When did Christ die???

This  is a page postulating that there was not sufficient time, 3 days and 3 nights, for Christ to be in the tomb from Friday evening until Sunday morning and that Christ really was crucified on a Wednesday in order to satisfy the passover timeline.   Others conclude that a "part of a day" is the same as a "day" in Hebrew text and the 3 days and 3 nights issue WAS satisfied from Friday to Sunday. No matter which version you subscribe to; I think you will find the blow by blow details presented below; whether they started on a Tuesday or a Thursday rather fascinating. It's like a "you were there" report. 

Another interesting website which agrees with the Wednesday death and ties it in with exactly the time the lambs were sacrificed for passover can be found at 
http://www.yahweh.com/booklets/EASTER/easter.htm   I also have part of that posted here for you. 

see blow by blow  timeline  of Christ's last day  below

We have been deceived all these years. However, you now have the truth.
Also see
Time of Christ's Burial   and   The Resurrection

also see http://www.thevictor.org/bowen/bowenpp.htm#tc_ch  
for an independent corroborative version

and
see also our page at Easter  ;
a Roman pagan celebration NOT in timing with the Passover

The Truth; it is not what you have been led to believe.
Roman Catholicism has dictated the dates of many Christian events they invented  and distorted the meanings of others. Christians who ought to know better continue to celebrate Good Friday without ever questioning why. The fact is that Christ was not crucified on Friday at all, nor did he rise on Sunday morning as Christians have been taught by Roman Catholics to believe.   Yet in spite of the truth, we continue to cling to the traditions of men and in so doing, miss the tremendous type and symbol contained in the historical accuracy of the Passover. This page will attempt to correct error while pointing to the Lamb of God as Savior.

       "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." (Matt 12:40) 

According to tradition, Jesus died on the cross at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and raised very early Sunday morning. Many have wondered how three days and three nights can be compressed into such a short time span, especially since Christ was so clear in His statement in Matthew 12:40 .  Most Christians simply ignore the obvious problem and hold the traditional view.  Most commentators argue that ancient Jews reckoned a fraction of a day as a whole day; so they say that a very small part of Friday, all of Saturday, and a small part of Sunday can be figured this way. Jesus, however, was clearly stating that He would remain in the grave exactly the same length of time that Jonah spent in the whale's belly.     

The solution to the problem is clear: Nowhere in the Bible does it say or imply that Jesus was crucified and died on Friday. It is said that Jesus was crucified on "the day before the Sabbath" (Mark 15:42 And now when the evening was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,)
The Jewish weekly Sabbath came on Saturday, commencing at
sunset the evening before. But what we forget is that the Jews had other Sabbaths beside the weekly Sabbath. For example, the first day of the Passover week, no matter what day that may be, was always a Sabbath   (Exodus 12:16; Lev 23:7; Num 28:16-18).       Knowing this, ask whether the Sabbath immediately following Christ's crucifixion was the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) or the Passover Sabbath, falling on the 15th of Nisan, which came on Thursday the year that Christ died.

       Even though history should cause us to consider that our tradition is wrong, our first hint that something is missing from our tradition is the wonderful symbolism expressed in the Passover lamb. It was not accidental that Christ died during Passover. The Bible Itself tells us clearly when Jesus died. John tells us plainly that the day on which Jesus was tried and crucified as "the preparation of the Passover" (John 19:14). Christ then was not tried and crucified before the weekly Sabbath (Friday), but the day before the Passover Sabbath, in that year falling on Thursday. Therefore, the only conclusion we can make is that Christ was crucified on Wednesday.     John makes this fact crystal clear. John's Gospel was written later than other accounts and seems to clarify (for obvious reasons) areas that may lead to possible error. One false impression that we have accepted by our ignorance of Biblical truth is that Jesus ate the Passover at the regular time of the Passover. To correct this false impression, John clearly states that Jesus ate it the evening before and that He Himself died on the cross at the very moment that the Passover lambs were being killed "between the two evenings" on the 14th Nisan (Exodus 12:6). God's real Paschal Lamb--Jesus--of  Whom  all other paschal lambs offered through the centuries were only types, was therefore slain at the very time appointed of God. He would not therefore eat the Passover Lamb on the Passover day, for He WAS the Passover Lamb on that day.          

   Everything about the Passover Lamb was a picture of Jesus:   
1. He was a Lamb without spot or blemish (Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall
be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats
.)     

