Passion Week

This is a very different look at Passion Week. What you are about to discover is shockingly simple, but profoundly dynamic.

"For the Word of God is QUICK, and POWERFUL, and SHARPER than any two-edged sword, PIERCING even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a DISCERNER of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

Exodus 12:3-6 is a key that unlocks the Biblical truth about Passion Week.

Exodus 12:3 - "Speak unto the congregation of Israel, saying, in the 10th day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb.."

The Passover lamb was to be identified on the 10th day of the month. Here's a simple statement of Scripture that carries a profound truth. Israel was to choose the Lamb for Passover on a specific day: the 10th day of ABIB. The Passover lamb prefigured Christ. Christ must necessarily have been chosen, identified, and separated out by Israel on the very day of lamb-picking: the 10th day of ABIB. This is the day we call "Palm Sunday"; the day when Christ accepted Israel's identification of him as the "King of the Jews".

John 12:1 - "Then Yahshua (Jesus) six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead."

John 12:12 - "On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Yahshua was coming to Jerusalem,
John 12:13 - 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.'
John 12:14 - And Yahshua, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,
John 12:15 - Fear not, daughter of Sion; behold, Thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.
John 12:16 - These things understood not his disciples at the first; but when Yahshua was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him."

Exodus 12:6 - "And ye shall keep it up until the 14th day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation shall kill it in the evening." (literally: "between the two evenings" cf. Numbers 9:2)

(note: A Hebrew day was defined as beginning at sunset (even) and ending at sunset (even), thus "between the two evenings" means any portion of that day.)
". . . and the evening and the morning were the first day". (Genesis 1:5)
". . . from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath". (Leviticus 23:32)

Thus, the Passover lamb was to be killed on the 14th day of the same month. Yahshua (Jesus) was crucified on the 14th day of the same month.

". . . not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people." (Matthew 26:5)

"And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast . . ." (Numbers 28:16,17)

Clearly then, Palm Sunday occurred on the 10th of ABIB. The Triumphal Entry was the event that opened Passion Week and identified Yahshua as the "King of the Jews". Yahshua, the lamb of God, was then to be killed, as was the passover lamb, on the 14th of ABIB, thereby fulfilling the law as it pertained to the Passover.

Yahshua, our Passover, entered Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of an ass, whereupon he was identified by all the congregation of Israel as "King of the Jews". It was this identity that he carried with him to the cross. This was the one thing that separated him from all other Israelites and identified him to be crucified. And in accordance with the requirement of Exodus 12:3; that the Passover lamb was to be identified, chosen, and separated from among the flocks on the 10th day of ABIB, Yahshua, in like manner, was identified, chosen, and separated from among the 'sheep' of the House of Israel on the 10th day of ABIB.

Luke 21:22 - "That all things which were written may be fulfilled."

John 19:19 - "And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS."

John 19:20 - "This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin."

John 19:28 - "After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished; that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst."

Acts 13:29 - "And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre."

It was none other than the Triumphal Entry that identified Yahshua on the 10th day of the month. He was chosen "King of the Jews". And, according to the scriptures, he was sacrificed as the Passover lamb, on the 14th day of the same month.

Now think about this . . .

If Yahshua (Jesus) entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to begin Passion Week, and that was the 10th of the month, on what day of the week would he have died, if as the Passover, he was sacrificed on the 14th day of the same month that the scriptures might be fulfilled.

      10th -- Palm Sunday
    11th -- Monday
      12th -- Tuesday
      13th -- Wednesday
      14th -- Thursday Crucifixion

Yahshua fulfilled the law of Moses by satisfying every requirement of the law (Torah). Exodus 12:3-6 is part of the law (Torah) of Moses.

What would have happened if Yahshua had failed to satisfy every demand of the Torah that applied to him? It would have been sin because sin is defined as "the transgression of the law (Torah)" (I John 3:4). But because Yahshua was without sin, he perfectly fulfilled the Torah concerning those things which were written of him.

If, as many believe, Yahshua died on a Friday, the "Triumphal Entry" would have occurred on a Monday, not Palm Sunday.

