Passover Lamb or Easter Bunny

The world has created a monster called Christmas at the time of the winter solstice, which totally misses the symbolism of the Saviors birth during the Feast of Tabernacles. Alexander Hyslop writes in his The Two Babylons:
How, then, did the Romish Church fix on December the 25th as Christmas-day? Why, thus? Long before the 4th century, and long before the Christian era itself, a festival was celebrated among the heathen, at that precise time of the year, in honor of the birth of the son of the Babylonian queen of heaven; and it may fairly be presumed that, in order to conciliate the heathen, and to swell the number of the nominal adherents of Christianity, the same festival was adopted by the Roman Church, giving it only the name of Christ. This tendency on the part of Christians to meet Paganism half-way was very early developed; and we find Tertullian, even in his day, about the year 230, bitterly lamenting the inconsistency of the disciples of Christ in this respect. "By us," says he, "who are strangers to Sabbaths, and new moons, and festivals, once acceptable to God, the Saturnalia, the feasts of January, are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new year's day presents are made with din, and sports and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians." That Christmas was originally a Pagan festival, is beyond all doubt.

What means the term Easter itself? It bears its Chaldean origin on its very forehead. Easter is nothing else than Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven, whose name, as pronounced by the people Nineveh, was evidently identical with that now in common use in this country. The popular observances that still attend the period of its celebration amply confirm the testimony of history as to its Babylonian character. The hot cross buns of Good Friday, and the dyed eggs of Easter Sunday, figured in the Chaldean rites just as they do now. The "buns" were used in the worship of the queen of heaven, the goddess Easter. "One species of sacred bread," says Bryant, "which used to be offered to the gods, was of great antiquity, and called Boun." The origin of the eggs is just as clear. The classic poets are full of the fable of the mystic egg of the Babylonians; and thus its tale is told by Hyginus, the Egyptian, the learned keeper of the Palatine library at Rome, in the time of Augustus, who was skilled in all the wisdom of his native country: "An egg of wondrous size is said to have fallen from heaven into the river Euphrates. The fishes rolled it to the bank, where the doves having settled upon it, and hatched it, out came Venus, who afterwards was called the Syrian Goddess"-that is, Astarte. Hence the egg became one of the symbols of Astarte or Easter.

The purpose of this meditation is not to catalog the pagan influences on the celebration of the work of Jesus, but rather to look at the amazing fulfillment of Passover. The Apostle Paul writes:
For also Messiah our Passover was offered for us. (1 Corinthians 5:7a)

Let us take a look at just how true Pauls words are.

A People in Bondage
The story begins approximately 3,700 years ago. The descendents of Jacob, whom Yahweh renamed Israel, had gone down to Egypt when Joseph was made prime minister. The Israelites greatly increased, so that the Egyptians feared them:
So they set slave-masters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with harshness, and they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all kinds of work in the field, all their work which they made them do was with harshness. (Exodus 1:11-14)

Man has traded Yahwehs appointed times (see Leviticus 23 [Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Wave Sheaf, Feast of Weeks, Feast of Tabernacles]) for his own unholy days. The celebration of Jesus death, burial and resurrection is now also steeped in paganism and is called Easter. Hyslop writes:

You may not feel like a slave. However, Jesus said:

Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone doing sin is a servant of sin. (John 8:34)

Wave Sheaf Offering. We will also consider these in light of Jesus resurrection and ascension.

As we all sin, we are all servants of sin. Apostle Paul writes:

The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23a)

The

A New Beginning
We will spend most of our time in Exodus 12. The passage begins:
This month is the beginning of months for you, it is the first month of the year for you. (Exodus 12:1-2)

As sinners, we all face the consequences death! And so we read in Hebrews:

Since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself (Jesus) similarly shared in the same, so that by means of His death He might destroy him having the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver those who throughout life were held in slavery by fear of death. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Jesus became a man that He might deliver us from the consequences of sin; that we no longer might live in bondage to the fear of death.