2. He was chosen on the 10th day of Nisan (Exodus 12:3  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:), for it was on the 10th day of the month, the preceding Saturday, that the triumphal entry into Jerusalem was made, and not on "Palm Sunday" as tradition suggests.  This fact is made abundantly clear since Jesus came from Jericho to Bethany six days before the Passover (John 12:1  Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.) and that would be six days before Thursday, which would have been Friday that He made the trip from Jericho to Bethany. If the Roman Catholic Palm Sunday is historically correct, it would mean that Jesus made the trip on Saturday (six days before Friday) in violation of the Law(Exodus 16:29) which was interpreted to allow Jews to travel no more than 2,000 cubits on the Sabbath. Bethany however, was a Sabbath's Day Journey from Jerusalem (Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a Sabbath day's journey.   compare Luke 24:50  And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.)     Jesus entered Jerusalem on "the next day" (John 12:12  On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, and following verses).  

   It was also the same day that Judas went to the chief priests and offered to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matt 26:6-16; Mark 14:3-11). That evening (Friday night) Jesus and His disciples at dinner at Simon the leper's house. That same night (now Saturday, 10th Nisan--remember that the next day begins at sunset) Judas sold Jesus. This was an exact fulfillment of prophecy in Zechariah 11:12  And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.   Exodus 12:3-6  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:  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 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 in the evening.  

     Jesus was killed on the 14th Nisan between the evens, just before the beginning of the 15th Nisan as sundown (Exodus 12:6  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 in the evening.)   We ought to accept what the Bible says: Jesus was not crucified on the Passover day but on "the preparation of the Passover,"  - the day before Passover, and that he was to be three days and three nights in the grave, and as "the preparation of the Passover" that year would be Wednesday and His resurrection early on the first day of the week, this allows exactly three days and three nights in the grave.       It seems inarguably correct that Jesus died around sunset time on Wednesday.  It seems inarguably correct that exactly 72 hours later, exactly three days and three nights, at the beginning of the first day of the week (Saturday at sunset), He arose from the grave.     

   When the women came just before dawn on Sunday morning, they found the grave already empty.  There is no need to fumble with fractions of days or to twist our Lord's words to mean something other than what He said. The statements of Jesus were literally true. Three days and three nights His body was dead and lay in the sepulcher. He Himself however went into Paradise and declared that the perfect sacrifice had been made and then led the Old Testament saints out of that place and into the presence of God (1 Peter 3:18-19  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:  By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;)           

   If we take exactly what the Bible teaches, we see perfectly the marvelous fulfillment of prophecy and Old Testament typology.  On the other hand, if we accept the Roman Catholic tradition, we rob Christ of essential glory.  In fact, the traditional Good Friday/Easter Morning tradition not only robs Christ, it also neglects the clear teaching of God's Word, thus placing it beneath the traditions of men; a thing Jesus condemned  (Mark 7:8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.)               

Some object to this explanation by the Sunday morning statement of those in  Luke 24:21 (But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done) by stating that if the crucifixion took place on Wednesday, Sunday would be the fourth day since these things were done.   

   The explanation is that "these things" mentioned by the men on the road to Emmaus were concluded on Thursday (Wednesday night). The first day since Thursday would be Friday, the second day, Saturday, and the third day would be Sunday, the first day of the week.   This objection supports the facts.  On the other hand, there is no way that "three days since" could be reckoned if Christ died on Friday.   Some of the Scriptures that prove the facts are:   

Matthew 12:40  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     

Matthew 26:61  And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.    

Matthew 27:40  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 cross.     
Matthew 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said,
while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.    

Mark 8:31  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.    

Mark 9:31 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.     

Mark 10:34  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.     

Mark 14:58  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 15:29-30  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,  Save thyself, and come down from the cross.     

Luke 24:21  But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.     
John 2:19-22 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple,
and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.  

   In conclusion:  There is absolutely nothing in favor of a Friday Crucifixion or any verses whatsoever to support it. On the other hand, everything Scripture offers on the time of our Lord's Crucifixion points to Wednesday.    You may ask, "So What?"   The answer comes when we understand the wonderful picture of the Lamb of God and how He became our Passover. There is nothing in Roman Catholic tradition that can possibly compare with the truth of God's Word.      

I urge you to distribute this truth and teach it. I urge you to leave behind the traditions of men which hide the Glory of the Lord, Jesus Christ.   N. Olson, Pastor Freedom Church Wolverine, MI

A blow by blow timeline of Christ's death.

Some Christians believe that Christ died on a Friday because the next day after his crucifixion was a Sabbath.  But that particular Sabbath was not a weekly Sabbath, it was an annual Sabbath. See Jewish Holidays here .  The problem with the "Friday burial hypothesis" is that the length of time from Friday evening to Sunday morning is not 72 hours (3 days and 3 nights); it is only 1 1/2 days.

