EVENTS OF SUNDAY, NISAN 17, 32 A.D. [FEAST OF FIRST-FRUITS AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST]

WOMEN TAKE SPICES TO TOMB IN EARLY MORNING 

The “Feast of First-fruits”, Sunday, Nisan 17, began after the sundown of Saturday, Nisan 16, (the Saturday Sabbath) and we know from the Scriptures that it was sometime before sunrise of Sunday, Nisan 17 that Jesus Christ arose from death to new life before His women followers arrived at His tomb to anoint His body with spices. 

In Mark 16:1, we read: 

“And when the Sabbath [weekly Saturday Sabbath] was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.” 

In Luke 24:1, we read: 

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared.” 

In Apostle John’s account of Jesus Christ’s burial he reveals that Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus wound Jesus in linen and spices that Nicodemus brought to the tomb. -- So, why did the women take more spices and ointment to the tomb on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus? – Had not the women witnessed Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus winding Jesus up in linen cloths with spices? – The Scriptures don’t reveal ‘why’ the body of Jesus required more anointing of spices than had already been done by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus. Again, as I mentioned in the Saturday, Nisan 16 posting,  apparently the women were unaware that the body of Jesus had already been wound up in spices by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus. 

THE WOMEN BECOME CONCERNED ABOUT ROLLING BACK THE STONE IN FRONT OF THE TOMB OF JESUS

Apostle Mark tells us that the women had no intention of rolling back the stone from the tomb of Jesus all by themselves, and were concerned about how they were going to be able to anoint the body of Jesus until stone was moved...

In Mark 16:3, we read: 

“And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?”

What the women didn’t know was that God had already solved the problem of their having to move away the stone from the entrance to the garden tomb. 

In Matthew 28:1-6 we read:

“In the end of the Sabbath [Shabbat - the Saturday Sabbath], as it began to DAWN toward the first day of the week [Sunday], came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” 

In Mark 16:3-6, we read: 

“And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” 

In Luke 24:1-8, we read: 

“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words.” 

MARY MAGDALENE RETURNS HOME TO TELL APOSTLES JOHN AND PETER THAT THE BODY OF JESUS IS MISSING – SHE LEAVES THE OTHER WOMEN AT THE TOMB 

In John 20:1-10, we read: 

“The first day of the week [Sunday] cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved [John], and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple [John], and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple [John] did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he [John] stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple [John], which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.” 

Now let us look again at what Peter and John found when they looked into the garden tomb where Jesus had been laid by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea. 

In John 20:3-7, we read: 

“Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he [John] stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes [plural] lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.” 

MARY MAGDALENE ALONE AT TOMB – PETER AND JOHN RETURN HOME 

The other women who had come to the garden tomb early with Mary Magdalene stayed at the tomb for awhile when Mary Magdalene left to go get the apostles John and Peter. When Mary Magdalene arrived back at the tomb with the apostles John and Peter, the other women had already left the garden tomb. 

In Matthew 28:5-8, we read: 

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.” 

In John 20:11-18, we read: 

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.” 

Comparing the four gospel accounts of the Christ’s Resurrection, it appears that Mary Magdalene was the very first person to see the risen Christ. –

In John 20:17, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene...

"Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father." 

However, later that very same morning the other women who had been with Mary Magdalene and left the tomb and hurriedly head off to the city of Jerusalem to tell the other disciples that Jesus has risen from the dead. Now, in Matthew 28:9, it is revealed that Jesus meets these other women on their way to Jerusalem and the following occurs:

“And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and HELD HIM BY THE FEET, and worshipped him.” 

Also, when Jesus appeared in the upper room to His disciples on that same evening He said the following to His disciples in Luke 24:38-39: 

“Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: HANDLE ME, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” 

If the other women who had left the tomb were able to “clasp Jesus by the feet and worship Him” – and if Jesus invited His disciples to “handle me and see that I am not a spirit but flesh and bones” – then why could Mary Magdalene NOT TOUCH Jesus and worship Him when He approached her in the area of the tomb? 

-- Jesus gives us the answer in John 20:17...

“For I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” 

JESUS ASCENDS UNTO HIS FATHER AFTER MARY LEAVES THE GARDEN TOMB 

The following quote reveals why Jesus had to ascend to His Father in Heaven before He could allow any human being to touch Him after His resurrection. The great Bible teacher, M.R. DeHaan, M.D. states concerning the blood of Jesus: 

[BEGIN QUOTE] - The blood was to be sprinkled, remember, on the mercy seat right after the death of the substitutionary animal of sacrifice. 