A Plan of Redemption
Pharaoh forced the Hebrews to throw their newborn males into the Nile. The parents of Moses disobeyed this decree by placing him in the Nile in a basket covered in pitch, where he was found and adopted by Pharaohs daughter. His mother was paid to raise him his first several years (Exodus 2:9, 10) and she taught him about the true God, Yahweh. After about 40 years, he killed an Egyptian taskmaster who was mistreating a Hebrew slave. He was forced to flee into the wilderness, where he spent the next 40 years of his life. At the end of this time, Yahweh came to him saying:
And now, see, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. And now, come, I am sending you to Pharaoh, to bring My people, the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:7-10)

In ancient Egypt, the first month was Thout, corresponding to September-October. During the Babylonian captivity, Israel reverted to beginning the year in this timeframe. In Ezekiel 40:1, the prophet mentions the beginning of the year, which in Hebrew is Rosh Hashanah. Today this is still the Jewish New Year. However, Yahweh indicated that the year was to begin at the time He delivered them from captivity in Egypt, in the month called Chodesh HaRishon (the first month) and referred to as the month of the abib (Deuteronomy 16:1). What does the abib mean? During the plague of hail, we read the following:
And the flax and the barley were smitten, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten, for they were late crops. (Exodus 9:31-32)

The phrase translated in the head is abib. The above passage relates that the barley was destroyed by the hail while the wheat was not. Early in its development grain is flexible and dark green. As it ripens, it becomes light yellow and more brittle. The barley was destroyed because it was in abib and had become brittle enough to be damaged by the hail. The wheat was early in its development, flexible and not susceptible damage. Why was it important for the barley to be in abib? On the 16th day of the first month, the day after high Sabbath associated with the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Yahweh commanded:
When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it. (Leviticus 23:10, 11)

Yahweh sent a series of ten plagues against the Egyptians, each aimed at one or more of their gods (Exodus 12:12). The tenth, the death of the firstborn, was particularly directed at Pharaoh, who was considered divine by the Egyptians. To avoid the death of their firstborn, the Israelites were commanded to place a lambs blood on the doorposts of their dwellings. When Yahweh saw the blood, He passed over that household, thus the name Passover (Exodus 12:23). For the remainder of this meditation, we will compare Yahwehs commands regarding this lamb and the work of Jesus on the cross. Closely connected with Passover are the Feast of Unleavened Bread and

Yahweh had given the following command regarding first-fruit offerings:

And if you bring a grain offering of your firstfruits to bring for the grain offering of your first-

fruits green ears (abib) of grain roasted on the fire, crushed heads of new grain. (Leviticus 2:14)

The Hebrew words translated grain roasted and new grain are qalah and karmel, respectively. Qalah describes abib barley which has developed so that it can be eaten if roasted. Karmel describes grain that has developed beyond abib and can be coarsely ground. If the offering on the 16th of the first month was to be qalah or karmel, abib barley had to be present on the 1st day of the first month. The Hebrew word translated month (chodesh) in Hebrew really means new moon. The root of this word means restoration, repair. Therefore, the new moon was associated with the first visible crescent, as this was the start of the rebuilding of the moon after it had waned. Therefore, the 1st month began with the first visible crescent after abib barley was discovered. This year (2014) abib barley was observed in Israel on March 25. The first crescent moon following this was on March 31. Unlike the Jewish practice today, the biblical evidence is that the day began at sunrise. The period between sunrise and sunset was divided into 12 hours (John 11:9 [ranging between 50-70 minutes depending on the time of year]). Therefore, the 1st day of the first month by Gods standards would correspond to our April 1. Jesus presented Himself to the Father at the time of the wave sheaf offering on the 16th day, the day we now refer to as Easter. The 16th day of the first month this year will be April 16, not April 20. This is fairly close. In 2008, the dates were separated by a month. You may say, Why make such a big deal about this? As alluded to earlier, days like Passover were referred to as appointed times (Hebrew moedim), appointments for meeting with Yahweh. If you had an appointment to see your doctor on April 16 at 8 AM and came on April 20 at 8 AM would you get in? Probably not. The person who had the 8 AM appointment on April 20 wouldnt appreciate it. Is the doctor more important than God? While I am not saying that we are called to keep the feasts (see Colossians 2:14-16), I am trying to point out that so much is lost by not studying them. Being delivered from bondage in Egypt was a new beginning for Israel. The work of Jesus on the cross represents a new beginning:

And because of this He is the Mediator of a renewed covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of the eonian inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)

The first covenant, the Ten Commandments, showed us that we have been sold into bondage to sin. However, through Jesus death, we are redeemed. The Greek word translated redemption (apolutrsis) means liberation affected by the payment of a ransom. Our transgressions of the law are dealt with and we are freed to have a renewed relationship with God a new beginning.

A Separated Lamb
On the tenth day of this month each one of them is to take for himself a lamb . (Exodus 12:3a)

The Israelites were to set aside a lamb on the 10th day of the first month. The Apostle John writes concerning the day that Jesus died:
Therefore, since it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath for that Sabbath was a high one the Jews asked Pilate to have their legs broken, and that they be taken away. (John 19:31)

We read the following about the first day of Feast of Unleavened Bread:
And on the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to Yahweh seven days you eat unleavened bread. On the first day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. (Leviticus 23:6-7)

The fact that no work was to be done, indicates that it was a Sabbath. However, every 15th of the month was a Sabbath as the biblical month was made up of: new moon day (1st), six work days (2nd-7th), first Sabbath (8th), six work days (9th-14th), second Sabbath (15th), six work days (16th-21st), third Sabbath (22nd), six work days (23rd-28th), and fourth Sabbath (29th). As the lunar cycle is 29.5 days, approximately every other month had an additional new moon day was added on (30th) until the first crescent was observed. The Sabbaths lined up with the phases of the moon. John points out that this Sabbath was a high one, as it was the annual Sabbath associated with the first day of Unleavened Bread. As Jesus death was the day before, He died on the 14th (keep that in mind).

I have attached a humble attempt to harmonize the gospel accounts (Jesus Final Week) concerning the events between the 8th and 16th of the month. One frequent misunderstanding is that Jesus trial before Pontius Pilate was the same day as His crucifixion. Mark tells us the time that Jesus was nailed to the cross:
And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. (Mark 15:25)

A Household Lamb
according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the beings, according to each mans need you make your count for the lamb. (Exodus 12:3b, 4)

As the day began at sunrise (~6 AM), He was crucified at ~9 AM. So far so good. However, the Apostle John writes:
And it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he (Pilate) said to the Jews, See your Sovereign! (John 19:14)

Pilate presented Jesus before the Jews at the 6th hour or ~12 PM (noon). Do you see the problem? How could Jesus be nailed to the cross at 9 AM and be presented before His crucifixion at 12 PM? Its not possible. Also note, it was the preparation day of the Passover, which means the day before the Passover. Passover is on the 14th (Leviticus 23:5). Therefore, John 19:14 is occurring on the 13th. We are given an important insight into what happened between the trial on the 13th and the crucifixion on the 14th in Isaiah 53:
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, but He did not open His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment. And as for His generation, who considered that He shall be cut off from the land of the living? For the transgression of My people He was stricken. (Isaiah 53:7-8)

The Aramaic paraphrase, the Targum of Jonathan, provides the following commentary on this verse: if the men of the house are fewer than 10 in number, in proportion to a sufficient number to eat the lamb, he and his neighbor who is nearest to his house shall take according to the number of souls. The picture of a lamb being too large a sacrifice for just one household I believe points to the fact that Jesus did not just die for the Jews only, but rather He died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). The Apostle Paul writes:
And having come, He brought as Good News peace to you who were far off, and peace to those near. Because through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the set-apart ones and members of the household of God. (Ephesians 2:17-19)

The Jews were those who were near and the rest of the nations were those who were far off. Jesus died to give both access to God.