       10th -- Monday Triumphal Entry
       11th -- Tuesday
       12th -- Wednesday
       13th -- Thursday
       14th -- Friday Crucifixion

And if the "Triumphal Entry" occurred on a Sunday (Palm Sunday), the crucifixion must have occurred on a Thursday, not a Friday.

       10th -- Palm Sunday
       11th -- Monday
       12th -- Tuesday
       13th -- Wednesday
       14th -- Thursday Crucifixion

Therefore it should be clear that what is traditionally observed by Catholic and Protestant churches alike, that Palm Sunday was the "Triumphal Entry" and Good Friday was the day he was crucified, does not fit with the fact of Exodus 12:3-6. Palm Sunday would be the 9th if Good Friday is the 14th. But as we know, the Passover lamb was not to be identified on the 9th, but on the 10th of the month.

       14th -- Friday Crucifixion
       13th -- Thursday
       12th -- Wednesday
       11th -- Tuesday
       10th -- Monday
         9th -- Palm Sunday

Just for arguments sake, let's just say Yahshua was crucified on a Wednesday. When would that place the Triumphal Entry?

        14th -- Wednesday Crucifixion
        13th -- Tuesday
        12th -- Monday
        11th -- Sunday
        10th -- Saturday (7th-day Sabbath)

This argument would fail too, because to defend a Wednesday crucifixion it would be necessary to defend the scripturally unsupportable position that the Triumphal Entry occurred on a Saturday, the Sabbath of the LORD. Should that have occurred, where were the objections that surely would have occurred to the breaking off of Palm branches to strew in Yahshua's pathway (Matthew 21:8, Mark 11:8), or the objections to Yahshua riding on the back of a donkey, forbidden clearly by the Sabbath commandment which specifies that you were to let your donkey (ass) rest on the Sabbath day? (Exodus 23:12, Deuteronomy 5:14, Matthew 21:2,5)

Therefore, the only thing to decide is:

1) Did the 10th (Triumphal Entry) occur on Palm Sunday, which would cause the 14th (crucifixion) to fall on a Thursday, or
2) Did the 10th (Triumphal Entry) occur on a Monday, which would cause the 14th (crucifixion) to fall on Good Friday?

Again we turn to the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

". . . for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16,17)

"For I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one yod (smallest Hebrew letter) or one tittle (an ornament or flourish appearing on top of exceptionally few ornamental Hebrew letters) shall in no wise pass from the law (Torah) till all be fulfilled." (Matthew 5:18)

(II Peter 1:15) "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

(1:16) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'

(1:17) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

(1:18) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

(1:19) knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

(1:20) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

At this point I should like to introduce evidence for what might indeed qualify as a "private interpretation" that occurs in nearly every English translation of the Bible, but which, if translated consistently, would have prevented all confusion with regard to understanding the logical sequence of Passion Week.

A great deal of confusion has resulted from a private interpretation of two Greek words with well-established scriptural meanings:
mia - is translated "one"
351 times out of 358 occurrences
(7 times it is privately interpreted "first" in the phrase
"first day of the week")
&
sabbatwn - is translated "Sabbath"
59 times out of 68 occurrences
(8 times it is privately interpreted 'week' in the phrase
"first day of the week")

The phrase the first day of the week occurs 8 times in most English Translations of the Greek New Testament.

Matt 28:1 - Now after the Sabbath (sabbatwn), toward the dawn of the first day of the week (mian sabbatwn), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:2 And very early on the first day of the week (mia twn sabbatwn) they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun.
Mark 16:9 - Now when Jesus was risen early, the first day of the week (prwth sabbatou) he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
Luke 24:1 - But on the first day of the week (mia twn sabbatwn), at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared.
John 20:1 - Now on the first day of the week (mia twn sabbatwn) Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the sepulchre.
John 20:19 - On the evening of that day, the first day of the week (mia twn sabbatwn), the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
Acts 20:7 - On the first day of the week (mia twn sabbatwn), when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
I Cor 16:2 - On the first day of the week (mian sabbatou), each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come.

