the tenth day of this month [Nisan 10] each man is to take a lamb for
his family, one for each household. . . .The animals you choose must be
year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the
goats. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the
people of the community of Israel must slaughter them at Twilight"
(Exodus 12:1-6). |
Notice that this was the 10th day of
Nisan--4 days before Preparation day of Passover which occurs just before the
Feast of Passover. Actually the Feast occurs that evening, but according to
Jewish time it is actually the next "day".
JESUS is OUR PASSOVER LAMB
|
The day after being
questioned about whether he was the Christ, John the Baptist said when he saw
Jesus approaching: "look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
world!" John later said that the Holy Spirit told him who Christ was and
that he is "the Son of God". (John 1:29-34). |
WHEN DID JESUS ARRIVE in BETHANY?
John's gospel says that Jesus arrived in
Bethany 6 days before the Passover where he stayed at Lazarus' house and had dinner
and it's logical to think that he would have spent the night and from there we
know he arranged the triumphal entry which occurred on Nisan 10 which was 4
days before the day of Preparation. (I'll explain the missing day later.) The
other Gospels didn't state when they arrived at Lazarus' house, only that they
were approaching Bethany and Bethphage on the day of Triumphal Entry. It's also
possible that Lazarus lived on the other side of Bethany and therefore Jesus
had to pass through it to get to Jerusalem and it also seems logical that Jesus
would have sent his disciples to Bethany for the colt being as it was up
"ahead" instead of all the way to Jerusalem.
Bethany was 2 miles from Jerusalem (1),
however, the Mt. of Olives was only a Sabbath day's walk from Jerusalem (see
below) that means the Mt. of Olives, where Jesus retired the night he was
arrested, was closer to Jerusalem than Bethany and Bethany would not have been
within the distance of a Sabbath days walk from Jerusalem. Therefore when we hear
that Jesus retired to Bethany for the night we know it was not on a Sabbath. If
you will read Mark's account of the few days before the crucifixion you will
see that Jesus traveled to Bethany sometime before the 10th, went to Jerusalem
on the 10th, and returned to Bethany the next two nights and then back to
Jerusalem at least as late as the 12th. Luke tells us, on what must have been
the 13th, that Jesus taught in the temple each day and returned to Bethany each
night. (luke 21:37) Therefore, being as we know the day of preparation couldn't
have been a weekly Sabbath (because of the work involved) and Passover did not
occur on a Sabbath either (see below) it was impossible for a Sabbath to occur
from Nisan 10 through Nisan 16.
TIME of EVENING SACRIFICE
|
" . . . on the 10th
day of this month [Nisan/March or April] each man is to take a lamb for his
family, one for each household. . . . The animals you choose must be year-old
males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. Take
care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of
the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight" (Exodus
12:3-6). Other versions say "between the evenings." |
The daylight part of the Jewish day was
divided into two parts: from sunrise to noon and was considered "the
morning" part of the day. From noon to sunset was the "evening"
part of the day and therefore when scripture indicates the lamb was to be
crucified "between the evenings" it meant half-way between noon and
sunset, i.e., about 3 PM.
According to Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon of
O.T. the word used in Ex. 12:6, # 6153 called 'ereb means:
|
"evening . . . in
the phrase "between the two evenings" Ex 16:12; 30:8; used as
marking the space of time during which the Paschal lamb was slain, Ex 12:6;
Lev 23:5; Num 9:3; and the evening sacrifice was offered, Ex 29:39, 41; Num
28:4; i.e., according to the opinion of the Karaites and Samaritans (which is
favoured by the words of Deut. 16:6), the time between sunset and deep twilight.
