Expert: Quentin Parker - 4/8/2010

Question
It can be credibly illustrated that the Original Passover Lamb was slain on a Wednesday.  With Jesus stating that he fulfilled all things in the laws of Moses, why do Christians claim Jesus died on a Friday preparation day instead of a Wednesday preparation day?

The reason I ask is due to the very detailed study found at this link which seems to be the most complete study on this topic to date viewing all factors that one must consider to correctly determine these final events.

Does the information at this link speak according to the Laws and testimony (laws of Moses and spirit of Prophecy)? Does it give good evidence from History that Jesus was chosen by the people on the tenth day and then killed on the 14th day?  Does it illustrate within the realm of possibility that Jesus fulfilled 3 days and 3 nights in the manner that the scriptures define this duration of time?

http://www.thedeathandresurection.com/pdf/the%20death%20and%20resurrection.pdf

Very Respectfully,

Todd Vetter"

Answer
Hi Todd,

Thank-you for your question.

Is the three days and three nights to be taken as a literal 72 hours? Well, many people have differing opinions as to the interpretation of the texts involved. With a questions like this, however, we must be especially careful to be sure that we’re not imposing our own framework upon Scripture. I believe that Scripture supports the traditional interpretation of a Friday crucifixion.

I believe that the Gospel of Mark is pretty clear when it says: "And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, the day before the Sabbath...." (Mark 15:42). (See also, Matt. 27:62) Because the Jewish Sabbath was on Saturday the day before the Sabbath could only have been Friday.

Also – more often than the phrase ‘three days and three nights’ (which appears in Matthew 12:40) – it is said that Jesus would rise ‘on the third day’ (Matt. 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 27:63; Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 18:33; 24:18-21, 46, Acts 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4). Now, if He were in the tomb for a full 72 hours He could not have fulfilled this prophecy. He would not have risen ‘on the third day’ but the fourth.

Also to be considered is the Jewish habit of ‘inclusive reckoning’ of time. Part of a day counts as a whole one. Examples of this are to be found throughout Scripture. Here are a few of them:

Matt. 4:2 – Jesus fasted ‘forty days and forty nights’; Luke 4:2 – Jesus fasted ‘forty days’.

Genesis 42:17-18 – Joseph’s brothers were in prison ‘for three days’ and released ‘on the third day’.

John 20:19 – Jesus appears on the ‘first day of the week’; John 20:26 – Jesus appeared ‘after eight days’.

1 Samuel 30:12-13 – the Egyptian hasn’t eaten ‘for three days and three nights’ but he says his master abandoned him ‘three days ago’.

Esther 4:16-5:1 – Esther fasts for ‘three days, night and day’ but went to the king’s feast ‘on the third day’.  

Thanks again for your question. I hope you find this helpful.

God bless!
Quentin Parker