These are the only occurrences of the phrase the first day of the week within Scripture. With these 8 verses before us, let's take a closer look at the original Greek text from which the English translation was derived.

           The Greek noun "sabbatwn" occurs 68 times.
           Nine times it is privately interpreted "week"

The Word of God has established "sabbaton" in its several forms to mean "Sabbath day" and not "week" by consistently using it to identify a condition of "holy rest", not confusing it with the remainder of the week during which man was commanded to "labor and do all his work". "sabbaton" in its several forms, occurs sixty-eight times in the Greek New Testament. It is assigned Strong's number 4521. Fifty-nine times it is translated "Sabbath, Sabbath day, or Sabbath days". Nine times it is translated "week". Again, this raises some suspicion that late English translators took the liberty to substitute the noun "week" for the noun commonly translated "Sabbath" (holy rest day) and by so doing have given it a "private interpretation". The Greek noun "ebdomas" is translated "week" twenty-two times in the Greek Septuagint commonly used at the time of Christ. (cf. Daniel 9:24-27). Had the gospel writers chosen to say "first day of the week" It is reasonable they would have used the common vernacular current at the time of writing. To insist that the Greek phrase commonly translated "the first day of the week" is an "idiomatic expression" (which can not be proven by other scripture, and can mean anything any "authority" outside of scripture says it means) is speculative and supported only by the "traditions of men". On the other hand, if it means what it says, then Yahshua rose early on "one (hour/day of the Holy Rest days (Sabbaths)" and not on "the first day of the week" (Sunday).

               The Greek adjective "mia" occurs 80 times.
                Seven times it is privately interpreted "first"

"mia" occurs eighty times in the Greek text of the New Testament. It is assigned Strong's number 3391. Seventy-three times it is translated "one". Seven times it is privately interpreted "first". This raises some suspicion that late English translators have taken the liberty to substitute the adjective "first" for an adjective commonly translated as "one" and by so doing have given it a "private interpretation".

first - is an ordinal denoting placement, as in:
first, second, third, fourth, fifth, etc., whereas,

one - is a numeral denoting number: one, two, three, four, five, etc.

What happens when the numeral "one" is translated as an ordinal "first"? Try replacing "one" with "first" in a sentence. What you'll find is that they aren't mutually interchangeable. See what happens when this is done with the following Scriptural examples when the Greek word for "one" (mia) is replaced by "first".

Matt 5:18 - "one (mia) jot or one (mia) tittle shall in no wise pass from the law" becomes:
"first jot or first tittle shall in no wise pass from the law".

Matt 5:36 - "thou canst not make one (mia) hair . . ." becomes: "thou canst not make first hair . . ."

Matt 20:12 - "These last have wrought but one (mia) hour" becomes:
"these last have wrought but first hour".

In this last example, the one hour worked was definitely not the first hour of the day, but was the last hour of the day.

This "private interpretation" becomes even more objectionable when you realize that the masculine form of the Greek adjective (mia) appears as "eis" (hays), and is used exclusively as a numeral in all of its 271 occurrences. (Englishman's Concordance)

Now we have 7 occurrences standing alone meaning "first" while 351 occurrences of the same Greek word mean "one".

The Greek adjective "prwtos" is used once in the 8 occurrences of the phrase "first day of the week". "prwtos" occurs 160 times in the Greek New Testament. Each time it carries the meaning of "first" or "chief".

Mark 16:9 - "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week". (prwth sabbatou)

It must be asked, why is "prwth" (first) used here in place of "mia" if scholars insist that the phrase mia twn sabbatwn is an "idiom" meaning "first day of the week"? Why does Mark choose prwth sabbatou in verse nine after choosing mia twn sabbatwn in verse two if mia twn sabbatwn is, as scholars insist, properly translated "first day of the week"? Now do we suddenly have two "idioms" both meaning "first day of the week"? The truth is found by allowing the Bible to be its own interpreter. 351 times "mia" (in its combined forms) is meaningful only when translated as a numeral "one". The same adjective, is privately interpreted "first" 7 times. Since the Bible has established its meaning 351 times as "one", a secondary source should not be permitted to alter its meaning. For the same reason, "prwth" is never interpreted to mean anything other than "first" in all of its 160 occurrences.

