The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ

  • Some people say that Jesus had to die at the same time as the Passover. That, combined with a misunderstanding of John 18:28, causes them to put Jesus’ resurrection on the Sabbath (14th day of first month).
  • The term “Passover” is used in three senses in the Bible:
    • Exodus 12:21; Numbers 28:16; Mark 14:12 – The lamb they sacrificed and the day they killed it are both called the Passover.
    • The Passover feast – Ezekiel 45:21; Luke 22:1

Accounting for days

  • Leviticus 23:32
  • Jews counted days from sundown to sundown.
  • Numbers 33:3-4
  • 1st month, 14th day
    • Mark 14:12-16; Luke 22:7-15; Matthew 26:17-21 – Passover lamb killed. They ate the lab before Jesus was crucified.
  • 15th day
    • Mark 14:17-72; 15:1, 24-26 – Jesus was crucified about noon and taken down before Sabbath started at sunset.
  • 16th day
    • Luke 23:12-16 – Sabbath
  • 17th day
    • Mark 16:1-16; Luke 24:1-21 – Jesus resurrected on the first day of the week.
  • What about John 18:28? They did not want to disqualify themselves from the rest of the Passover feast, which was a 7-day feast. See Numbers 28:16-25.
  • What about Matthew 12:40 and Jesus being in the grave for three days and three nights? It is a different way of reckoning time. Part of day 1, all of day 2, and part of day 3 is counted as three days, or three days and three nights even though it was not a full 72 hours.