Now Christ is, of course, our substitute [Perfect Blood Sacrifice]. He was slain for us upon the Cross, and entered into death for us, and when He arose, He immediately went to heaven, entered into the holy of holies [in the Temple] in heaven, sprinkled His precious blood upon the mercy seat before the throne of God, and forever settled the sin questions, and delivered us from the curse of the law. This is clearly taught in the New testament. Hebrews 9:12 is very definite on this: "But by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." 

The Bible also makes plain when He accomplished this on the morning of the resurrection He meets Mary at the tomb. As soon as Mary recognized Him, she prostrated herself upon Him, and would have kissed His feet, but with shocking suddenness, Jesus emphatically says to her: "Touch me not"; and then He proceeds immediately to give the reason why Mary is not permitted to touch Him at all. "For I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God." (John 20:17) 

Literally the Lord Jesus Christ said, "Touch me not; for I now am about to ascend unto my Father." We can understand this action when we remember the the high priest after he had offered the sacrifice, was to enter the holy of holies, before he did anything else, with the precious blood. No one was allowed to approach him. Everyone was shut out until this was completely done. And here in the record of the meeting with Mary we have the fulfillment of this type. Here Mary meets her great High Priest, just arisen from the tomb, but before He had entered the holy of holies [in the Temple in Heaven] with the reconciling blood. And so He says to her, "TOUCH ME NOT." [END QUOTE]

SOURCE: The TABERNACLE, by M.R. DeHaan, M.D., ISBN 0-310-23491-3, page 129 

It is important to note here that Jesus Christ had to fulfill the typology of Himself that had been being demonstrated by the Old Testament high priest when he entered into the Holy of Holies on the “Feast of Atonement” each year to apply animal blood to the ‘Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant’ to cover the sins of the people. The animal blood applied to the ‘Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant’ of course represented the blood of the ‘Perfect Blood Sacrifce’ that Jesus Christ would one day make for the sins of all of mankind. So, after Christ’s Resurrection it was necessary that His shed blood be sprinkled onto the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ in the Temple in Heaven to symbolize the forgiveness of sins of all of mankind forever. 

JESUS APPLIES HIS SHED BLOOD ONTO MERCY SEAT OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES OF THE TEMPLE IN HEAVEN

In Hebrews 9:22, we read:

 “. . . . without shedding of blood is no remission [no pardon, or forgiveness of sin].” 

The Book of Leviticus in the Holy Scriptures gave very specific instructions to the Levite high priests regarding how the blood of a goat sacrificed on the brazen altar was to be taken into the Holy of holies in the earthly Tabernacle and sprinkled onto and before the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ to atone for the sins of the people. 

In Leviticus 16:11-17, we read: 

“And Aaron [in representation of our High Priest Jesus Christ] shall bring the bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin offering which is for himself: And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail [into the Holy of Holies area of the Tabernacle]: And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony [the Ark of the Covenant], that he die not: And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail [into the Holy of Holies area of the Tabernacle], and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place [Holy of Holies area in the Temple], until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.”

Please note that before the high priest was able to apply the blood of the sacrificial animal onto and before the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ that he had to undergo a purification process before he could appear before God’s Presence in the Holy of Holies area. In the text of Leviticus 16:11-17, it would seem to imply that NO ONE COULD TOUCH THE HIGHT PRIEST until after he had completed his work in the Holy of Holies. If anyone were to touch the high priest after he had gone through the purifcation process of placing the blood of a bullock upon the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ it would defile him and make him unfit to complete the task of placing the blood of a sacrificial goat on the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ in order to obtain forgiveness of the sins of the people from God.

Through His ‘Perfect Blood Sacrifice’ on the Cross, Jesus Christ had become purified from bearing in His own body the sins of all of mankind that had been placed upon Him by God the Father when he made His sacrifice on the Cross. – So, after His resurrection from death to new life, Jesus told Mary Magdalene that He must ascend to His Father in Heaven, meaning that He must ascend into Heaven right away so that He could apply His precious Blood onto the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ which was located in the Holy of Holies area of the Temple in Heaven. - And, being that because of His ‘Perfect Blood Sacrifice’ on the Cross that Jesus was purified from having born the sins of all of mankind in His own body, Jesus could not allow Mary Magdalene to touch Him. If Jesus would have allowed Mary Magdalene to touch Him he would have become defiled and He would not have been able to carry out His work of placing His own blood on the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ in the Temple in Heaven as a symbol of the forgiveness He had purchased with His own blood for all of mankind. 