The Pharisees, however, and the Rabbinists considered the time when the sun
began to descend [similar to an Arabian word which means 'little evening' for
when it begins to draw towards evening] to be called the first evening and
the second evening to be the real sunset." Therefore the time between
when the sun began to descend [early afternoon] and sunset, i.e., the 9th
hour according to Jewish time or 3 PM Roman time. |
This is corroborated by the Mishnah in
Tractate Pesahim by Danby, p. 144, where it says the Passover lamb was to be
killed "Bain ehrev" . . . between the evening in its appointed
time." And The Chumash by ArtScroll, p 351, Exodus 12:6 says, "the
entire congregation of the assembly of Israel shall slaughter it in the
afternoon". Josephus further corroborates the time of day of the
sacrifices during a Passover feast in his "Wars of the Jews", Ch. IX:
"So these high priests, upon the coming of their feast which is called the
Passover, when they slay their sacrifices, from the ninth hour to the eleventh
[3-5 PM],. . ."
This is the same time of day that Yeshua
died on the cross according to Matt. 27:45-50, on the 9th hour, or about 3 PM.
PRESENTATION OF PASSOVER LAMB
According to Jewish tradition the lambs
were to be presented for inspection to the priests in preparation of Passover.
After the Lamb was selected they were to take it into their home for those 4
days and keep an eye on it and examine it for flaws. Being as Jesus is our
Passover Lamb it seems logical that he would comply with this detail also.
As Jesus and his disciples approached
Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of the disciples ahead to get a donkey:
|
"The disciples went
and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed
their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their
cloaks on the road, while other cut branches from the trees and spread them
on the road. [Crowd shouted Hosanna to the Son of David!] . . . Jesus entered
the temple area . . .And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany,
where he spent the night" (Matt 21:1-11 with a quote from Zech. 9:9) |
The same day that the Jews were presenting
their lambs to be inspected for the Passover we see our own Passover lamb
presenting himself to the people of Jerusalem for inspection as their long
awaited King. The people accepted him but their leaders did not. He himself was
then examined for 4 days by the chief priests, teachers of the law, elders,
Pharisees, Sadducees, and even Herodians, but they could not find fault with
him and had to rely on false witnesses in order to get him convicted.
This event is one of the keys to figuring
out the day of the week for the crucifixion. Notice all the work that is going
on. If this would have been a Saturday they would have broken just about every
rule regarding the Sabbath rest (see below).
WHEN WAS PASSOVER?
|
"The Lord's
Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the
fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for
seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a
sacred assembly and do no regular work." (Lev. 23:5-7) |
All three Gospels state that "while
they were eating" Jesus gave them instructions about the Lords Supper or
communion. Therefore they were already eating their Passover meal when he
performed the famous Last Supper rites and they are not one and the same as so
many have supposed. Scripture doesn't say this but apparently Christ arranged
for them to eat his last Passover meal 24 hours earlier than everyone else so
he could spend the last day with them in a special ceremony where they would
learn to commemorate that day in his memory.
Although I haven't been able to verify
this it is claimed that there was a law in effect in the days of the
crucifixion that allowed people to eat the Passover lamb early because of the
enormous crowds of people that came to Jerusalem for the feast. This would also
have allowed Rabbi's to arrange a meal for the purpose of rehearsing the
details of the festival with one's closest disciples the evening before a major
festival such as the Passover Feast. This would explain why there
"appeared" to be two separate Passover meals being eaten.
I heard another explanation saying that
they all had to be with their own families for the Passover Feast as the actual
Passover meal was a family affair and not to be celebrated individually.
However, I believe that it is closer to the truth that when they decided to
follow Christ they gave up such family obligations which enabled them to
fulfill the OT scriptures that speak about the Shepherd being struck and the
sheep being scattered (Zech 13:7). If they had merely gone to eat dinner with
their families they wouldn't have been considered "scattered".
Therefore, Christ must have celebrated the
Passover with his disciples on the eve of Preparation Day--the evening before
the day on which he was crucified. Keep in mind that sunset is the start of a new
day therefore this would have taken place after sunset shortly after Nisan 13
changed over to Nisan 14.
