DEATH OF YESHUA

On this day 1984 years ago the son of God, Yeshua, Jesus, died on the cross for our sins. I know we celebrated Friday as the anniversary of the death of Christ; but let me show you something in scripture.

Have you ever wondered how Christ was supposed to be in the grave three days and three nights yet was only there, traditionally, Friday through Sunday? That is only three days and two nights.

For 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
(Matthew 12:40 NKJV)

So, Y’shua said that he would be in the grave three days and three nights; Andy gives an example of Jonah who is in the fish three days and three nights. So, what happened? Christ does not lie. So let's look at the Bible and see what it says.
The problem comes down to Sabbath. We know that Christ died on the cross the day before Sabbath; And his body had to be removed before Sabbath began at nightfall.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day)
(John 19:31 NKJV)

The problem is there is more than one Sabbath; Meaning there is more Sabbath then the Weekly Sabbath that we call Saturday. Remember that this was the time of Passover. I Understanding this, an understanding the ceremonial sabbaths, and what is being said by John chapter 9, we get a better picture of what is going on.

On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord's Passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it
(Leviticus 23:5-7 NKJV)

So we see you that the first day of unleavened bread is treated as a Sabbath. This is the day after Passover. For those who would understand Jewish history we understand that the first day of unleavened bread is called a High Sabbath. Now look back at John chapter 19:

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day)
(John 19:31 NKJV)

John wanted to make clear what Sabbath Christ died before. The reason he wanted to do this is if Christ is our Passover lamb then he would have had to died the day before the high Sabbath; which is called Passover. So, we see that Christ did not necessarily die the seventh day Sabbath, But before the high Sabbath just after Passover day.
Before we continue I need to make clear about a difference in a day in the Bible and they day now. They did not have watches and clocks back then, Therefore a day was not midnight to midnight. A day, In the Bible, lasted from nightfall to nightfall. So, this is why it was important to have Christ's body in the tomb before nightfall.

Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment
(Luke 23:56 NKJV)

After burying Yeshua, the women return home to prepare spices for the body. Now remember that nightfall was drawing close and that this is why it was so important to get Christ's body off of the cross and in the tomb before the High Sabbath. We are not given detail on this, but if it was that close to the beginning of the High Sabbath chances are they did not have time two prepare the spices and oils upon returning home. They would not prepare the spices and oils on Sabbath, so if he died on Friday they rested Saturday and they return Sunday morning before daybreak when did they have time to buy and prepare the spices.

Before we continue, let's get some language clear of the time. You will see a term used “early on the first day” and you will see a term used “early in the morning on the first day”; these are two different time frames. Remember that a day started at nightfall; therefore early on the first day would have been our Saturday night just after nightfall. Early in the morning on the first day would be around sun rise on what we call Sunday morning.

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen
(Mark 16:1-2 NKJV)

So we see that the women showed up early in the morning on the first day. This would be early in the morning on what we call Sunday morning. At this point Mark is given us an account of what it was like for the women to show up and the body of Christ already be gone and in Angel there to make the announcement. Then he switches to Christ appearing before the women, Mary Magdalene first. He wants the readers to know that this was not a spirit of Christ but rather Christ himself; Raised from the dead. So he mentions when Christ arose from the dead.

Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons
(Mark 16:9 NKJV)

Did you notice the difference in the phrases? Mark made sure to make note of the two different time frames between Christ’s raising from the dead and the women coming to the tomb. The women arrived early in the morning on the first day, but Christ arose early on the first day of the week; this would be our Saturday evening.

So, let's put this all together. Christ said he would be in the grave three days and three nights. He died on Passover day which was the preparation day for the High Sabbath; which is the first day at the feast of unleavened bread. The women had to have a day to prepare the spices and oil; but they would not do it on any Sabbath. Christ arose Saturday evening sometime after nightfall; which was early on the first day according to Biblical days. This is are a best time marker to start backing up. If Christ was in the great three days and three nights this with me that Christ would have to have died on Wednesday; and be buried just before dark Wednesday evening. How does this play out?

Christ dies on Wednesday and is buried Wednesday evening, just before nightfall. The High Sabbath began at nightfall and continued through what we call Thursday. Friday is preparation day for the weekly Sabbath and would offer a day for the women to buy an prepare spices and oil for the body. They would have rested again on what we call Saturday, which is the seventh day Sabbath. Christ arose just after nightfall Saturday evening; which is early on the first day. The women showed up to the tomb early in the morning on the first day, and the tomb was already empty. Now let's count the days. Wednesday night into Thursday equals day and night one; Thursday evening and the Friday equals day and night two; Friday evening and Saturday equals day and night three.

I have talked to a rabbi from Israel and he confirms these facts. Yeshua did not die on Friday and rise again on Sunday. He died on Wednesday and rose again Saturday evening. This Saturday, April 4 2015, marks the anniversary of his death 1984 years ago.
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