The idea was that when God looked down upon the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ in the Holy of Holies area in the Temple in Heaven, God would see the stone tablets inside the Ark of the Covenant containing the Ten Commandments that He had given to His people and that all of mankind had broken. Then, while still looking down, He would see the blood stain of His Son’s ‘Perfect Blood Sacrifice’ on the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ covering the sins of all of mankind. God’s hand of judgment would then be stayed upon all of mankind who had repented and trusted in His Son’s Perfect Blood Sacrifice on the Cross as being a full pardon and complete cleansing of all of their sins forever.

So, where do we find Holy Scripture to support that there even is a Temple, a Holy of Holies, a Mercy Seat, and an Ark of the Covenant in Heaven? – In Revelation 15:5-8, we learn from Apostle John that there is a Temple in Heaven: 

“And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened: And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.” 

The Temple in Heaven is mentioned eight times in the Book of Revelation between Revelation 11:19 and Revelation 16:17. And according to Revelation 11:19, there is an ark in that Temple:

“And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament.” 

So, how do we know that Jesus Christ entered into the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Heaven? 

In Hebrews 9:11-12, we read: 

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY [the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Heaven], having obtained eternal redemption for us.” 

Today, Jesus is our High Priest and He Himself has sprinkled His own blood onto the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ in Heaven. 

In Hebrews 9:24-26, we read:

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” 

Jesus Christ took His precious shed blood to Heaven to present unto the Father, and by applying it upon the ‘Mercy Seat of the Ark of the Covenant’ Jesus demonstrated in Heaven before His own Father that He had indeed purchased salvation with His own precious blood for the sins of all of mankind. 

In 1 John 1:7, we read: 

“. . . . and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

JESUS GREETS THE OTHER WOMEN AFTER RETURNING FROM HIS ASCENSION TO HIS FATHER

In Matthew 28:5-10, we read…

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee [Galilee was about 130 kilometers, 80 miles from the garden tomb in Jerusalem]; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” 

DID THE WOMEN GO TO GALILEE AFTER LEAVING THE GARDEN TOMB ON RESURRECTION SUNDAY? 

It was impossible for Jesus to meet with His disciples in Galilee on the same Sunday that He resurrected from death to new life. – As previously stated, Galilee was about 130 kilometers, or 80 miles  from where the garden tomb was located and there is no way that the disciples were able to walk that many miles in one day. – Even if the disciples were able to walk 20 miles per day, it would have taken about four days for them to make the journey from Jerusalem to Galilee. 

So where did the disciples meet with Jesus after His resurrection, Galilee or Jerusalem? – The following quote helps to shed some light on that question:

[BEGIN QUOTE] - Three times in the gospel of Matthew, the writer recorded where certain disciples of Jesus were instructed to meet the Lord in Galilee after His resurrection. During the Passover meal ["Last Supper" meal] that Jesus ate the night of His betrayal, He informed His disciples, saying, “After I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee” (Matthew 26:32). Three days later, on the day of Jesus’ resurrection when Mary Magdalene and the other women came to the empty tomb of Jesus, Matthew recorded how an angel told them to notify the disciples of Jesus’ resurrection, and to tell them exactly the same thing they were told three days earlier: “He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him” (28:7). Then, only three verses later, as the women were on their way to inform the disciples of Jesus’ resurrection and the message given to them by the angel, Matthew recorded how Jesus appeared to them and said: “Rejoice!… Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me” (28:9-10). Sometime thereafter, “the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them,” and “worshipped Him” (28:16). So, where exactly did Jesus intend to meet with His disciples—in Galilee or Jerusalem?

The truth is, Jesus met with His disciples in both places, but He did so at different times. One of the reasons so many people allege that two or more Bible passages are contradictory is because they fail to recognize that mere differences do not necessitate a contradiction. For there to be a bona fide contradiction, not only must one be referring to the same person, place, or thing in the same sense, but the same time period must be under consideration. One thing we must keep in mind as we study the Bible is that it normally is not as concerned about chronology as modern-day writings. Frequently (especially in the gospel accounts), writers went from one subject to the next without giving the actual time or the exact order in which something was done or taught (cf. Luke 4:1-3; Matthew 4:1-11). -- In Luke 24, the writer omitted the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus in Galilee (mentioned by both Matthew and John). However, notice that he never stated that Jesus remained only in Jerusalem from the day He rose from the grave until the day He ascended up into heaven. [END QUOTE] 

 TODAY IS THE ‘THIRD DAY’ 

In Luke 24:13-21, we read:

“And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 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.” 

In Matthew 12:38-40, we read: 

“Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 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.”

In Jonah 1:1-17, we read: 

“Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 

But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah. Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? 

And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. 

Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.

And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you. Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them. Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee. So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows. 

