Chapter 9 Notes Study carefully and you will find that our Lord was arrested on Nisan 15, the night that He ate the Passover with his 12 disciples, the same night that Jews in Jerusalem still partake of this meal. Verses usually identify this meal as starting on the date of Nisan 14th in the evening but this is when the date changes to the 15th.The evening of their day was much like our midnight today and it identified the very first meal of the 15th . Unleavened bread is never eaten on the 14th as this bread was sacred to them and that would violate their Law. Some verses avoid the introductory date of the 14th to this meal by stating the observance like this: Le 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. This evidence proves that it was not necessary for Jesus to be killed at the exact time that the Lambs were killed since they were killed on the 14th. If this were the case then our Lord could not have consumed such a meal or even look forward to it with His disciples. The Scriptures also teach that our Lord was impaled on the 3rd hour but do not say if it was day or night. This could be between 8AM and 9AM or 8PM and 9PM (Mark 15:25). John 19:14 on the other hand stated that events prior to this impalement ordered by Pilate took place at about the sixth hour or about 12 noon. How could this be? Time does not move backwards. This is because anyone tracking the events in real time would know that this remark made by John took place on Wednesday Nisan 19 at around noon that year, the daylight period of it just prior to the preparation day that used new grain for the 7th day of the festival? The third hour after this sixth hour would be 9PM at night to anyone paying attention. Now are we to continue to believe that the events that took place the morning after the Passover meal was eaten by Jesus and his disciples after the chief priest deceitfully judged and turned Jesus over to Pilate and Herod took less than 2 or 3 hours? How do you account for the two afternoons involved in scripture? Is it not more reasonable to conclude that the events recorded for us took several days to complete during the week of Passover? See for yourself and ask yourself, is the Watchtower really qualified to tell you not to partake of the bread and wine when they do not understand this most important event in the life of our Lord? We pick up the scriptural events here: [It is still Nisan 15 after the Passover meal that started it and after the mock trial held the night before. This is still a Sabbath day since the first day of Passover is always a Sabbath and happened to fall on a Saturday on that year. It actually began on a Friday Nisan 14 in the evening as usual and now we pick up at the first daylight part of that day and date of this last Passover festival] Matt. 27 Mark 15 Luke 23 John 18 1 When the morning 1 And straightway 28 Then led they was come, all the in the morning the Jesus from Caiaphas chief priests and chief priests held unto the hall of elders of the a consultation judgment: and it people took with the elders 1 And the whole was early; and they counsel against and scribes and multitude of them Jesus to put him the whole council, arose, and led him themselves went not to death: into the judgment hall, lest they 2 And when they and bound Jesus, should be defiled; [Since Passover had bound him, and carried [him] but that they might :would continue for they led [him] away, and eat the passover. :six more days] away, and delivered [him] to unto Pilate. delivered him to Pilate. Pontius Pilate the governor. 29 Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30 They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32 That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this [fellow] perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that]. 5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. 6 And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. 7 And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. 8 Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. 9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. [Nisan 16 Sunday the second day of the Passover festival] 33 Then Pilate 11 And Jesus stood entered into the before the judgment hall governor: and the again, and called governor asked 2 And Pilate asked 3 And Pilate asked Jesus, and said him, saying, Art him, Art thou the him, saying, Art unto him, Art thou thou the King of King of the Jews? thou the King of the King of the the Jews? And And he answering the Jews? And he Jews? answered him and 34 Jesus answered Jesus said unto said unto him, said, Thou sayest him, Sayest thou him, Thou sayest. Thou sayest [it]. [it]. this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? 35 Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? 36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he 4 Then said Pilate went out again unto to the chief the Jews, and saith priests and [to] unto them, I find the people, I find in him no fault [at no fault in this all]. man. 5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. [Nisan 17 Monday the third day of the Passover festival] 8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long [season], because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 12 And when he was 3 And the chief 10 And the chief accused of the priests accused priests and chief priests and him of many scribes stood and elders, he things: but he vehemently accused answered nothing. answered nothing. him. 11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked [him], and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. [Nisan 18 Tuesday the fourth day of the Passover festival] 13 Then said 4 And Pilate asked Pilate unto him, him again, saying, Hearest thou not Answerest thou how many things nothing? behold they witness how many things against thee? they witness against thee. 14 And he answered him to never a 5 But Jesus yet word; insomuch answered nothing; that the governor so that Pilate marvelled greatly. marvelled. 