PREPARATION DAY vs. PASSOVER DAY
|
"On the fourteenth
day of the first month [Nisan] the Lord's Passover is to be held. On the
fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat
bread made without yeast (Festival of Unleavened Bread). On the first day
hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work" (Num 28:16-18). |
|
"The Lord's
Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the
fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Feast of Unleavened Bread begins; for
seven days you must eat bread made without yeast. On the first day hold a
sacred assembly and do not regular work. For seven days present an offering
made to the Lord by fire. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and
do no regular work" (Lev 23:5-8). |
Apparently the word "Passover"
can mean anything from Nisan 10 through the week following the first day of
Unleavened Bread up to Nisan 21--much like our word for Christmas can mean the
whole two weeks from Christmas Eve to the New Years holiday. This is one reason
there are so many differences of opinion regarding the timing of the
crucifixion. The best way to differentiate between the two days is what is
occurring, i.e., are they preparing "for" the Passover or
participating "in" the Feast of the Passover.
TWO DAYS BEFORE PASSOVER
|
"Now the Passover
and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief
priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest
Jesus and kill him. 'But not during the Feast,' they said, 'or the people may
riot'" (Mark 14:1-2). |
The Passover (Feast) and the Feast of
Unleavened Bread are two holidays that start on the same day, the 15th of
Nisan, which was a High Holy day --a Holy Sabbath day of rest. There were only
two days left by this time so they had to accomplish their plan quickly. (Keep
in mind that the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread were eaten right after
sundown on the 14th which would actually be the 15th according to Jewish time
but actually the same day according to Roman time.)
RULES FOR SABBATH REST
|
"Observe the
Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six
days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath
to the Lord your god. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your
son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey
or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your man-
servant and maidservant may rest, as you do." (Deut 5:12-14). |
Please notice that not even donkeys were
supposed to work on the Sabbath.
|
"Everyone is to
stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out" |
The distance between Jerusalem and the Mt.
of Olives was considered a Sabbath days walk therefore this distance was about
1,200 yards. (Acts 1:12) (2)
TWO SABBATHS DURING CRUCIFIXION WEEK
A lot of the confusion concerning the date
of crucifixion arises from the fact that many don't understand that there were
two Sabbath's during crucifixion week--one of them being a Passover which is
also called a High Holy Sabbath. Both Sabbaths coincided near the time of
Christ's death.
Matt. 28:1 says "After the Sabbath at
dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to
look at the tomb." However, J.P. Green's Interlinear New Testament
indicates the word for Sabbath in this instance, #4521, is in the plural form,
i.e., there were two Sabbath's that week. This phrase is translated as
"after the Sabbath's" in some versions (4).
Luke's account of the burial (Luke
23:44-56) gives us a progression of events that indicate there had to be two
Sabbath's involved:
|
1. Jesus died at 3 PM. |
If Jesus had been crucified on Friday
there would only have been one day in-between when Christ died and the first
day of the week and it would have been a Sabbath. So where and when did they
buy the spices?
If Thursday is Crucifixion day the next
day is the High Passover Sabbath and the next day is the weekly Sabbath.
Because of the back-to-back Sabbath's the women would not have had a chance to
buy the spices until right after the weekly Sabbath in the evening (the
beginning of Sunday at sundown). They would have had time to prepare them that
night and took them to the grave the next morning (Sunday morning).
If Christ was crucified on a Wednesday
then there is an intervening weekday between the two Sabbath's but then Christ
wouldn't have risen until "after" the 3 day period because He had to
rise on Sunday to fulfill the First Fruits and Wave Sheaf offering after the
Sabbaths (see below) and the women wouldn't have gone to the grave to anoint
his body if he arose on Saturday anyway because it was a Sabbath.
3 DAYS and 3 NIGHTS
|
"Then some of the
Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, 'Teacher, we want to see a
miraculous sign from you.' He answered, 'A wicked and adulterous generation
asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet
Jonah. for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge
fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of
the earth" (Matt. 12:38-40). |
Mark 16:1 says the women arrived at the
tomb just after sunrise which indicates that Christ arose from the dead either
shortly before they arrived or sometime during the night after sundown the
previous evening. Matthew 28:2 states that there was a violent earthquake when
an angel rolled the stone away from the tomb. I believe the earthquake could be
a possible indicator of when Christ arose from the grave--i.e., just before
sunrise because there will be another great earthquake when he returns the 2nd
time (Zech 14:4).