There are not 3 full nights, but only one night - Saturday - and part of another night - Friday.  There are not 3 full days, but only 1 day - Saturday; and we cannot count any daylight hours of Sunday because He was already resurrected before daybreak of Sunday.   John 20:1 "On the first day of the week Mary Magdelene came to the memorial tomb early, while there was still darkness, and she beheld the stone already taken away from the memorial tomb."

So we cannot count any daylight hours of Sunday, and we cannot count any daylight hours of Friday either because his burial was FINISHED when it was already late at night.  We need to have exactly 3 days and 3 nights because Jesus said that he would be buried "in the heart of the earth" for 3 days and 3 nights.  Mathew 12:40 .."the son of man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights".   This is the sign of Jonah, the only sign he would give that he is the true Messiah. Mathew 12:39  "A wicked and adulterous generation keeps on seeking for a sign, but no sign will be given it except the sign of Jonah the Prophet". Go to  here  for more info.  We know that for Him to be the true Messiah, He must be inside the earth for three whole days and nights.  That means not only dead , but BURIED.   Counting back from Sunday morning 3 days and 3 nights we arrive at Thursday morning as the time of his finished burial.   All we need to do is find out if all the passages of the bible fit into this time frame.

Sequence of Events:

1. Tuesday night around 7:00PM - Christ sits down to eat the passover meal with his disciples. Mathew 26:19-20  "and the disciples did as Jesus ordered them, and they got things ready for the Passover.   When now it had become evening, he was reclining at the table with the twelve disciples."

2. Tuesday night around 8:00PM - Jesus washes the feet of the disciples.
John 13:3-12    "He got up from the evening meal and laid aside his outer garmets, and taking a towel, he girded himself.  After that he put water into a basin and started to wash the feet of the disciples and to dry them off with the towel.... when now he had washed their feet and had put his outer garmets on and laid himself down at the table again, he said to them "Do you know what I have done to you?"

3. Tuesday night around 10:00PM - Jesus and his disciples go to the Mount of Olives.    Mathew 26:30-31   "Finally, after singing praises, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them:  all of you will be stumbled in connection with me on this night."

4. Tuesday night around 10:20PM  - Jesus goes to Gethsemane to pray for the first time.   Mark 14:32-34    So they came to a spot name Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, " Sit down here while I pray," and he took Peter and James and John along with him..... and he said to them "my soul is deeply grieved, even to death.  Stay here and keep on watch."

5.  That night around 11:20PM - Jesus finds the apostles sleeping. 
Mark  14:37   And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter; "Simon, are you sleeping?   Did you not have strength to keep on the watch one hour?"

6.  That night around 11:30PM - Jesus goes to pray for a second time.
Mark 14:39   And he went away again and prayed. 

7. That night (Wednesday now) around 12:30 AM, Jesus goes to pray for a third time and finds the Apostles sleeping again.
Mark 14:41  And he came the third time and said to them," At such a time as this you are sleeping and taking your rest! It is enough!  The hour has come! Look! The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners."

8.  That night around 1:30AM - Christ was taken prisoner.
Mark 14:42-43  Get up, let us go.  Look, My betrayer has drawn near.  And immediately, while he was yet speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived and with him a crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and the scribes and the older men. 
Mathew 26:47-48  ....Judas, one of the twelve, came and with him a great crowd with swords and clubs from the chief priests and older men of the people.  Now his betrayer had given them the sign, saying: "Whoever it is I kiss, this is he; take him into custody."

9.  That night around 2:00AM - Jesus is taken to Annas.
John 18:12-13  Then the soldier band and the military commander and the officers of the Jews siezed Jesus and bound him.   And they led him first to Annas; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 

10.  Around 2:30 AM - Peter and another disciple follow Jesus into the courtyard. 
Mathew 25:58   But Peter kept following him at a good distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and after going inside, he was sitting with the house attendants to the the outcome. 
John 18:15  Now Simon Peter as well as another disciple was following Jesus.   That disciple was known to the high priest, and he went in with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the door.  Therefore the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. 

11.  Around 3:00AM - Peter denies Jesus for the first time.
Luke 22:57  ..."I do not know him, woman".
John 18:7  ... the servant girl, the doorkeeper then said to Peter,"you are not one of this man's disciples, are you?"  He said, "I am not". 