13 And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, 14 Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined [him] before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15 No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 15 Now at [that] 6 Now at [that] 16 I will 39 But ye have a feast the governor feast he released therefore chastise custom, that I was wont to unto them one him, and release should release unto release unto the prisoner, [him]. you one at the people a prisoner, whomsoever they 17 (For of whom they would. desired. necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? 16 And they had 7 And there was 18 And they cried then a notable [one] named out all at once, prisoner, called Barabbas, [which saying, Away with Barabbas. lay] bound with this [man], and them that had made release unto us insurrection with Barabbas: him, who had committed murder 19 (Who for a in the certain sedition insurrection. made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) 17 Therefore when 8 And the they were gathered multitude crying together, Pilate aloud began to said unto them, desire [him to do] Whom will ye that as he had ever I release unto done unto them. you? Barabbas, or 9 But Pilate 20 Pilate answered them, therefore, willing saying, Will ye to release Jesus, that I release spake again to Jesus which is unto you the King them. called Christ? of the Jews? 18 For he knew 10 For he knew that for envy they that the chief had delivered him. priests had delivered him for envy. 19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief 11 But the chief priests and elders priests moved the persuaded the people, that he multitude that should rather they should ask release Barabbas Barabbas, and unto them. destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They 40 Then cried they said, Barabbas. all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. 22 Pilate saith 12 And Pilate unto them, What answered and said shall I do then again unto them, with Jesus which What will ye then is called Christ? that I shall do [unto him] whom ye call the King of the Jews? [They] all say 13 And they cried 21 But they cried, unto him, Let him out again, Crucify saying, Crucify be crucified. him. [him], crucify him. 23 And the 14 Then Pilate 22 And he said governor said, said unto them, unto them the Why, what evil Why, what evil third time, Why, hath he done? But hath he done? And what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let [him] go. 23 And they were instant with loud they cried out the they cried out the voices, requiring more, saying, Let more exceedingly, that he might be him be crucified. Crucify him. crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye [to it]. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children. 24 And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. 26 Then released 15 And [so] 25 And he released John 19 he Barabbas unto Pilate, willing to unto them him that 1 Then Pilate them: and when he content the for sedition and therefore took had scourged people, released murder was cast Jesus, and Jesus, he Barabbas unto into prison, whom scourged [him]. delivered [him] to them, and they had desired; be crucified. delivered Jesus, but he delivered when he had Jesus to their scourged [him], to will. be crucified. 27 Then the 16 And the soldiers of the soldiers led him governor took away into the Jesus into the hall, called common hall, and Praetorium; and gathered unto him they call together the whole band [of the whole band. soldiers]. 28 And they 17 And they stripped him, and clothed him with put on him a purple, and scarlet robe. 29 And when they 2 And the soldiers had platted a platted a crown of platted a crown of crown of thorns, thorns, and put it thorns, and put they put [it] upon about his [head], [it] on his head, his head, and a and they put on reed in his right him a purple robe, hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and 18 And began to mocked him, salute him, Hail, saying, Hail, King King of the Jews! of the Jews! 19 And they smote 30 And they spit him on the head 3 And said, Hail, upon him, and took with a reed, and King of the Jews! the reed, and did spit upon him, and they smote him smote him on the and bowing [their] with their hands. head. knees worshipped him. [Nisan 19 Wednesday the fifth day of the Passover festival] 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 5 Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And [Pilate] saith unto them, Behold the man! 6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for I find no fault in him. 7 The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; 9 And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. 