If Jesus was crucified and buried late on
a Thursday (Jewish time) and rose again on Sunday sometime between Saturday
sundown and sunrise early Sunday morning (Jewish time) that gives us two whole
days and parts of 2 other days. Being as Jews consider part of a day a whole
day it is very reasonable to assume that the 3 days and 3 nights in a tomb were
fulfilled.
However, this isn't necessarily as precise
a statement as we've been led to believe.
The expression "three days and three
nights" is a figure of speech that was used during the biblical period and
does not necessarily mean the same thing that it would mean to us today. When
the disciples boldly claimed that Jesus had risen from the dead on the third
day (Acts 10.40), no one disputed it. Therefore the phrase "three days and
three nights" was obviously a colloquialism of that time and not to be
taken literally.
RESURRECTION DATE
"When the Sabbath was over . . . Very
early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way
to the tomb . . . But when they looked up they saw that the stone, which was
very large, had been rolled away." And they were told, "He has
risen" (Mark 16:1-6). Matthew 38:1 says "After the Sabbaths" as
I pointed out before, and also mentions a violent earthquake.
Therefore, Christ rose after both Sabbaths
on the first day of the week Sunday. This occurred 3 days after Nisan 14 on
Preparation day so it was Nisan 17.
This is the same day the Israelites were
delivered from the Egyptians. God instructed them to anoint their doorposts
with the blood of the lamb on the twilight of Nisan 14 and he would Passover
them on the 15th (after sundown on the 14th) when he would strike down all the
firstborn of Egypt. They were instructed to be ready to leave at daybreak on
the 15th (morning of the 15th). (Ex 12:1-13) They then traveled day and night
for the next few days first to Etham and then to Pi Hahiroth where they
encamped by the sea. (Ex 13:20-14:2) After the Egyptians appeared the Lord
parted the Red Sea all that night (Ex 14:21) from which the Israelites emerged
on the other side as the day was dawning and at which time the sea covered the
Egyptians. (Ex 14:27) This event is a shadow of the fulfillment of the day of
First Fruits. (see below)
Therefore the people of Israel were
"saved" by coming through the Red Sea on the same day of the year and
same time of day that Jesus rose from the dead as the "savior" of all
who will turn to him--Nisan 17, before dawn.
If you want to do some research on this I
believe you will also find that the day the Ark rested on the mountians of
Ararat also falls on Nisan 17.
FIRST FRUITS / WAVE SHEAF OFFERING
Right after God gave Moses the
instructions for Passover he told them about the First fruits/Wave Sheaf
offering:
|
"When you enter the
land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a
sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord
so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day
after the Sabbath." (Lev 23:10-11). |
This day is very important because the
Israelites were to start counting on this day:
|
"for 7 full weeks.
Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath and then present
an offering of new grain to the Lord. . . . The priest is to wave the two
lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the
firstfruits. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. On that
same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This
is to be a lasting ordinance for all generations to come, wherever you
live." |
This day is called Pentecost which means
fifty days. (Lev. 23:15-21) Compare what happened to the Israelites 50 days
after they were "saved" from the Egyptians in Ex. 19:16-19 with Acts
2:1-8 50 days after Christ had risen.
|
"But Christ has
indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits from the dead, the first
fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man,
the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all
die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ,
the first fruits; then when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end
will come . . . " (1 Cor 15:20-24). |
Therefore, Jesus fulfilled the offering of
the first of the harvest as he was the "First Fruits" and he also
fulfilled the day of Pentecost by giving the Holy Spirit to all believers.
Jesus' fulfillment of this day proves that this holiday was not to be
celebrated the day after the Passover Sabbath but on the weekly Sabbath
following Passover, i.e., after both Sabbaths.
SUMMARY: WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY or FRIDAY?
