Emphasis on Friday.
For many Christians Good Friday is celebrated as the day Jesus was crucified on the cross. But was it?
In Matthew 12:40 Jesus said “Just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights within the belly of a whale, so shall the son of man be 3 days and 3 nights within the earth.”
Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning is not 3 days.
So why is his death celebrated on a Friday; Tradition?
Tradition is defined as the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or practice: A continuing pattern of culture, beliefs or practices.
Am I saying the celebration of Jesus’ death for the sake of the world is bad? God forbid, no! His death was God’s ultimate show of love for mankind. We should glory in that day, but as Believers in Christ we should be knowledgeable of the Word for ourselves and not always rely on what traditions of man says or has done.
In the book of Matthew all through chapters 26-28 the story of Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection is told. In the books of Luke chapters 22-24; Mark 14-16 and even in John 18-19 readers can read about the events that took place. Let’s start at the beginning.
• Two days before Passover starts Jesus tells his disciples He will be betrayed and crucified. Matthew 26:2
• Jesus keeps the Passover with his disciples (Matthew 26:17-18) and once again mentions one of His disciples would betray him.
• Jesus is taken prisoner and stands before Caiaphas. All this happens the 1st night of Passover that year. Matthew 28:45-57. Jesus also tells Peter before the night ends and the cock crows he will betray him 3 times. Matthew 28:34 & 75
• Jesus is bound and taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor the next day. Matthew 27:1-2
• Jesus is crucified. Matthew 27:35
• From the 6th hour to the 9th hour darkness fall over all the land. (God is no longer with Jesus the Man because of the all the sins of the world that Jesus now bears. God is truth, light and love. Jesus, the Man feels and knows that God is no longer with Him, and therefore cries out, “My God, my God, why hast though forsaken me?”)
Special Note
Hebrew Time Table
Jewish days ran from 6pm to 6pm
When the Jews spoke of “hour” in reference to time, it was usually in a 3 hour time block.
1st hour = Sunrise – 9am
3rd hour = 9am to 12noon
6th hour = Noon to 3pm
9th hour = 3pm – Sunset
• Jesus gave up the ghost (died) around the 9th hour. Luke 23:44-46
• Joseph of Arimathaea begs Pilate for Jesus’ body to bury. Luke 23:3-54 & Matt 27:57-58
Question – Why did Joseph of Arimathaea do this?
Hebrew law demanded that a person that was crucified, or hanged, could not remain overnight on a tree/cross. If they were, the land was cursed and defiled (Deuteronomy 21:22-23). Also, Jesus had to be buried BEFORE 6pm because (1) the Hebrew days ran 6pm to 6pm. And (2) because the following day was the 1st day of the 7 days the Jews ate unleavened bread during the Passover. In other words, it was a High Sabbath day (not a Sabbath day but an important day during the week during Passover). Exodus 12:15-20 goes into more details but it must be noted that the 1st day of the 8 days of Passover was considered the Day of Preparation. Meaning, the Jews were preparing to go into the 7 days of eating unleavened bread.
• The next day after the Day of Preparation, the Chief Priests and Pharisees go to Pilate and request he places guards at Jesus’ tomb. They to remember His words of rising within 3 days time. Matthew 27:62-63
If Jesus’ crucifixion (when He died) was on a Friday, and the Jews Sabbath starts on a Friday, from sundown (6pm) to sundown Saturday 6pm), and it was unlawful for them to do any type of work or anything for that matter, the Chief Priest, who were to uphold the law, and the Pharisees would have been in contempt of the law. The same law they were crucifying Jesus over. They would not have done that. They would not have been able to conduct business – go before Pontius on their Sabbath day.
• Mary and Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus’ tomb after the Sabbath ends and as the day begins to dawn towards the 1st day of the week. Matthew 28:1
So let’s put this together. If Jesus rose in the early morning hours of the 1st day of the week, Sunday, and He stated He would spend 3 days and 3 nights in the grave, when was He actually crucified? You do the math.
Jesus rose Sunday morning in the wee hours before dawn. A Jewish day runs 6pm to 6pm.
So, counting backwards, 6pm Saturday – 6pm Friday = Day 3. 6pm Friday to 6pm Thursday = Day 2. 6pm Thursday to 6pm Wednesday = Day 1. Jesus gave up the ghost around 3pm on the day He died. Joseph of Arimathaea pleads with Pontius to get Jesus’ body so they can bury it before sundown (remember the two thieves, their legs were broken to hurry their death along). The following day was an important day. It started the 7days of unleavened bread during the 8 days of Passover.
So once again, is it tradition that we celebrate His death on a day that doesn’t seem plausible?
Where have all the celebration and gift giving and Easter bunny and plastic eggs come from? Can we not honestly say man made a way to make a profit from Christ’s death?
Many would say “It doesn’t matter what day Jesus died on. What matters is He died for us and He ROSE!”
And, I agree with them. But I also am of the opinion that as Believers in the Body of Christ, we should be knowledge of the Word of God and how it pertains to our lives. Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15 to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
As you celebrate Easter this year take the time to ask yourself, are you doing tradition, or are you doing God?
Be Blessed!
Tereciah V. Smithen-Quitnana