10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power [at all] against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth [around 12 noon] hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with [him], away with [him], crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to 31 And after that 20 And when they they had mocked had mocked him, him, they took the they took off the robe off from him, purple from him, and put his own and put his own raiment on him, clothes on him, be crucified. And and led him away and led him out to they took Jesus, to crucify [him]. crucify him. and led [him] away. 32 And as they 21 And they compel 26 And as they led came out, they one Simon a him away, they found a man of Cyrenian, who laid hold upon one Cyrene, Simon by passed by, coming Simon, a Cyrenian, name: him they out of the coming out of the compelled to bear country, the country, and on his cross. father of him they laid the Alexander and cross, that he Rufus, to bear his might bear [it] cross. after Jesus. 27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. 29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. 30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. 31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? 32 And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. [Nisan 20 early Thursday night the sixth day of Passover and a day of Preparation for the 7th day of the festival] 33 And when they 22 And they bring 33 And when they 17 And he bearing were come unto a him unto the place were come to the his cross went place called Golgotha, which place, which is forth into a place Golgotha, that is is, being called Calvary, called [the place] to say, a place of interpreted, The there they of a skull, which a skull, place of a skull. crucified him, and is called in the the malefactors, Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they one on the right crucified him, and hand, and the two other with him, other on the left. on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. 19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put [it] on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, [and] Greek, [and] Latin. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written. 34 They gave him 23 And they gave vinegar to drink him to drink wine mingled with gall: mingled with and when he had myrrh: but he tasted [thereof], received [it] not. he would not drink. 35 And they 24 And when they 34 Then said 23 Then the crucified him, and had crucified him, Jesus, Father, soldiers, when they parted his they parted his forgive them; for had crucified garments, casting garments, casting they know not what Jesus, took his lots: that it lots upon them, they do. And they garments, and made might be fulfilled what every man parted his four parts, to which was spoken should take. raiment, and cast every soldier a by the prophet, lots. part; and also They parted my 25 And it was the [his] coat: now the garments among third hour, and coat was without [third hour at them, and upon my they crucified seam, woven from :night or 9PM] vesture did they Him. the top throughout. cast lots. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 37 And set up 26 And the 38 And a over his head his superscription of superscription accusation his accusation was also was written written, THIS IS written over, THE over him in JESUS THE KING OF KING OF THE JEWS. letters of Greek, THE JEWS. and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [Much of this happened at night but there would still be 3 hours of darkness during this event. Matthew, Mark and Luke pick up this crucifixion at the sixth hour after the third hour already shown on this night which takes us not to midnight but to the next afternoon. They were after all still obligated to keep the Passover themselves. It was still Thursday when daylight finally came that morning and the narrative continues from noon to around 3PM on this day of Preparation before our Lord died. This you can read for yourself in Matt 27:45-50, Mark 15:33- 37 and Luke 23:44-46 shown below as this afternoon is described in these proceedings thus making the few hour event normally taught a scriptural impossibility.] Matt 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. 50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. Mark 15: 33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down. 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. Luke 23: 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. THE LAST PASSOVER When then did our Lord die? Was it on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday? Was this day known as Nisan 14, a day of preparation for Passover? "Passover," is another term used to express "the feast of unleavened bread." It was an anniversary to be observed once each year as a remembrance of the great deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Egyptians. Unknown at the time but revealed finally to the followers of our Lord, this feast would have much greater meaning and application that this single historic event. Ex 12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; [with] your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it [is] the LORD'S passover. Ex 12:17 And ye shall observe [the feast of] unleavened bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. Ex 12:18 In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, ye shall eat unleavened bread, till the one and twentieth day of the month at evening. While the emphasis was on the sacrificial meal, the word passover also applied to the entire feast. It was extracted from Ex 12:11, Lev 23:5; Num 9:2 and similar texts and described the observance. Eze 45:21 In the first [month], in the fourteenth day of the month, ye shall have the passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. Lu 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew near, which is called the Passover. Just exactly when is this meal consumed? Is it in the evening of Nisan 13, which would make the next afternoon Nisan 14 as most teach or was it consumed in the evening of Nisan 14 which would make the next afternoon Nisan 15? While the above texts should be clear enough to answer this question, the following proof text should resolve this matter without error notice: Nu 33:3 And they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the next day after the passover the children of Israel went out with an high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians. Yes, the next day after the passover was the 15th of Nisan, known as the month of Abib at the time. Why then do Christians teach, in fact insist that our Lord was executed on Nisan 14? Furthermore, this very meal was consumed on a sabbath day and began the 7 day feast with its two special annual sabbath days notice: Ex 12:16 And in the first day [there shall be] an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save [that] which every man must eat, that only may be done by you. Ex 12:17 And ye shall observe [the feast of] unleavened bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. The holy convocations are annual Sabbath days. The next afternoon after this meal would still be a Sabbath day and we know that our Lord was not executed on such a day. Such facts are common knowledge to Jews throughout the world and they can easily refute present thinking on the time of our Lord's death. What really happened and what are the scriptures teaching us that most are unable to see? Did our Lord really eat the Passover required by Law and if so when did he die? Our Lord did eat the Passover meal with this disciples, this we know by the following verses. Mt 26:19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. Mr 14:16 And his disciples went, and came into the city, and found as he had said to them: and they made ready the passover. The disciples observed Passover all of their life as did our Lord and they would not make any error regarding it. To teach that they prepared the meal a day early would require proof not found in scripture. Two things are learned here. Not only did our Lord eat the Passover meal as required by Law, but, the Lamb required for this meal was already slaughtered and our Lord did not die on the exact day or on the exact date (Nisan 14) that such slaughtering occurred. Thought to be a prophetic requirement by many who insist that His death must occur at such a time this fact plus our Lords own testimony argues against such reasoning. Notice: Lu 22:15 And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: Something was missed, the greater meaning of Passover, the greater deliverance that it represented and the reason why this single event in Egypt that took place so many years ago was made into a seven day feast. Perhaps an early Christian author or theologian made an error that found its way into print, and such error was copied and modified by others to the point that nearly everything that we have in print today on this subject is heavily flawed. Such error would not in itself be sinful, but our failure to correct such error once it has been brought to our attention would be. 1Jo 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. No doctrine pertaining to our Lord should be taken lightly. We would should never allow ourselves to become the product of the careless work of others. Everyone in the faith should be of God. Month of the Last Passover. NISAN of the year our Lord died. NISAN S M T W T F S 1* 2 3 4 5 6 7 8* 9 10 11 12 13 14 15* Passover observed by our Lord 16 17 18 19 20 21* 22* high Sabbath 23 24 25 26 27 28 29* 30 * = Sabbath days. 14, 20, days of preparation for Passover When the Passover meal was eaten by our Lord on Nisan 14, in the evening, the first annual Sabbath of Passover also began. Preparation day ends at such a time and all preparations are completed before the meal. The date was officially Nisan 15 at the time as Jewish dates change in the evening and not at midnight and the next afternoon would still be Nisan 15 a Sabbath day. We know that our Lord was taken prisoner on this same evening and since the next day of preparation was some 5 days away, he was imprisoned for nearly a week before his impalement on Wednesday Nisan 19 but at night when the date changed to Nisan 20 and died some 18 hours later on Nisan 20, a Thursday afternoon and a day of preparation for the 7th day of the feast. This was a special day of preparation in fact as new grain would be used to prepare the unleavened bread that would be eaten during that special Sabbath day for the 7th day of the festival. This is why Deut. which discusses only the old grain said: De 16:8 "Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: thou shalt do no work therein." This was all part of the wave offering which tied Passover to Pentecost Le 23:15. While details are missing and events appear to take place in a relatively short span of time, there is no reason to force them all to fit in the space of a few short hours. The material contained in Scripture is in condensed form and simply omits such detail. There is nothing unusual about this and anyone reading a Harmony or Gospel parallel will understand how such things are done. Large chunks of time are skipped between sentences and between words without warning. Look at John's account and see how he filled in considerable detail completely missing in Matthew and Mark's rendering of this one evening. Not simply a