Wednesday:
If Preparation Day occurred on a Wednesday
then we have a whole day on Friday when they did not anoint the body which seems
very strange because the next day would have been the regular Sabbath when they
would have had to rest again. It was impossible for Christ to have risen on
Saturday because that would mean that the women broke the Sabbath by going to
anoint his body that morning and Nisan 10 would also have been a Sabbath and
hundreds or thousands of people would have broken the Sabbath on that day by
cutting palm branches. Christ also would have broken the Sabbath by making the
donkey carry a burden. Therefore Christ couldn't have risen until the next day
which would have been Sunday which would have entailed 4 days that Christ's
body had lain in the tomb instead of 3. What Martha said to Jesus when he was
about to raise Lazarus from the dead comes to mind: "But, Lord, by this
time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days" (John 11:38).
Therefore the day of Preparation for Passover/Christ's crucifixion could not
have occurred on a Wednesday.
Another reason this date is not acceptable
is because it would have eliminated Christ rising on the day of First
Fruits/Wave Sheaf which was the first day after the two Sabbath's, (see First
Fruits above) i.e., this day obviously has to occur on a Sunday.
Friday:
If Christ had been crucified on a Friday
then he and all his disciples would have broken the Sabbath by traveling to
Lazarus' house on the Sabbath--see John 12:1. However if he died on a Thursday
then the day after Christ arrived at Lazarus'' house would have been a Saturday
and this would account for his stay there an extra day.
Thursday:
Therefore, the only scenario that I can
reconcile is that Preparation day was on Thursday because that makes both Nisan
10 (triumphal entry) and Nisan 17 (first fruits/Wave sheaf/resurrection day)
and they both land on a day which was not a day of rest according to all the
work that was involved on both those days and this also accounts for the two
Sabbath's in between the time Christ was crucified and his resurrection.
Exodus 12:14 and Leviticus 23:21 tells us
that these feast days are festivals that God's people are to commemorate
"for all generations" wherever they live. I therefore would ask any
Christians reading this to prayerfully consider whether they should do so.
Timeline
The following timeline basically follows Mark's
Gospel which has the most detailed itinerary of Christ's last week. Each day
starts at sundown-- according to Jewish time.
|
- - - - - Friday Nisan 8 - - - - ·
Jesus arrives in Bethany to visit Lazarus, Mary and Martha. ·
A dinner is served in his honor ·
Jesus' feet anointed with Nard by Mary ·
Chief priests and Pharisees plotting to arrest Jesus - - - - - Saturday Nisan 9 - - -
-Sabbath · A day of rest still in Bethany - - - - -Sunday Nisan 10 - - -
-Triumphal Entry · Spent the night in Bethany · AM-on the way to Jerusalem · Triumphal Entry · People cutting palm branches · Jesus riding the donkey · Hallelujah to the King · Passover lambs selected · Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and curses it
and the temple · Jesus cleanses the Temple (could have
happened on Mon.) · Chief priests plotting to kill Jesus - - - - -Monday Nisan 11 - - - - · Back to Mt. of Olives and Bethany for the
night · AM--on the way to Jerusalem · Jesus curses the fig tree · Jesus teaching at Temple early morning · Jesus cleanses the temple (could have
happened on Sun.) · Chief priests wanting to kill Jesus · Passover lambs checked for faults - - - - -Tuesday, Nisan 12 - - - - - · Back to Mt. of Olives and Bethany for the
night · AM--on the way to Jerusalem · Fig tree has withered · Jesus teaches at Temple early morning · Chief priests question his authority · Passover lambs checked for faults · Jesus speaks in parables to the Chief
priests · Chief priests make further plans to arrest
Jesus. · Pharisees, Herodians and Sadducees
question Jesus · No more questions · Olivet Discourse upon leaving temple - - - - Wednesday Nisan 13 · Back to Mt. of Olives and Bethany for the
night · A woman anoints Jesus' head with pure nard
· 2 days before Passover and Unleavened
Bread · AM--Jesus teaching at the temple early
morning · Chief priests desiring to arrest Jesus
& kill him before Feast · Passover lambs checked for faults · Judas meets with the chief priests · Jesus makes plans for an early Passover
feast - - - - -Thursday Nisan 14--Preparation
day - - - - - -Friday Nisan 15 - - - -
-Passover day · Passover feast shortly after sundown · Chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to
put a guard on tomb - - - - - Saturday Nisan 16 - - - -
Sabbath · Day of rest - - - - - -Sunday Nisan 17 - - -
-Resurrection Day · Shortly after sundown (at beginning of the
day) the women buy spices · Jesus is resurrected between sundown and
sunrise · Shortly after sunrise the women find the
tomb empty · Jesus meets with his disciples in Galilee
that same day · Praise the Lord! He is risen. |
After I wrote this article I was informed
of a book entitled Prelude to Glory by Wayne D. Leeper that had been
written a few years previous to my article. We agree almost 100% on the
scenario surrounding the day of Christ's death and I would highly recommend it
for a more in depth study of this topic. His book is being distributed by the
following ministry and all proceeds go to the same:
