Isn’t this a contradiction? We know that He rose before morning began, so that “day” didn’t count, only the night portion. The traditional reckoning totals only 1 day and 2 nights in the tomb. But read on, there is no contradiction…
This seems to be a contradiction until you understand the commanded holidays in (Lev.23). What we know of Christ’s death and burial is this:
*He ate the Passover the evening before His trial. Jewish days are measured from sundown to sundown, therefore the Passover is eaten in the first part of the 14th of Abib. The trial, scourging, crucifixion, death and burial of Christ would have taken place later that same day, the 14th of Abib.
(Lev.23:1-5 & The latter part of all gospels)
*As the sundown, which marks the beginning of the Sabbath, was fast approaching, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea (and the women who never left His side until He was in the tomb) hastily prepared and entombed His body.
(Mat.27:55-61, Mrk.15:40-47, Luk. 23:50-55, Jhn.19:38-42)
*The women, we are told, bought spices to anoint His body and rested on the Sabbath according to the law. (Note that the market would have been closed by the time Jesus was entombed, preventing the women from buying the spices until the morning after the Sabbath.) The priests however asked Pilot for a guard on this day.
(Mat.27:62-66, Mrk.16:1, Luk.23:56)
*The Sabbath we are speaking of would be the 15th of Abib, which is the first day of the feast of unleavened bread and an annual Sabbath, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. On this day the women rested.
(Lev.23:6-8)
*The day following this annual Sabbath would be the 16th of Abib, the feast of the first fruits, in which one would fast until his first fruits offering had been received. This day is also the first day in the counting up to 50 days for Pentecost (the celebration of the giving of the law). On this day, the women would have ample opportunity to buy and prepare the spices. Jesus could not possibly have risen on this day seeing as by dawns light of the 16th He would have been in the grave 1 day and 2 nights and He said “as the prophet Jonah… 3 days and 3 nights”.
(Lev.23:9-16, Mat.12:40, Mat.26:61, Mat.27:63, Mrk.8:31, Mrk.16:1, Jhn.2:19) (Note when they say “after the third day”)
*The weekly Sabbath must then follow on the 17th, as we are told that He rose on the first day of the week. (The 1st is always preceded by the 7th which is the Sabbath.) The women would have then rested on this 2nd Sabbath and gone to the tomb before daylight break on the 18th of Abib and found Jesus risen, after three full days in the heart of the earth as He stated. This would have been on the 3rd day in the counting up to Pentecost, not on the 3rd day counting from His entombment. Reference the time line for clarification.He, indeed, rose on The third day, after three full 24hour days in the tomb.
(Mat.16:21, Mat.17:23, Mat.20:19, Mat.28:1-2, Mrk.10:34, Mrk.16:2-8, Luk.9:22, Luk.18:33, Luk.24:1, Luk.24:7, Jhn.20:1)
My Family
(Husband speaking)
Hello,
ReplyDeletewe certainly agree that the traditional Resurrection Day observance has major flaws. We also agree that Jesus was in the tomb a full 72 hours but we disagree on how to reckon the account. I have prepared a free online 3 part video series at www.inyourbible.com lessons 133 -135. The short story is that Jesus died at 3PM on 13th Nisan (Abib) and was buried that evening before the start of Passover on the 14th Nisan. The day following Passover is the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread which is another special Sabbath. That was immediately followed by the regular weekly Sabbath thus making 3 full days and nights. Of course some controversies remain since the synoptic gospels appear to have Jesus eating the Passover meal which he could not since the 4 gospels agree that he was dead before the celebration started.
Please consider viewing.
George
I've not yet viewed the series but would not this rendering solve your remaining controversy dilemma?
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