JESUS DIED ON WEDNESDAY A.D. 30

Last night, at the end of our Bible study on the future biblical events (Eschatology), I asked if anyone had a question.  One of the participants said she had a question, but it had nothing to do with our topic.  I encouraged her to go ahead and ask.  She said, "How could Jesus have died on a Friday and risen from the grave the following Sunday?"  My answer:  "He didn't.  He died on a Wednesday!" 

I explained that, because every word of Scripture has to be true, the apparent contradiction must have a logical explanation.  Jesus' response to the request from the scribes and Pharisees, for a sign as to His identity, was that the only sign they would get from Him would be His Resurrection.  In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said, "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."  This verse is the key to knowing when Jesus was crucified. 

We know for sure that He rose on Sunday, based upon all four Gospel accounts (Mt. 28:1; Mk. 16:1-2; Lk. 24:1; Jn. 20:1).  John 20:1 says, "The first day of the week (after sunset Saturday)cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher."  By the way, the stone was removed so that she could see He was risen, not so that Jesus could get out!  Note:  To the Gospel writers, all Jews, the first day of the week began at sunset of the weekly Sabbath, so Mary discovered Jesus had arisen prior to sunrise Sunday.

Another clue that the day of the crucifixion was not on a Friday, is found in John 19:31 which says, "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away."  The "preparation day" was actually the day the Passover Lamb was to be slain, and prepared for consumption (see Ex. 12:6-8), and after sunset (which began the 15th of Nisan, or the first Sabbath of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread), it was to be consumed.  Below is a chart showing the Passover in the year A.D. 30 (Jesus was born before Herod died in 4 B.C.). 

April in the Year 30 AD

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
11 Nisan 3790	1 12 Nisan 3790	2 13 Nisan 3790	3 14 Nisan 3790 5:19 Ta'anit Bechorot CRUCIFIXION Erev Pesach	4 15 Nisan 3790 5:20 Pesach I	5 16 Nisan3790 5:21 Pesach II	6 17 Nisan 3790 Havdalah: 7:13 Pesach III RESURRECTION AT SUNSET, EXACTLY 72 HOURS LATER