Does God Exist
718 Donmoyer Ave.
South Bend, Indiana
4614-1999
An updated version of this document can be
found: Here
Questions, and comments are welcome.
Lori Eldridge graduated with a BA
in English/Creative Writing 1995, EWU, WA.
Proofreader and occasional author for PropheZine and Compass magazines on the
Internet.
3 years experience discussing doctrinal issues.
This paper is ©1997 by Lori Eldridge (All
Rights Reserved)
FOOTNOTES
1. Wuest's Word Studies in the Greek New
Testament, Vol. I, p 289,
2. Baker Encyclopedia, Baker Book House,
1988, Vol. II, p. 1879
3. The Jewish background of the Christian
Liturgy, by W.O.E. Oesterly, 1925, pp 256-193.
4. Alfred Marshall's Parallel New
Testament in Greek and English; and Ferrar Fenton's Translation
God Bless,
Lori
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"The words are closed up and sealed
until the time of the end. . . those who are wise will understand." (Dan
12:9,10). This is the time of the end.
**********************************************************
Why Yeshua (Jesus) did NOT die on Good
Friday
From Messianic Moments Website
The purpose of this page
is to challenge believers in Yeshua (Jesus) to reexamine some of the teachings
of the Church in the light of a JEWISH perspective. Many Church traditions are
NOT Scriptural and can easily be shown to be errant from a Jewish
understanding; particularly the tradition that Yeshua (Jesus) died on Friday.
For
Centuries Church tradition holds it that Yeshua (Jesus) died on a Friday, since
the Gospel accounts tell us that he had to be taken down from the cross quickly
due to the imminence of the Sabbath (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54;John 19:31). Since
the Jewish day begins at sunset, it was reckoned that Jesus was crucified on
Friday, because the Sabbath would begin after sundown Friday night. There is
just one problem with this - Yeshua Himself said that the sign of His being the
Messiah would be that he would be in the earth for three days and three
nights (Matthew 12:39-40). It boggles the mind to see how many Christian
theologians manage to stretch facts and figures to come up with three days and
three nights in the time period from Friday before sunset to Sunday morning.
Let's
do a bit of counting: If we count His being in the tomb on Friday before
sunset as one day, then after sunset we begin the first night: we'll have 1 day
and night. Saturday all day will count as another day and after sunset we'll
begin another night: day and night two.
The
Gospel accounts relate that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at
the grave as it began to dawn on Sunday after the Sabbath (Matthew 28:1; Mark
16:1-2;Luke 24:1;John 20:1). This meant that Yeshua rose from the dead before
the women came to the grave Sunday morning. If we count this portion of the day
1 day, then we'll have three days; but we can't possibly come up with three
nights!
How
then can we reconcile this? Simply by looking at the Jewish roots of our faith.
According to the Torah, the first night of Pesach (Passover) is a Shabbat
(Sabbath), too (Exodus 12:14-16;Leviticus 23:5-7) because it begins the Feast
of Unleavened Bread. This meant that the day of Preparation on which Yeshua was
killed, as related to in the Gospel accounts (Matthew 27:62; Mark 15:42;Luke
23:54;John 19:42) could have been any day of the week, since the Sabbath
of Pesach would have been any day of the week! This means that Yeshua could
have been killed any day of the week not just on a Friday!
