This week is probably the most important week in the year to followers of Jesus. This is the week of Passover and more importantly, the week that Jesus became the Passover Lamb. It is always a good time to take a few moments to reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross and all it accomplished. The Apostle Paul gives this exhortation to the church of Corinth specifically in 1 Corinthians 15:22 (ESV)
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”
In fact, to the Apostle Paul declared that the preaching of the cross was the most important element of his teaching ministry in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (ESV)
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
To live in the power of the resurrection, you must first go through the cross. To be a follower of Jesus demands a death to the “self” life and a yes to the “deeper” life, life in the Spirit. This life of the cross is in many ways the opposite of what we hear coming out of the pulpits of America. So many teach the exaltation of self instead of the willingness to lay your life down for Jesus as He did for you.
But when was Jesus crucified. For years and years, church tradition said the “Good Friday” was the day he was crucified, and Sunday was the day the He rose from the dead. But that time wise, that’s only around 36 hours and not a full 72 hours that would be 3 full days. That always bothered me, even as a kid. I have always desired truth and have been willing to throw away tradition for the sake of it. The Friday crucifixion tradition began with the Church of Rome and the protestant reformation did nothing to change the tradition. After hours of my own research and the listening to many teachers discuss the subject of the day of crucifixion, I have come to the conclusion that Jesus was actually crucified on the Wednesday and not the Friday. Many of the easter traditions the church has followed for years have pagan origins that are anything but Christian.
The integrity of scripture is important, one must take a closer look at scripture and realize the exact precision of testimonies is vital especially as we look at and examine the events of this week. We can read the events of this week in all 4 Gospels, but I will mention the events in chronological order as I understand them. I gathered the following from a lecture from Chuck Missler of whom I respect as much as anyone. Although there are many scholars who would argue for both viewpoints, I see two main reasons why a Wednesday crucifixion is absolutely the correct view.
Firstly, there was more than one Sabbath during that week in 33AD. The Jewish calendar as 52 sabbaths in a calendar year but also has 7 more high holy days. With Wednesday being Passover, Thursday was the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” which is also a Sabbath. This is supported by scripture in Matthew 28:1 (ESV)
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.”
The key word is “Sabbath”. Even though English translations use the singular word for Sabbath, it is actually plural in the original Greek. It should read, “after the Sabbaths”. The Wednesday, Passover, was the day of preparation for the “Feast of Unleavened bread” which was Thursday, the first Sabbath of the week. This was the reason Jesus could not remain on the cross. He was taken during the day of preparation. He could not remain on the cross during the feast.
Secondly, the very words of Jesus said he would be in the grave three days and three nights, Matthew 12:40 (ESV).
“For just 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.”
Jesus’ prophecy can only be fulfilled exactly by a Wednesday afternoon crucifixion.
I am including the Chronology for your study.
Passion Week
Friday Jesus spends time with Mary, Martha & Lazarus John 12:1
Saturday The Triumphant Entry Matt 21:5,12, 17
Mark 11; Luke 19
Sunday The Fig Tree Cursed Matt 21; Mark 11
Monday Conspirators Counsel Matt 26; Mark 11
Mark 14; Luke 22
Tuesday Last Supper Matt 26; Mark 14
“Between the Evenings” Luke 22
Wednesday Crucifixion John 19; Mark 15
Luke 23
Thursday Feast of Unleavened Bread, 1st Sabbath Lev 23
Friday Women prepare spices
Saturday “…and rested….” Luke 23
“after the Sabbaths” Matt 28:1
Sunday He is risen!! Matt 28; Mark 16
Luke 24; John 20
An incredible week for sure!! The most important event in the history of the world. Jesus laid down His life to re-capture all we had lost through Adam. I conclude with this portion from the book of Revelation 5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,