12. Around 3:10AM - Peter sits down with them around the fire.
Mark 14:48 ... and he (Peter) was sitting together with the house attendants and warming himself before a bright fire. 

13. Around 3:15AM - Jesus is questioned by the chief priest.
John 18:19   And so the chief priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching.

14. Around 3:30AM - Jesus is mocked.
Luke 22.:63  Now the men that had him in custody began to make fun of him, hitting him and after covering him over they would ask and say "prophesy, who is it that struck you?"

15. Around 4:00AM - Wednesday  - Jesus is bound and sent to Caiaphas, the high priest.
John 18:24 Then Annas sent him away, bound to Caiaphas, the high priest who was son-in-law of Annas.

16. Around 5:00AM - Peter denies Jesus for the second and third time.
Luke 22:59  ....and after an hour intervened, a certain other began insisting strongly "for a certainty this also was with him, for a fact he is a Galilean, but Peter said, "Man, I know not what you are saying".
John 18:25 ... Simon Peter was standing and warming himself.  Then they said to him,"You are not also one of his disciples, are you?"  He denied it and said, "I am not".  One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off, said," I saw you in the garden with him, did I not?"  However , Peter denied it again and immediately a cock crowed.

17. At dawn, around 6:00AM, still Wednesday,  - Christ is taken to the Sanhedrin.
Mathew 27:1   When it had become morning, all the chief priests and the older men of the people held a consultation against Jesus so as to put him to death.
Mark 15:1  And immediately at dawn the chief priests with the older men and the scribes, even the whole Sanhedrin, conducted a consultation.
Luke 22:66  At length, when it became day, the assembly of older men of the people, both the chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they haled him into their Sanhedrin hall.

18.  Wednesday morning around 7:00AM - Judas returns the thirty pieces of silver.
Mathew 27:3-7  Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing he had been condemned (by the Sanhedrin) felt remorse and returned the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and older men... after consulting together they bought with them the potter's field... (this was prophesied 500 years before this day)

19.  Wednesday morning around 8AM - Jesus is taken to Pilate where He is questioned.
John 18:28....they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Governor's palace (the pretorium).   It was now early in the day.
Luke 23:1  So the multitude of them rose, one and all, and led him to Pilate.
John 18:29  Therefore Pilate came outside to them and said: " What accusation do you bring against this man?"... So Pilate entered into the Governor's palace again and called Jesus and said to him: "Are you the king of the jews?"

Pilate interrogated jesus for a long time and finding no fault in him went back to the crowds and told them. "I find no crime in this man". 
Luke 23:5-7  But they began to be insistent saying, "He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea even starting out from Galilee to here.  on hearing that, Pilate asked whether the man was a Galilean, and after ascertaining that he was from the Jurisdiction of Herod, he sent him on to Herod....

20. Wednesday morning around 9:30AM - Christ is taken to Herod where he is again questioned for a long time.
Luke 23:8-9  When Herod saw Jesus he rejoiced greatly, for over a considerable time he was wanting to see him because of having heard about him, and was hoping to see some sign performed by him.  Now he began to question him with a good many words....

21. Wednesday morning about 11:00AM - Christ is taken back to Pilate
Luke 23:11-12  Then Herod together with his soldier guards discredited him, and made fun of him by clothing him with a bright garmet and sent him back to Pilate. Both Herod and Pilate now became friends with each other on that very day; for before that they had continued at enmity between themselves. 

22. Wednesday morning around 11:30AM - Pilate's wife tells him about the dream she had with Jesus.
Mathew 27:19  While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent him a message, saying,"Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him". 

23. Wednesday morning about 12:00noon - Pilate is sitting at the judgement seat in the stone pavement (Gabbatha) and the angry crowd asks Pilate to release Barabbas and kill Jesus.
Mathew 27:20-23  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.  But the Governor said to them,"Which of the two do you want me to release for you?"  And they said, "Barabbas".  Pilate said to them,"Then what shall we do with Jesus who is called Christ?"  They all said, "Crucify him". And he said," Why, what evil has he done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify him".
 
Mathew 27:24   When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying," I am innocent of this man's blood; see to that yourselves."

Mathew 27:25  And the people said." His blood shall be on us and our children".

Luke 23:18  But with their whole multitude they cried out, saying; "take this one away, but release Barabbas to us". 

Mathew 27:26   Then did he release to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered (Him) up that he may be crucified.