The
mistake the Church makes in losing its Jewish roots is that it assumes that the
Sabbath as alluded to in the Gospel accounts had to be a Friday night,
since everyone knows that's when Jewish people begin their Sabbath. However,
since the Feast of Unleavened Bread, commencing concurently with Pesach, is a
Shabbat and could occur on any day of the week; it doesn't necessarily have to
follow that this was a Friday night.
In conclusion, to encompass
the full three days and nights as Yeshua claimed would be His sign, He
would have been killed at the very latest on Thursday and buried Thursday before
the Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread began.
**********************************************************
Torah
Studies - How could Yeshua (Jesus) have eaten the Passover Meal with His
Disciples the day BEFORE the Passover Lamb was sacrificed in the Temple?
It is a clear fact
that Yeshua celebrated the Passover with His disciples before He was
arrested at Gethsemane later that night. It is also clear that in order to
truly be the Passover Lamb specified by Scripture, He had to be killed on
the Day of Preparation at the time of the slaying of the lamb in the
Temple.
If these two
facts are true (and they are), how could He celebrate the Passover meal with
His talmidim (disciples), which incorporated the Passover lamb, and die the
next day at the same time the Passover Lamb was being killed in the Temple?
Were there two
Passovers celebrated by Israel one day apart? Or was Yeshua's meal with His
disciples celebrated the day before the true Passover just for
expedience because He knew He was going to die the next day?
The answer to
that question can be found by looking at the Jewish roots of the faith. A hint
is given to us in the Gospels of Mark (14:13) and Luke (22:10) when Yeshua sent
His disciples to the city to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water. To him
they were to ask, "Where is My guest room in which I may eat the Passover
with My disciples?"
It must be
recalled that in Israel, as in many places in the Middle East today, it is not
a man's task to carry water. That was women's work (Genesis 24:11-20).
Yet, by the
time of Yeshua, there was one group of men in Israel who did carry water,
because there were no women in the community - the Essenes. The Essenes
had a portion of the city in which they dwelt and they held all things in
common with each other, so that if any had need, it would be given them. So it
would not have been something outside of the ordinary for a request to be made
to the man and it be freely given (such as the room in which the disciples were
to prepare the Passover).
As can be seen
in the Qumran writings, the Essenes has some issues with the Jewish leadership
in Jerusalem, amongst which was which day the Passover was to be observed.
It seems that they celebrated their Passover the day BEFORE all Israel
celebrated theirs. So when Yeshua celebrated His Passover with His disciples,
He was truly celebrating it, not simply for expedience.
This is how
Yeshua could celebrate the Passover with his disciples and die the next day at
the same time the Passover
Lamb was sacrificed in the Temple before all Israel.
Click Here To see a
Time-Line for Yeshua's last Week.
Bonus: Prayers of The Bible – Prayers in The
Wilderness
Numbers 14:13-25
Torah Nuggets:[i]
Click
link for
Torah Portion Teaching:
Messianic
Israel Ministries Torah Study
Halacha – The Way One Walks or Goes- Derived from
the Hebrew word “Halakh” which means “To Walk”. The Way to follow the Torah/Word of God.
In this weeks Torah Portion, what is God
saying to me today about my walk with Him?
How can I apply this Torah Portion with
my walk with Yeshua this week?
Bible Study Nuggets From Daily Bible Reading:
Golden Nuggets From Gods Word: (Write the
Revelations and Insights you have received from Him today)
Word to Hide in my Heart:
(Write memory Verse of your choosing)
Word from the Lord (Write out verse,
quote or anything that was spoken to you by the Ruach HaKodesh/The Holy Spirit.
Today I
will…. (write down how you will apply what the Lord has spoken to your heart
through His Holy Word to your daily walk with Him in your Journal.)
Daily Prayer Guide For Your Prayer/Tefillah
Journal
Worship Time - Psalm
100:4 “I will adore you Adonai” Put in your favorite Worship CD or Tape and Praise
Adonai-See Amidah #1-4 Below and Shema
Waiting Time - Psalm
62:5 – I will wait in Your presence and surrender my thoughts to you! Clear
your mind of the clutter and focus on Ha Shem.