Consistent Biblical interpretation supports the following translation of the eight occurrences of "first day of the week":

Matt 28:1 - Now at the conclusion of the Sabbath days (sabbatwn), toward the dawn of one of the Sabbath days (mian sabbatwn), Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:2 And very early on one of the Sabbath days (mia twn sabbatwn) they came to the tomb at the rising of the sun.

Mark 16:9 - Now when Jesus was risen early, a first hour of a Sabbath day (prwth sabbatou) he appeared first (prwton) to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Luke 24:1 - But on one of the Sabbath days (mia twn sabbatwn), at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared.

John 20:1 - Now on one of the Sabbath days (mia twn sabbatwn) Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the sepulchre.

John 20:19 - It now being the evening to (end) that day, one of the Sabbath days (th mia sabbatwn), the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

Acts 20:7 - On one of the Sabbath days (mia twn sabbatwn), when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

I Cor 16:2 - Along with one Sabbath day collection (mian sabbatou) , each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come. (note: mian modifies the feminine noun "collection" to which it refers in verse 16:1. It can't modify sabbatou which is neuter.)

It should also be noticed that the word "day" is in italics. The reason for this is because the word "day" is supplied. It does not appear in the original text. So why is it there? It's there because of a grammatical requirement. All Greek nouns have a specific gender; either masculine, feminine, or neuter. A rule of Greek grammar requires that both the noun and its adjective or modifier must agree in gender, number, and case. Therefore, each adjective has three forms; a masculine form to modify masculine nouns, a feminine form to modify feminine nouns, and a neuter form to modify neuter nouns. "sabbatwn" is a neuter noun. But "mia" is a feminine form of the Greek adjective "one". Therefore, "mia" can not modify the noun "sabbatwn". And since they do not agree in gender, a feminine noun must be supplied. The word "hmera" meaning "day" is a feminine noun. So is the word "hra" meaning "hour". The translators could have chosen any Greek noun of the feminine gender. They chose "day".

So before continuing, let's collect our thoughts.

	The Triumphal Entry occurred on the 10th day of ABIB Exodus 12:3 - "Speak unto the congregation of Israel, saying, in the 10th day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb...
	The Crucifixion occurred on the 14th day of ABIB.

Exodus 12:6 - "And ye shall keep it up until the 14th day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation shall kill it in the evening."

The 14th day of ABIB was the preparation day for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. (The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day period beginning and ending with an annual sabbath (holy rest). It required a great deal of preparation to insure that all leaven had been carefully removed from every home. The passover lamb must also be killed and prepared on the 14th of ABIB).

Exodus 12:15 - Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses; for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
John 19:14 - And it was the preparation of the Passover.
Luke 23:54 - And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath (holy rest day) drew on.
Luke 22:7 - Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

The 15th day of ABIB was the Feast Day. They rested according to the commandment.

Leviticus 23:6 - And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Leviticus 23:7 - In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Luke 23:56 - And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

The resurrection occurred early on "one of the Sabbath days" not on "the first day of the week". The annual sabbath (holy rest day) (15th of ABIB) was followed by the weekly Sabbath (holy rest day). The Lord's resurrection occurred at daybreak on the weekly Sabbath, thus on "one of the Sabbath days"; about 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning.

Saturday (weekly Sabbath)                          (16th of ABIB)

Friday Feast Day (annual Sabbath)             (15th of ABIB)

Thursday                                                        (14th of ABIB)

Wednesday                                                     (13th of ABIB)

Tuesday                                                           (12th of ABIB)

Monday                                                           (11th of ABIB)

Palm Sunday (identified the Lamb)              (10th of ABIB)

Now the question may be asked, If the resurrection occurred on the weekly Sabbath (Saturday), could the women have come to the tomb with spices to finish the burial process without breaking the Sabbath commandment? The answer is yes. Under the heading "Shabbath" 23:5, in Talmud 151a, 151b, p. 771:

"All the requirements of the dead may be done; he may be anointed with oil and washed, provided that no limb of his is moved. The pillow may be removed from under him, and he may be placed on sand, in order that he may be able to keep. The jaw may be tied up, not in order that it should close but that it should not go further [open]. And likewise, if a beam is broken, it may be supported by a bench or bed staves, not in order that it [the break] should close up, but that it should go no further."