Pilate tried over and over to convey to the angry mob that he did not find in Jesus any cause deserving punishment. The angry crowd answered;"

John 19:12-13  ...if you release this man you are not a friend of Caesar, everyman making himself a kings speaks against Caesar.  Therefore, Pilate, after hearing these words, brought Jesus outside, and he sat down on a judgement seat in a place called the stone pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was preparation of the Passover, it was about the sixth hour.  And he said to the Jews:  "See your King!" ...at that time, therefore, he handed him over to them to be impaled. 

This is a quote that tells us EXACTLY what time it was when Jesus was with Pilate at the stone pavement. It cannot be 6:00AM because we know Jesus was taken to the Sanhedrin about that time (dawn).  It cannot be 6:00PM because it took Jesus 6 hours to die on the cross, and you would need to add the time it took Jesus to walk to Golgotha .... get nailed to the cross and the cross be lifted up.  That would put his death into the early hours of the next day.

The explanation is that John is using the Hebrew way of counting time; the first hour being after dawn, and therefore six hours from dawn being noontime. Therefore the sixth hour in Hebrew time is 12:00PM noon of our time. Also compare what is said by Mark 15:25; Mark is using OUR way of reckoning time.

Mark 15:25 Now it was the third hour and they impaled him.

That leaves about three hours from the time of Pilates' arguing with the crowd at noon to the time Jesus is actually put up on the cross at around 3:00PM

24.  Wednesday around 12:30 PM - Pilate gives sentence to Jesus and Jesus is whipped.
Luke 23:24-25   So Pilate gave sentence for their demand to be met, he released the man that had been thrown into prison for sedition, and murder and whom they were demanding, but he surrendered Jesus to their will.

Mark 15:15  At that time, Pilate , wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them, and after having Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be impaled.

25.  Wednesday around 1:00 PM - Jesus is led into the pretorium and is given a crown of thorns.
Mark 15:16-19  The soldiers now led him off into the courtyard, that is, into the pretorium, and they called the whole body of troops together, and they decked him with purpl;e and braided a crown of thorns and put it on him.   And they started greeting him, "good day you king of the Jews."  Also they would hit him on the head with a reed and spit upon him and bending their knees, they would do obeisance to him. (Bow & curtsy in pretend obeyance)

26. Wednesday afternoon around 2:00PM - Christ is given a cross to carry to be crucified.

Mark 15:20   finally when they had made fun of him, they stripped him of the purple and put his outer garmets upon him and they led him out to impale him.

27.  Wednesday afternoon about 2:30PM - Simon of Cyrene carries the cross for Jesus.

Mark 15:21  Also they impressed into service a passerby, a certain Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, that he should lift up his torture stake (the cross).

28. Wednesday afternoon at 3:00PM  - Christ is nailed to the cross and crucified.  

Mark 15:24-25  And they impaled him and distributed his outer garmets by casting a lot over them as to who takes what.  It was now the third hour, and they impaled him.  
This is the text that tells us EXACTLY what time it was when Jesus was nailed to the cross. 

Mark 15:27  Moreover, they impaled two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.

29.  Wednesday at 6:00PM  - Darkness falls upon the earth.

Luke 23:44-45   Well, by now it was about the sixth hour, and yet darkness fell over all the earth until the ninth hour, because the sunlight failed; then the curtain of the sanctuary was rent down the middle.

Mark 15:33  When it became the sixth hour a darkness fell over the whole earth until the ninth hour.

The darkness that fell between 6:00PM and 9:00PM could be observed because that day, Nisan14 - the Passover Day, always falls in the spring around March or April of our calendar and there is always a full moon. At a time when no electricity existed, variations in the light were very obvious. 

30. Wednesday night at 9:00PM  -  Jesus side is pierced, he dies, and an earthquake occurs  and the curtain of the sanctuary is rent in two pieces (see www.detailshere.com/arkofthecovenant.htm  to find out why the earthquake is very significant in proving that this man was truly born of a virgin - you'll never guess what crack opens up during this earthquake and what lies 25' down under him in a cavern. Where do you think all the blood and body fluids went when his side was pierced??? What's even more ironic is that his blood sample could not even be analyzed for genetic content before the advent of super electron microscopes in the 90's). 

Mark 15:34-37   And at the ninth hour Jesus called out with a loud voice,"Eli,Eli, lama sabachthan", which means when translate,"My God, my God; why have you foresaken me?"  And for some of those standing near, upon hearing it, began to say; "See, he is calling Elijah"  but a certain one ran, soaked a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed, and began giving him a drink, saying; "Let him be. Let us see whether Elijah comes to take him down. But Jesus let out a loud cry and expired.