Confession
& Repentance /Tishuvah Time -1 John 1:9 – I will ask and receive forgiveness for my
sins –Write down what you need forgiveness or deliverance from so you may walk
in Holiness. –See Amidah #5-6 Below
See below for Personal Word Confessions to build up your Faith and
Spirit and to plant the Word in Your Heart
Intercession Time –Ezekial
22:30-31 I will stand in the Gap for
the world and for others as Yeshua is doing for us as our High Priest at the
right hand of The Father
31 Day Cycle of Prayer for the World…(Use a
World Atlas to help you pray for the World)
Today’s Countries to Pray for are:
Click Here For Map of World and Countries
Israel – Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Daily
*Daily Prayer Reminders: See
Amidah #11-12, 14-17 Below
1 Timothy 2:1 1 First
of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and
thanksgivings be made for all human beings, 2 Including kings and
all in positions of prominence; so that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives,
being godly and upright in everything. 3 This is what God, our
deliverer, regards as good; this is what meets his approval.[3]
President,
Government Leaders, Family, Friends, Church, Ministers, Spouse, Children,
Ministries, Schools, Salvation, Missions, World Revival – See 40 Day Prayer
Focus Below
Petition Time – My Abba
Father hears me when I pray and answers when I pray in faith/trust and
according to His Word. Write down personal petitions for today. See Amidah #7-8 Below
Watching
Time – Colossians 4:2a – I will
keep watch in the spirit and be alert to what & who I need to pray
for. See
Amdiah #13
Prayer Alert: Today Adonai
has specifically laid these people upon my heart to pray for: Write it down in
your Prayer Journal
Listening Time: Psalm
85:8 Write down what Ruach HaKodesh/The Holy Spirit has revealed to you today
in Prayer.
List 5 Things your are
thankful to G-d for today in your Prayer Journal (You can print one out below)
In
Tefillah/Prayer: Always Pray the Word and Pray in the Ruach and Pray
Always with ALL Prayer…..
Praise, Waiting, Confession, Singing,
Watching, Intercession, Petition, Thanksgiving, Devotions, Meditation,
Listening and Praise
Suggested Prayer
Books: Prayer’s That Avail Much Volumes
1,2 and 3 by Germain Copeland[ii] and The Artscroll Seder Series[iii].
The Prayers of
a Righteous Person are Powerful and Effective –James 5:16
Click on
the Links for Daily Prayer and Bible Study helps
Torah/Bible
Study Helps
Lots and Lots of Study Helps, Concordances,
Commentaries, Various Translations Etc.
First
Century Judaism/Christianity
Eddie Chumney’s Hebrew Roots Website
The Sabbath and
Biblical Festivals
Learn about the Sabbath and Feasts of YHWH
Eddie Chumney’s Hebrew Roots Website
Learn about the Tabernacle
Eddie Chumney’s Hebrew Roots Website
Recommended Reading For Further Study
Messiah Volume 1, 2 and 3 Avi Ben Mordachi
http://www.millennium7000.com/
Restoring the Two Houses of Israel- Eddie Chumney
The Feasts of Messiah – Eddie Chumney
Who is The Bride of Christ-Eddie Chumney
Who is Israel – Angus and Batya Wooten
Restoring Israels Kingdom – Angus and Batya Wooten
First Fruits of Zion – Torah Club Volume 1,2,3, 4
and 5
Prayer Helps
Shemoneh
Esreh-Amidah and Ha Adonai Tefillah/The Lords Prayer
Traditional
Jewish Prayers and Blessings
(Jewish
Website by D’vorah, Click here for more insights into Jewish Prayer)
(Daily
Petitions to Yahweh)
(to
build up your faith)
Who I am In Messiah
Scriptures
(What
Yeshua did for you)
Click Here
to Return to Index Page
Lots more to See and Read !
Baruch HaShem Adonai –
Shalom B’Shem Yeshua Ha Mashiach
Deborah
All Rights Reserved ã2003-2004/5764-5765 Deborah’s Messianic
Ministries/Debra E. Brandt