From Rev 13:7-8-9 To Gen 3:20-21-22 To Exodus 12:1-6-11 To John 1:28-29-30, 35 To John 19:13-14-15

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40, Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 9:31, Luke 11:30)

There are not 3 Days and 3 Nights between 3 pm Friday and Early Sunday Morning – John 20:1

The Beloved Son

In the Bible, God revealed Jesus as “- – – My beloved Son- – -” (Matthew 3:16-17, 17:5); and as the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 35). Jesus came into the world by natural birth (Mat 1:18-25). He came through the womb of a young virgin, of a people chosen by God (Deuteronomy 7:6-11) to become the nation state of Israel (Genesis 12:1-3). He was therefore, by birth, a citizen of the nation of Israel.

On one of his many journeys in Israel during His lifetime, Jesus, after arriving in Caesarea Philippi in the last year of his life, and in a discussion with his disciples, said to them, “. . . I will build my churc,h and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:13-18-20).

“From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.” (Matthew 16:21)

And so, Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 35), would become the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:1-6-11) for the sins of the world.

Those three days and three nights

In the religion of Christianity, “denominations” which claim to be part of “the Church,” but who celebrate the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus based on the “Traditional Easter Celebration,” do so based on three un-biblical positions , i.e.(1) Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday; (2) He was crucified, died and was buried on “Good Friday”; (3) He was resurrected on “Easter Sunday.”

The Biblical Record

From the conversation with his disciples, as recorded in Matthew 16:13-21-23, let us look at what the Bible actually says, beginning in John 12:1, about the events during 7 days in the life of Jesus, commencing with his arrival in Bethany “six days before the Passover on 15 Nisan”.

Note! The Sabbath and the Feast of the Lord are chronicled in Leviticus 23:1-44.

Note!! In Matthew 16:21, “Six days before the Passover” implies six consecutive 24 hour days between Jesus’ arrival in Bethany and the annual Passover on 15 Nisan. We must therefore conclude that Jesus arrived in Bethany on 8 Nisan during the day light hours, and that the 24 hour day had begun earlier at sunset. Those events are chronicled below:

Those seven Days before Passover

Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here, a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. (John 12:1-2)

1)8 Nisan – Thursday: Day Seven before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan, Jesus arrived in Bethany, which was about two miles from Jerusalem. We can conclude that Jesus arrived in Bethany on 8 Nisan – Thursday, given that the Passover was on 15 Nissan, and counting six full days backwards from 15 Nisan.

2)The next day (9 Nisan – Friday: Day Six before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan), Jesus went from Bethany to Jerusalem. – – -at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it, you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. (Mark 11:7-10; Matthew 21:6-9; Luke 19:35-36; John 12:14-16). And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So, when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. (Mark 11:11).

3)Now, the next day (10 Nisan – Saturday: Day Five before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan), when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response, Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple (Mark 11:15-16; Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46). Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there (Matt 21:17).

4) Now, in the morning (11 Nisan – Sunday: Day Four before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan), as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away.” So, Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. (Mark 11:20-22). Then they came again to Jerusalem. And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olives. (Luke 21:37-38).

5) The Next Day (12 Nisan – Monday: Day Three before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan), Jesus goes from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.

a. Now, the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 “But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.”(Mark 14:1-2)

6) The Next Day (13 Nisan – Tuesday: Day Two (In Jerusalem), before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan). Early in the morning, all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him (Luke 21:37-38). And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.” So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?” And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room (In Jerusalem); there make ready.” So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover (for 15 Nisan). (Luke 22:7-13; Matthew 26:17-19; Mark 14:12-16).

Then would come the Day of Unleavened Bread, 14 Nisan, when the Passover lamb (Jesus, the Lamb of God – John1:29, 35; Rev. 13:8) must be killed (Exodus 12:1-7).

Note!! It is important to understand that the Hebrew 24 hour day is comprised of the periods – Night time – from Sunset to Sunrise and Daytime – from Sunrise to Sunset. This means that supper, which begins in the Evening of one day, continued into the Night of the next day. As a result, as the Bible relates it, supper begun in the Evening of 13 Nisan carries over into the Night of 14 Nisan. The following are excerpts from the conversations that ensued during supper at Evening (13 Nisan) and Night (14 Nisan) – Wednesday, the Preparation Day; Day One before the Passover Feast on 15 Nisan – Thursday.

7) The Next Day (14 Nisan – The Preparation Day – Wednesday (In Jerusalem): Day One before the Passover on 15 Nisan)

In the evening (13 Nisan), He came with the twelve. Now, as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eat with Me will betray Me.” And they began to be sorrowful, and to say to Him one by one, “Is it I?” And another said, “Is it I?” He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.” (Mark 14:17-21)

Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” (Matthew 26:25) Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now, after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” (John 13:26-27)

But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for ‘the feast,’” or that he should give something to “the poor”. (These thoughts confirm that the disciples knew they were having the regular evening meal at that time on 13 Nisan.)

Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night – (14 Nisan – Preparation Day). (John 13:28-29)

Jesus says to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:14-16)

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Likewise, He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:17-21; Matt 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25)

Now, before the Feast of the Passover – – – the Devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper – – -. (John 13:1-4)

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” But he spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all said likewise. (Mark 14:26-31).

“Today, even this night” is to be understood as, ‘today’ – the 24 hour day 14 Nisan (The Preparation Day), and ‘even this night’ as night time of 14 Nisan. During that 24 hour period, Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, crucified and buried. The betrayal is confirmed in the account of Peter’s three denials in Mark 14:66-72. In the same way, “And straightway, in the morning,” Mark 15:10, is to be understood as the day time of 14 Nisan.

All the events which occurred on 14 Nisan, from the time Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives at night, then to his arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial on the same day (14 Nisan), are recorded with great clarity in John 18:1 – 19: 42.

The Sabbath and Feasts of God – Leviticus 23:1-2

Because of the three “holy convocations” following the burial of Jesus (14 Nisan), i.e. (1) The Passover – 15 Nisan; (2) the Feast of First Fruits – 16 Nisan; and (3) the Seventh-Day Sabbath – 17 Nisan, the account of the events from the arrival of Jesus in Bethany on 8 Nisan to the day that the ladies went to the tomb on 18 Nisan, the Biblical account clearly shows the following facts:

1.Thursday – 8 Nisan: Jesus arrived in Bethany. (John 12:1)

2.Friday – 9 Nisan: Jesus, the Lamb of God, entered Jerusalem on a donkey – (John 1:29, 35); not on “Palm Sunday.”

3.Wednesday – 14 Nisan: Preparation Day (Exodus 12:1-6) – Jesus, the Lamb of God, was crucified, died and was buried in the afternoon (Luke 23:50-54-56); not on Good Friday.

4.Thursday – 15 Nisan: Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8) – Jesus in the sepulcher sealed and guarded – Matthew 27:62-66; not alive and well in Jerusalem.

5.Friday – 16 Nisan: Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:9-14) – Jesus was still in the sepulcher sealed and guarded – Matthew 27:62-66; not alive and well in Jerusalem.

6.Saturday – 17 Nisan: Seventh Day Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11) – Jesus was still in the sepulcher sealed and guarded – Matthew 27:62-66; however he was resurrected in the afternoon

on 17 Nisan. Jesus, the Only begotten Son of God – (John 3:16; 10:17-18) was resurrected on the 7th Day Sabbath; NOT – ON – SUNDAY, the 1st Day of the week.

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