The Day of Debt
The observances of Good Friday and Easter Sunday have perpetuated the
traditional chronology that the crucifixion took place on a Friday,
and that the Lord’s body was buried on that day at about 6:00 p.m.,
and that he rose from the dead early on the following Sunday morning.
There are some, however, that feel this tradition is at variance
with the Scriptural record. The traditional view seems to conflict
with certain prophetic and legal facts.
One of the problems is reckoning “three days” between Friday
evening and Sunday morning. Our Lord’s definitive statement is one of
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. Matthew 12:40
The mention of nights, as well as the number of days, makes it
hard to render this as simply an idiomatic rhetorical device rather
than a statement of fact.
Further, when Paul declares the resurrection of Christ to be
“according to the Scriptures” in 1 Corinthians 15:4, if this isn’t an
allusion to Jonah 1:17, then where else? (Perhaps, in Genesis 22, the
three days between the “death” of Isaac—when the commandment came—and
his “return” to Abraham may have been the macrocode, or typological
allusion, that Paul might have had in mind.1 )
Intensifying this controversy was the “three days” issue at the
trial of Jesus.
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought
false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; But found none:
yea, though many false witnesses came, [yet] found they none. At the
last came two false witnesses,
And said, This [fellow] said, I am able to destroy the temple of
God, and to build it in three days. Matthew 26:59-61
What did Jesus really say?
Destroy this temple, [of His body] and in three days I will raise
it up. John 2:19
The same phrase reoccurs in the gospels a dozen times.2 It also
seems to frequently reoccur in prophetic patterns.3
Nowhere in the Gospels does it assert that Christ was crucified on
a Friday. In Mark 15:42, it refers to “...the day before the
sabbath.” This may be the root of the misunderstanding.
The Jews had other sabbaths in addition to the weekly shabbat
(Saturday). In addition to the weekly sabbaths, there were seven
“high sabbaths” each year, and the first day of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, the 15th of Nisan, was one of the 4
Further, Matthew 28:1 should read, “At the end of the sabbaths, ”5
(which is plural in the Greek), implying there was a plurality of
sabbaths that week.
If Passover, the 14th of Nisan, fell earlier in the week, the 15th
could have been any day prior to Saturday, the weekly sabbath. “When
the sabbaths were past” would, of course, be Sunday (actually,
Saturday after sundown), in accordance to the Feast of First Fruits.
(Some hold to a Thursday crucifixion on a similar basis.)
The 17th of Nisan
Jesus had declared that He would be in the grave three days, and
yet was to be resurrected “on the morrow after the sabbath,” on the
day of the Feast of First Fruits.6
It is interesting that the authorities, anxious to get the body
off the cross before sundown, unknowingly were fulfilling God’s
predetermined plan, “according to the Scriptures.”7
Noah’s flood ended on the 17th day of the 7th month 8 This month
becomes the 1st month at the institution of the Passover.9 Our new
beginning in Christ was on the anniversary of the Earth’s “new
beginning” under Noah!
Israel’s new beginning, the crossing of the Red Sea, is believed
to have been on the 17th of Nisan. Also, in their flight after
Passover, Israel retrieved the body of Joseph from his tomb. After
Passover, Jesus was retrieved from another Joseph’s tomb on this date.
The Jericho Journey
Another problem with a Friday crucifixion is John 12:1: “Then
Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany...” (from Jericho).
If the Friday view can be accepted, then six days earlier was the
weekly shabbat, and on this day such a journey was legally out of the
question for a devout Jew.
As for the Friday or Wednesday issue, there are many good scholars
on each side of this controversy. I personally have become rather
cynical toward any tradition that is not supported by Scripture.
Good Friday is the “traditional” view. The Wednesday crucifixion
is known as the “reconstructed view.” This article is intended to
stimulate study and constructive conversation during this precious
season. One attempt to reconcile the chronology of the entire week is
A Final Week Chronology
Friday was at Bethany (John 12:1). Saturday was the triumphal
entry (Matthew 21, Mark 11, Luke 19). Sunday the fig tree was cursed.
Monday the conspirators counseled (Matthew 26). Tuesday was the Last
Supper. Wednesday was the Crucifixion (John 19, Mark 15, Luke 23).
Thursday was the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Friday the women prepared
the spices and so forth. Saturday they all rested (Luke 23). Sunday
morning after the sabbaths the women came to the tomb.
The important thing is that the tomb was empty. The authorities
made sure that this was indisputable. Indeed, He is risen! The most
important chapter in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 15. We encourage you
to study it very carefully.
1. Hebrews 11:17-19; Genesis 22:2-4, 8, 14. See Cosmic Codes,
Chapter 12 for an exposition of this astonishing “Macrocode.”
2. Matthew 27:40; 27:63; 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; Mark 8:31; 9:31;
10:34; 14:58; 15:29; Luke 9:22; 18:33.
3. The deliverance of Isaac after three days at Abraham’s
offering, Genesis 22; the crossing of Israel after Passover, etc.
Also prominent in Joseph’s prophecies (also introducing the bread and
wine!) Genesis 40:12-19; (Cf. 42:17!); Moses’ darkness upon Egypt
three days, Exodus 10:22, 23; three days without water in the
wilderness, Exodus 15:22; Paul was without sight for three days, Acts 9:9.
4. Exodus 12:16; Leviticus 23:5-7; Numbers 28:17.
5. Jay P. Green, The Interlinear Bible, Hendrickson Publishers,
Peabody MA 1985, p.766. Also, C. I. Scofield, Scofield Study Bible,
notes on Matthew 28:1: The term is plural in the Greek.
6. Leviticus 23:10-11.
7. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. See our briefing package, The Feasts of
Israel, to explore the prophetic implications of these amazing
elements of God’s plan for mankind. See page 38 for more information.
8. Genesis 8:4.
9. Exodus 12:2.