Mathew 27:40-54   But the rest of them said; " Let him be. Let us see whether Elijah comes to save him."  Another man took a spear and pierced his side, and blood and water came out.  Again Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit... and the curtain of the sanctuary was rent in two.....but the army officer and those with him watching Jesus, then they saw the earthquake and the things happening, grew very much afraid, saying,"Certainly this was God's Son".

Mark tells us exactly the time it was when Jesus died; 9:00PM Wednesday evening. 

The major events of this day are listed in detail so the reader  realizes that the hypothesis of the church that states Christ  died on a Friday and he was crucified at 9:00AM in the morning and died at 3:00PM in the afternoon is an impossibility.  He did NOT die on a Friday, he died on a Wednesday. he did NOT die at 3PM , he died at 9PM just like Mark 15:34-37 says he did.  We know from reading the scriptures that it was already morning when Jesus was taken to the Sanhedrin. All the listed events from the time he was taken to the Sanhedrin to the time he was actually crucified cannot happen in three hours from 6AM to 9AM.   Besides , this theory would contradict the statement made by the apostle John that it was the sixth hour (12:00 noon our time) when Jesus was with Pilate in the Gabbatha - John 19:13.    It would contradict the statements made by Mark 15:24-25 that he was crucified at the third hour  and mark 15:33-37 that he died at the ninth hour. 

To continue the story from Jesus death to his finished burial go to   here
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/Paradise/8459/time_of_christ_burial2.html 

The following is found at  www.yahweh.com    in their free online publications , specifically the one entitled Easter at http://www.yahweh.com/booklets/EASTER/easter.htm 
This is also a very thorough rendition of how Christ's sacrifice tied into the exact timing of the passover sacrifices.

The Sunday Resurrection Lie!

Christendom teaches that the Messiah rose from His grave on Sunday morning and because of this, they say, they are worshiping on the day of His resurrection. There is, however, no Scriptural proof for this Good Friday-Easter Sunday tradition. As we have seen throughout this booklet, the foundation for this tradition is in pagan antiquity, although this tradition is taught to deceived Christianity as Scripture. Was Yahshua, our true Savior resurrected on Easter Sunday morning? The answer is, NO!

There is a reason this world is confused as to when our Messiah was placed in His grave. The reason being that this whole world has rejected Yahweh and His Laws. Yahweh's Laws include Yahweh's Feast Days; Yahweh's Weekly Sabbath Day__the Seventh Day, plus the Seven Sabbath Days (Holy Convocations) which are shown in Leviticus Chapter 23.

Leviticus 23:2
Speak to the children of Israyl, and say to them; Concerning the Feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be Holy Convocations; these are My Feasts.

The world has rejected not only Yahweh's weekly seventh day Sabbath, but they have also rejected all of Yahweh's Feast Days (Holy Convocations) by replacing them with their own feast days which are condemned in the Holy Scriptures.

These Feasts are the Feasts of Yahweh; they are not feasts of the Jews, as many would say. Yahweh's Feasts are not done away with either, as many would like you to think. Yahweh tells us His Feasts are a Statute forever. This world, therefore, is not led by Yahweh's Holy Spirit, because they have rejected Yahweh, Who inspired the Prophet Hosheyah to say; ...Because you have forgotten the Law of Yahweh, I will also forget your children.

For more facts concerning Yahweh's Sabbath Days, please write for information about how you may obtain our book, The Sabbath...Every Question Answered! also request our free booklet, Which Day Is The Sabbath Of The New Testament? Our free booklet, What Yahweh's Feasts Mean To You, will explain the significance of Yahweh's Feasts for His House—The House of Yahweh.


Don't Be Deceived!

In order for you to see through this great deception, it is vital that you understand the difference between Yahweh's Feast day Sabbaths and the weekly Sabbaths—the weekly

Sabbaths always fall on the Seventh Day, Saturday, whereas the Feast day Sabbaths can fall on any day of the week.

Most people today are deceived into believing that the Messiah was resurrected on Easter Sunday morning. They believe they are honoring His resurrection by celebrating an Easter sunrise service. This belief is based on the following Scripture from The King James Version which says:

Matthew 28:1 KJV—
In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre

False preachers will tell you this dawning toward the first of the week is at the time of day called sunrise. This is a false conclusion. This dawning toward the First Day of the week was actually at a time of day called sunset.

To know what time of day this Scripture is referring to, we must first know the time sequence in a day. Yahweh our Heavenly Father, the Creator of the day, tells us the time sequence of a day.

