![]() |
|||||||
RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES | |||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD | |||||
2020-04-08 | What Day Was Jesus Crucified On? | ||||
What Day Was Jesus Crucified On? Traditionally, many believe Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Most believe this by default. That is, everyone else seems to believe that so it must be true. It seems anyone who has taken the time to find the answer discovers the traditional view just does not work. Allow me to give just a couple reasons why the Friday crucifixion day does NOT fit the Biblical narrative. These are not in any particular order, and I have a more complete study available for anyone who is interested. 1. Jesus said He would be in the grave as a “sign” for 3 days and 3 nights. Mat 12:39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Mat 12:40 For as Jonah 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. • The reference to “days” and “nights” implies full days (24 hour days). Jesus refers back to the prophet Jonah who was in the belly of the great fish 3 days and 3 nights (Jonah 1:17). Notice that in verse 40 Jesus repeated the phrase “three days and three nights.” He intends us to take this seriously. The fact that Jesus mentions an exact number along with the 'days' and 'nights' reference cannot be ignored. The sign of Jonah “three days and three nights” in the great fish is also the sign “three days and three nights” for Jesus' time in the grave. This specific sign will demonstrate that He is the Messiah to that unbelieving generation. Try to get three days and three nights from late Friday afternoon till early Sunday morning. It is not even close. Of course it works perfectly from late Wednesday afternoon till the women discovered Jesus was already resurrected early Sunday morning. I should also point out that Paul declared the resurrection of Christ is “according to the Scriptures” (1Co.15:4). He is referring back to Jonah as well. 2. The Greek text tells us Jesus was in the grave during multiple sabbaths (Mt.28:1) Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. The word “sabbath” is actually plural. So it should be translated as “sabbaths”. Why does the text use the plural form? The reason is because Jesus was in the grave during 2 sabbaths. Jesus was crucified on Passover. The next day (Thursday) was a high sabbath called the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” (Lv.23:6-8). Thus, Jesus was in the grave (1) for the Feast of Unleavened Bread and (2) the weekly sabbath (Saturday). Of course, a Friday crucifixion day will not work to accommodate the multiple sabbaths that week. There are many other events surrounding the death and resurrection of Christ. I have provided a handout as an attachment, so you should have it. I am just providing two texts to get you thinking. May we be like the Bereans. Act 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Pastor Tom Elseroad |
|||||
The following charts may be helpful for those
wanting to study further: http://www.otischurch.com/resources/topics/christ/christ-last-days-pt1-2.pdf http://www.otischurch.com/resources/topics/christ/crucifixion-presentation-slide05.pdf |
|||||
The following audio may be helpful for those
wanting to study further http://www.otischurch.com/resources/topics/christ/2017-04-12-Tom-Elseroad-day-of-christs-crucifixion(mt.12_40).mp3 |
![]() An Evangelical Free Church of America |
![]() |
23304 E Wellesley
Ave. Otis Orchards, WA 99027 Church Office: 509.926.9552 Church Cell: 509.342.9145 Pastor Cell: 509.828.8843 tomelseroad@gmail.com |