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” 

Please notice in the above dissertation concerning Jonah’s ship-board experiences that there is no mention of what time of the day that Jonah was “cast forth into the sea.” – Nor is there any mention in Jonah Chapter 2 of what time of the day the great fish vomited Jonah out onto the land. All we know from Holy Scripture is that Jonah was cast into the sea and swallowed by the great fish on Day One, that he remained inside the great fish on Night One and Day Two, that he remained inside the great fish on Night Two and Day Three, that he remained in the great fish Night Three and was then vomited out of the fish onto dry land sometime after Night hours ended. 

It was the same with Jesus Christ. – Jesus was buried on Thursday afternoon, Nisan 14 (Day One). Jesus remained in the tomb on Friday night, Nisan 15, which was the Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread (Night One), He remained in the tomb during all the daytime hours of Friday, Nisan 15 (Day Two). Jesus then remained in the tomb during the night hours of Nisan 16, the weekly Saturday Sabbath (Night Two). Jesus then remained in the tomb during the daytime hours of Nisan 16, the weekly Saturday Sabbath (Day Three). Jesus continued to remain in the tomb throughout the night hours of Resurrection Sunday, Nisan 17 (Night Three). Jesus then resurrected before the daylight hours began on Sunday, Nisan 17. 

Jesus was in the tomb a total of 3 days and 3 nights. Please know that the term “day” may be used for a period of time less than 24 hours. The following quote from the Jewish Encyclopedia clarifies this truth: 

[BEGIN QUOTE] - The term "day" is used also to denote a period of twenty-four hours (Ex. xxi. 21). In Jewish communal life part of a day is at times reckoned as one day; e.g., the day of the funeral, even when the latter takes place late in the afternoon, is counted as the first of the seven days of mourning; a short time in the morning of the seventh day is counted as the seventh day. [END QUOTE] 

The traditional counting method of days and nights for those who celebrate “Good Friday” as the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is as follows: 

Day One – Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday before the sunset. Night One – Jesus stayed in the tomb Friday night. Day Two – Jesus stayed in the tomb all of the Saturday Sabbath Day. Night Two – Jesus stayed in the tomb during hours after Saturday sunset (Sunday night). Please notice that we can go no further than two days and two nights using a “Good Friday” crucifixion date. 

In John 20:1, we read: 

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre . . . “ 

This means we cannot get a third day, let alone a third night for Christ’s burial with a Friday crucifixion date. 

The people who believe that Jesus Christ was crucified on a Wednesday rather than a Friday also have a problem. – Why? – Because we read the following in John 12:1-2:

“Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.” 

If Jesus were crucified on a Wednesday, then the day he entered into Bethany and had supper with Lazarus would have had to have been on a Friday (counting back six days from Wednesday) That would mean that He would have had to enter into Jerusalem on the ‘Saturday Sabbath’ which followed that Friday because in John 12:12 we read:

“On the next day [after His arriving in Bethany] much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” 

If Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on the Saturday Sabbath it would have been a direct violation of Jewish Law; Jesus would have been breaking the Sabbath. So, we see that it is impossible for Jesus Christ to have been crucified on a Wednesday, or on a Friday. 

JESUS CHRIST WAS CRUCIFIED ON THURSDAY, NISAN 14, 32 A.D. 

Jesus was crucified on Thursday, Nisan 14 which was “preparation day” for the upcoming Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread that would begin after the sunset of Thursday, Nisan 14. 

When we count the days that Jesus was in the tomb beginning with Thursday, Nisan 14, afternoon, the count is as follows: 

Day One – Thursday, Nisan 14, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. 

Night One – Friday, Nisan 15, Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread. 

Day Two – Friday, Nisan 15, Feast of Unleavened Bread day hours. 

Night Two – Saturday Sabbath night hours which began after Friday sunset. 

Day Three – Saturday Sabbath day hours which began at sunrise. 

Night Three – Sunday Night hours which began after Saturday sunset. 

Jesus Christ rose from the tomb BEFORE the daylight hours of the 4th day began. A Thursday crucifixion day is the ONLY DAY that fulfills the prophecy of 3 days and 3 nights for Jesus being in the tomb just as it did for Jonah being 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of a great fish. - 

CONCLUSION

This is the end of my "EASTER MEDITATIONS" series of postings. - I hope you have enjoyed these postings about Christ's final Passover week that REVEAL THE TRUTH of what really happened during the Passover Week of Nisan 32 A.D. in which Jesus Christ was Crucified, Buried, and Resurrected.

I pray that you will not keep these truths to yourself, but will share these truths from your own Bible with both Christians and non-Christians. --May God Bless you and give you the boldness and courage to carry out His Commission to teach others.