So, according to the Jewish Talmud all that was required to prepare the dead for burial was permitted on the Sabbath day "in order that he may be able to keep". Why, however, could the women not have prepared him for burial on the 14th as the annual Feast of Unleavened Bread approached?

Numbers 9:5 - And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even (margin - "between the two evenings") in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.

9:6 - And there were certain men who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:

9:7 - And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: Wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?

9:8 - And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.

9:9 - And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

9:10 - Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.

9:11 - The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Therefore, if the women had touched the Lord in preparing his body for burial, they would have become "unclean by the reason of touching the dead body of a man" and the women would not have been permitted to join with their fellows to keep the passover on the 14th day of the first month. They would have been required by the judgment of God to wait a month to keep it. A state of uncleanness would have caused the women to remove themselves from the camp of Israel "until sunset" of the day they were defiled. But do you suppose they would have chosen to separate themselves from their fellows, especially on this particular passover when everyone associated with Yahshua were mourning his death and discussing the events surrounding it? They would have waited.

It now should make better sense. However, two important items remain to be considered. First of all what about the "Three days and three nights" Yahshua was to be in the "heart of the earth". And secondly, how did Yahshua become the "wave sheaf" which was offered the day following the weekly Sabbath of the LORD which was to initiate the 50-day count leading to Pentecost? Let's begin by considering the "Three days and three nights" of Matthew 12:20.

Three days and three nights

Matthew 12:40 - "For as Jonah 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."

The text suggests 3 day-night sequences, not 3 night-day sequences.

The 3 days and 3 nights have been grossly misunderstood. The text suggests 3 day-night sequences, not 3 night-day sequences. The text reads: "three days and three nights". Still, most interpret the text to read "three nights and three days". Also, as Jonah was taken captive alive by the great fish, so Yahshua began his captivity on the morning of his crucifixion when the chief priests and elders bound him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

Matthew 27:1- When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

Matthew 27:2 - And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

The scripture reveals that the wicked are as the raging sea. As Jonah was cast alive into the sea, Christ was bound and delivered to those who would condemn to death the innocent Lamb of God.

Jonah 2:14 - 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.

Now we move to the Gospels which closely parallel Jonah's experience.

John 11:49 - And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all.

John 11:50 - Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Matthew 27:24 - When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

Jonah, being a type of Christ, saved the crew from perishing by surrendering himself to be cast into the tumultuous sea. Likewise, "that the whole nation perish not" Yahshua saved the world from perishing by surrendering himself to be delivered by Pilate to be swallowed by his enemies.

As a "pilot" of an endangered ship once confessed Jonah's innocence when delivering him to the billowing waves, another "Pilate" took water and washed his hands before a multitude saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just person". Both Jonah and Yahshua were delivered "alive" to suffer and die.

Day one of "three days and three nights" began with the day-light hours of Christ's suffering, crucifixion, death and burial. This agrees with every Biblical reference to "three days" and "the third day". His suffering, death, and burial, is associated with nearly every reference to "three days".

This then is the result of beginning the "three days and three nights" with the "day-light period" of Thursday (the day of Christ's trial and crucifixion):

FIRST DAY (as apposed to 'night')

(Day ONE of 3 days)

Thursday daylight

Trial and Crucifixion (ABIB 14). This was the preparation day for the Feast of Passover when all Israelites had to prepare their houses by removing all leaven and prepare the Passover lamb by killing it. Christ thus suffered, was crucified, died and was buried on the first of three days.

FIRST NIGHT

(Night ONE of 3 nights)

Began sunset Thursday

The start of the Feast Day (ABIB 15). Yahshua was buried in Joseph's tomb and the women rested according to the commandment requiring that no work be done on the Feast Day. (Lev 23:6,7)

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SECOND DAY

(Day TWO of 3 days)

The close of the Feast Day (Friday)

Yahshua remained dead in the tomb the Feast Day (ABIB 15). The annual sabbath (high day) drew to a close.