few sentences, but entire chapters of detail are filled in by John. Also notice: Joh 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crowed. But here Luke fills in detail omitted by John who geneally does not bother to detail material already adequately covered. Lu 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he was yet speaking, the cock crowed. Lu 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, Before the cock shall crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. Lu 22:62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. Lu 22:63 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote [him]. Lu 22:64 And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? Lu 22:65 And many other things blasphemously they spoke against him. Now John skipping over such events continues: Joh 18:28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover. Such reference to Passover establishes the chronology of events. It was still Passover and the second Passover Sabbath of this holy week is about to commence. Lu 22:66 And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying, Lu 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. Each author covered the event from a different perspective, but they both provided enough detail so as to understand where they were in regards to "Passover." Joh 19:14 And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith to the Jews, Behold your King! Because of the unusual configuration of Passover, it was not uncommon for two Sabbath days to appear in succession at such a feast. The result is a high Sabbath of 48 hours duration. As this did not occur during the first Passover meal which our Lord did observe with his disciples then only one calendar of this month of Nisan is possible and only Nisan 20 fits the scriptural accounts given concerning it. The day of preparation during such high Sabbath was Nisan 20, a Thursday, the day our Lord died. Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath, (for that Sabbath was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and [that] they might be taken away. And when describing the time of the resurrection two Sabbath days were mentioned in the text. Matt 28:1 YLT And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre, John 20:1 YLT And on the first of the sabbaths, Mary the Magdalene doth come early (there being yet darkness) to the tomb, and she seeth the stone having been taken away out of the tomb, Now we know why this festival observed for so many years by the Jews embraced more that 24 hours. It pictured a greater Passover the deliverance from sin pictured by the unleavened bread. This is why the apostle Paul could feature this unleven to say: 1Co 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: There are some check verses that verify the chronology given here. Mt. 12:40 "For as Jonas 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." Thursday afternoon to Sunday morning when our Lord was raised has four dates yes, Nisan 20, 21, 22, and 23, but is not four days or more than seventy-two hours long. Nisan 20, while only a few short hours or so, makes day 1 and the evening is also considered as we are discussing days and nights and not dates and evenings. Nisan 21, the seventh day of the festival and a Sabbath, makes night 1 as this comes first. Nisan 21 also makes day 2 after sunrise. Nisan 22, the second Sabbath, makes night 2. Nisan 22, still a Sabbath, also makes day 3, Nisan 23 makes night 3 on which night our Lord was raised. Friday afternoon as taught by many would not fit in, as you can see. Wednesday is too long a time. Our Lord's prophecy fits the facts exactly in the order and syntax given by Him. Another text that will establish this chronology for us is Luke 24:21. In this verse our Lord, now already resurrected, appeared to two disciples who were traveling to the city of Emmaus on that same Sunday of Nisan 23. It was late afternoon, near sunset, and yet we learn that it was still only the third day since Jesus' death. It is still within seventy-two hours, though barely. If we now count back three days we get late Saturday afternoon as day 1. Late Friday afternoon, as day 2. Late Thursday afternoon as day 3, the time of our Lord's death. Such Scriptures are not complex and should have been easily understood by anyone reading them. Remember when Judas left the meal early some thought, "because Judas had the bag, that Jesus has said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. John 13:29. As the feast was to continue for a week such reasoning was put forth by the disciples but could this be the case if it was a Sabbath day? Yes,the Law specifically permitted this and: "It has been proven that the seventh day kept holy by the Jews was also in ancient times the general day of rest among other nations, and was usually spent by the people of those days in much the same way as it is spent now, wherever local laws do not restrict buying and selling, namely: In the forenoon prayers were recited and the necessities of life for the day were bought, while the afternoon was devoted to pleasure-seeking, merrymaking, visiting, and so forth." [The Babylonian Talmud, by Rodkinson, Vol 1, page xxiii, Introduction to Tract Sabbath, Second Edition, The Talmud Society, Boston 1918] This is a non Biblical source and may not depict exact conditions that existed in our Lord's day, yet the Scriptures indicate that such was the case at the time. The purchase of spices as shown in Luke 23:56 could have occurred during such Sabbath days easily. Joseph