Genesis 1:5—
And Yahweh called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And the evening and then the morning were the First Day

Yahweh created a day to be an evening (darkness) first, and then the morning (light). Genesis 1:4-13 gives the story of the creation of the first three days in a week; each day was one night, then one day—which is one day, Yahweh's way. The first three days of creation were a time sequence of seventy-two hours, spanning one night, one day; one night, one day; one night, one day. This same principle applies to the time span in which Yahshua was in the grave.

The words coming from Yahshua's own mouth about His resurrection, were that He would be in the grave three days and three nights.

Mattithyah 12:40—
For as Yahnah was THREE days and THREE nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Yahnah 1:17—
Now Yahweh had prepared a great fish to swallow up Yahnah. And Yahnah was in the belly of the fish three days AND three nights.

Even the critics admit that this means a period of seventy-two hours. They admit there were three twelve hour days, and three twelve hour nights in which Yahnah was in the belly of the fish. And just as distinctly, Yahshua Messiah said that He would be in the grave for the same length of time. Not only this, but Yahshua Himself gives us the length of time in a day.

Yahchanan 11:8-9—
8 His disciples said to Him; Teacher, the Yahdaim just recently tried to stone You, and You go there again?
9 Yahshua answered: Are there not TWELVE HOURS IN THE DAY? If any man walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

The teaching of the majority of Sunday keeping Christianity is that the Messiah was put in the grave on Good Friday at sunset, and was resurrected at sunrise on Easter Sunday morning. But our Messiah said that the only sign He would give that He was the true Messiah, was the sign of the Prophet Yahnah—the sign that He would be in the grave three days and three nights. Can you get three days and three nights from Christianity's Time Sequence?

Friday Night__One Night

Saturday Day__One Day

Saturday Night__One Night

Resurrected Sunday at Dawn__No Day

There are two nights and one day in this time sequence. It should not be too difficult for anyone to understand that this was a period of about thirty-six hours—not seventy-two hours. Even a child can figure that there are not three days and three nights from Friday sunset to Sunday sunrise__yet Satan has caused the majority of people in this world to accept this lie.

If Yahshua had been placed in the grave on Good Friday evening at sunset, then His resurrection should not have taken place until Monday evening at sunset.

Was our Messiah confused, or is this whole world deceived as the Holy Scriptures say in Revelation 12:9? Satan has deceived this whole world. Could this lie of a Sunday sunrise resurrection be one of the ways by which Satan has so subtly deceived this world?

Yahshua knew how long He would be in the grave. There was no guessing or speculation. It was absolutely necessary that Yahshua Messiah fulfill this prophecy, or otherwise He would not prove to be the true Messiah. The true Messiah sent by Yahweh must have remained in the grave three days and three nights.

Yahshua did remain in the grave three days and three nights, proving that He was the true Messiah sent by Yahweh. Read Mattithyah 28:1 again for affirmation that the two Miryams came at the end of the Sabbath. Just after sunset, while it was still twilight, the two Miryams went to the sepulcher, and found it empty. The malak told them Yahshua had already risen and departed.

Other vital facts you must have in your mind are the facts about the sacrifice of our Messiah.

FACT #1 Our Savior was to be killed (sacrificed) at the time of the Passover.

Mattithyah 26:2—
You know that after two days the PASSOVERis celebrated as a Feast, but the Son of Man is betrayed before; prior to this Feast, to be sacrificed.

FACT #2: Our Messiah died as our sacrifice. He paid the death penalty for us that we may live (Romans 6:23). As our sacrifice, our Messiah is enabling us to keep Yahweh's Passover according to His ordinance.

FACT #3: The Messiah is our Passover Lamb.

I Kepha 1:18-19—
18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, from your idolatrous way of life handed down to you by tradition from your forefathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Messiah, as of a LAMB without blemish and without spot.

Yahchanan 1:29—
The next day Yahchanan saw YAHSHUA coming toward him, and said; Behold! The Lamb of Yahweh Who takes away the sin of the world!

I Corinthians 5:7—
Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new batch, since you are unleavened. For truly Yahshua our Passover was sacrificed for us.

FACT #4: Our Savior was sacrificed for us on the exact same day, at the exact same time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered on the temple mount. If this were not so, He could not be our Passover sacrifice.

This is a provable fact. Letting Scripture interpret Scripture we can understand the ordinance of the Passover Lamb, and the exact day it was to be kept up to.

Exodus 12:6—
And you must keep it until the Fourteenth Day of the same Moon: then the whole multitude of the congregation of Israyl shall kill it between the two evenings.

This lamb had to be alive on the fourteenth day, and then it was killed between the two evenings.