SECOND NIGHT

(Night TWO of 3 nights)

Friday night the weekly Sabbath began after sunset

A Roman guard is set to watch the tomb in anticipation of the third day. A seal is placed on the tomb Friday night. Saturday morning (on one of the Sabbath days) Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb "while it was yet dark" and finds the stone rolled away and the tomb empty (John 20:1). (ABIB 16) This wasn't on "the first day of the week" (Sunday) as Bible translators have poorly mistranslated the Greek. Yahshua rose Saturday morning before sunrise as it dawned toward "one of the Sabbath days" (the weekly Sabbath). Just as God had ended his work on the sixth day (Friday) by putting the first man; Adam, into a deep sleep, piercing his side, and removing his rib to make Eve, so God again ended his work on the sixth day (Friday) by putting the second Adam into a deep sleep of death, having opened his side to remove blood (for atonement) and water (for purification) and by so doing, providing the bride of Christ with the rib of righteousness that she had need of (breastplate of righteousness).

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THIRD DAY

(Day THREE of 3 days)

Early, "the first hour of a Sabbath" (Mark 16:9) (literal Greek)

(John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not 12 hours in a day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.)

Yahshua appeared first to Mary Magdalene, who came to the tomb early Saturday morning with the other Mary, bringing spices to complete the burial process. He said to Mary, "Do not hold onto me; because I have not yet ascended" (John 20:17). Late that Sabbath day, approaching sunset, Yahshua appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus as they were returning from Jerusalem.*

*(What had they been doing in Jerusalem? They were returning from temple services (the 'holy convocation')! It was common during the three annual feasts (two lasting a week) not to have room in Jerusalem to house everyone safely. For this reason, the Sabbath day's journey was likely extended for the benefit of the many journeying pilgrims. Similar crowded conditions existed in Bethlehem at the birth of Messiah, when there was "no room at the inn".

On the road to Emmaus one of the two disciples said to him, "Is this not the third day since these things occurred?" Yahshua asked, "What things?" The disciple responded, "What, you haven't heard? How the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. This is now the third day." Early that morning Mary had come to the tomb "while it was yet dark" and had found the stone rolled away. Yahshua had been in the tomb one night (Thursday night), one day (Friday), and one more night (Friday night). That totals one day and two nights. Therefore, three days and three nights in "the heart of the earth" involved more than the short time he was dead in the tomb. Obviously he was alive the third day and ascended the third night as the wavesheaf was "lifted up"; just as the firstfruit offering was waved before the LORD.

THIRD NIGHT

(Night THREE of 3 nights)

Yahshua appeared to the disciples again after sunset Saturday evening (ABIB 17) where the disciples were meeting together in the upper room for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). He ate a piece of broiled fish and a honeycomb after which he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, saying: "These are the words I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me." (Luke 24:42-45) The Bible study would have ended all too soon as the dawn of the next day approached, and "he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven (Luke 24:50,51)." It was now Sunday. The third night had ended. This departure of Christ into the clouds fulfilled the wave sheaf requirements. The 'wave sheaf' must be 'lifted up' and waved in the air. The resurrection hadn't perfectly satisfied the visual conditions of the wave sheaf offering "before the LORD". In fact, when he appeared unto Mary, he had not yet 'ascended' (John 20:17). By waiting until the next day to be "lifted up", as Luke describes in Luke 24:51, he was able to become the wave-sheaf offering which followed the day of his resurrection. (Lev 23:10-12)

And so as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale (after which he ascended),

So too, was Yahshua 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth (after which he ascended).

Consider what this means:

The day of the resurrection is Saturday, NOT Sunday. Every argument to sanctify Sunday in remembrance of the resurrection is vain.

Even as Jeremiah prophecied, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies" (Jer 16:19). Lies can never sanctify us. We can only be sanctified by the truth. "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

The prophet Malachi, announcing the "Day of the LORD", says:

Malachi 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Malachi 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

From Moses to Malachi, the hearts of the fathers beckon to the hearts of the children, to:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God (not the first day): in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

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