The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, edited by J.H. Hertz, page 254, explains the meaning of between the two evenings.

6. at dusk. Better, towards even (M. Friedlander); lit. `between' the-two evenings'. According to the Talmud, the `first evening' is the time in the afternoon when the heat of the sun begins to decrease, about 3 o'clock; and the `second evening' commences with sunset. Josephus relates that the Passover sacrifice `was offered from the ninth to the eleventh hour', i.e. between 3 and 5 p.m.

Leviticus 23:5—
On the Fourteenth of the First Moon, between the two evenings, Yahweh's Passover Sacrifice is to be killed.

The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, by Hertz, page 520, gives a clearer meaning of the Passover in this Scripture.

at dusk is the LORD'S Passover. Better, towards even is a Passover unto the Lord (Friedlander) i.e. a paschal offering in honor of the Lord.

The Passover lambs were slaughtered on the temple mount on the fourteenth day in the afternoon. The man of the household had the responsibility of killing this lamb for his family. The woman of the household then had the responsibility of roasting, not boiling, this lamb until it would be thoroughly done. This roasting process would take at least three to four, or more hours.


Which Day Was The Messiah Put In The Grave?

Which Day Did He Rise?

Our Messiah fulfilled the Passover Lamb requirement. Yahshua did not abrogate Yahweh's Laws in any way. Yahshua was offered on the fourteenth day of the First Moon between the two evenings.


 

 

Immediately after that sunset would begin the fifteenth day. Remember, Yahweh created days to begin and end at sunset. Sundown on the fourteenth would be the beginning of the first Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the fifteenth day.

Leviticus 23:6-7—
6 And on the fifteenth day of the same moon is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to Yahweh; seven days you must eat unleavened bread.
7 On the First Day you shall have a Holy Convocation; you shall do no regular work on it.

The world does not know the facts about the Feast day Sabbaths—one of which is that these Feast day Sabbaths can fall on any day of the week. With this fact firmly in mind we can then understand what is being said in Yahchanan Mark.

Yahchanan Mark 16:1—
And when THE Passover SABBATH WAS PAST, Miriam Magdalene, and Miriam the mother of Yaaqob, and Salome, bought sweet spices, that they might go and anoint Him.

This Sabbath was not the Weekly Sabbath! This particular Sabbath was the First Holy Day Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Luke 23:56—
Then they returned. Then they prepared spices and ointments. Then they rested the Sabbath Day according to the Law.

In these two Scriptures, we see that there are two Sabbaths spoken of. One Sabbath had already passed when they bought the spices. Then they prepared the spices they had bought after the Sabbath had already passed. Then they rested on the weekly Saturday Sabbath according to the Law of Yahweh.

By understanding these previous Scriptures we know our Savior was not put into the grave on Friday before the Weekly Sabbath. We know Yahshua was placed in His grave on Wednesday just before sunset—before the Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.


                                                                              

 

The diagram above shows the two Sabbaths that came in that one week. Now we know and understand it was before the Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread that Yahseph of Arimathea demanded the Body of Yahshua and not before the weekly Saturday Sabbath.

Yahchanan Mark 15:42-43—
42 By now, the first evening had come, and because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the Passover High Holy Day Sabbath,
43 Yahseph of Arimathea, an honorable member of the Sanhedrin, who also waited for the Kingdom of Yahweh, came, and went in boldly to Pilate, and asked for the body of Yahshua.

In Yahchanan Mark 15:46 it is stated that Yahshua's body was wrapped in linen and laid in a sepulcher. A stone was then rolled in front of the door. This burial was taking place on a Wednesday Afternoon, just before sunset, as Scriptures do prove.

Prove this for yourself. Count forward: Wednesday NIGHT, Thursday DAY, Thursday NIGHT, Friday DAY, Friday NIGHT, Sabbath DAY. There are three NIGHTS and three DAYS in this time sequence.

 

Our Messiah was not resurrected Sunday morning at sunrise. Yahshua rose Saturday Sabbath evening, which makes it exactly three days and three nights that He was in the grave, thereby fulfilling the only signs He gave that He was the true Messiah.

For an even greater indepth study of this most important truth concerning the resurrection of the true Messiah, please request our free booklets, Was The Resurrection On Sunday? and Yahweh's Passover & Yahshua's Memorial. Also write for information about how to obtain our books, Devil Worship...The Shocking Facts!, The Sabbath...Every Question Answered! and Deceptions Concerning Yahweh's Calendar Of Events.

 

return to bible evidence links page    see also our page on Easter