An Unblemished Lamb
Let the lamb be a perfect one . Take it from the sheep or from the goats. (Exodus 12:5a, d)

He was taken from prison. We do not read about this in the New Testament, but as everything else in Isaiah 53 was fulfilled, why would this one detail not be? In all likelihood, Jesus spent the night of the 13th in a Roman prison before He was taken to be crucified the next morning. So what happened on the 10th of the month? If you look at the attached table, it was on this day that Jesus cleansed the temple of the merchandisers and the money changers. The high priests Caiaphas father-in-law Annas was sort of a religious godfather, who made a fortune on the merchandising and money changing occurring in the temple. When Jesus attacked what he loved most (i.e., money [Luke 16:14]), it was the last straw. The religious leaders chose their Passover lamb and planned on how to destroy Him.

Why a sheep or a goat? In Leviticus 11:3, clean animals were defined as: whatever has a split hoof completely divided, chewing the cud. In Deuteronomy 14:4-5, the list of animals that meet these criteria includes: ox, sheep, and goat. These two characteristics point to one with a setapart walk and one who ruminates or meditates on the word of Yahweh. These were true of Jesus. John the Baptizer referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). But this was not enough. The lamb had to be perfect. In Leviticus 22:22-25, this is described as not being blemished, blind, broken, dwarfed, deformed, bruised, cut, torn, crushed, or having ulcers, eczema or scabs. The religious leaders chose their lamb (Jesus) and spent the next four days trying to find something wrong with Him. But in the end their only real charge was that He was who He said He was, the Son of God. Pilate and

Herod found no fault in Him. The Apostle Paul writes:

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

same way, all men will be constituted righteous and given life through one Mans (Jesus) obedience.

A Single Lamb
And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then all the assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it . (Exodus 12:6a) And Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, Go out and take lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and slaughter the Passover lamb. (Exodus 12:21)

The unblemished Lamb of God became sin for us, so that we might have His righteousness.

A One-Year Old lamb

Let the lamb be a year old . (Exodus 12:5b)

Male sheep reach sexual maturity by 6 months. A one year old lamb would be one that had reached the peak of its strength. Jesus did not die as a baby or a teenager or an old man. He died as a man in the midst of His strength (~33 years of age).

A Male Lamb
Let the lamb be a male . (Exodus 12:5c)

It has been estimated that the Exodus included approximately 2 million people. Based on ten people per lamb, 200,000 lambs were sacrificed that first Passover. However, the command says take the lambs and slaughter the lamb. All of these lambs pointed to the final Passover Lamb, the Lord Jesus. We read in Hebrews:
For Messiah has not entered into a Set-apart Place made by hand figures of the true but into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf, not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the Set-apart Place year by year with blood not his own. For if so, He would have had to suffer often, since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the offering of Himself. (Hebrews 9:24-26)

Why a male lamb? The Apostle Paul provides the insight on this:
For this reason, even as through one man sin did enter into the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, upon which all sinned for until the Law, sin was in the world, but sin is not reckoned when there is no Law. But death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the favorable gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one mans trespass many died, much more the favor of God, and the gift in favor of the one Man, Jesus Messiah, overflowed to many. And the favorable gift is not as by one having sinned. For indeed the judgment was of one to condemnation, but the favorable gift is of many trespasses unto righteousness. For if by the trespass of the one, death did reign through the one, much more those who receive the overflowing favor and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life through the One, Jesus Messiah. So then, as through one trespass there resulted condemnation to all men, so also through one righteous act there resulted righteous-declaring of life to all men. For as through the disobedience of one man many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One many shall be made righteous. (Romans 5:12-19)

Millions of sheep, goats and bulls were sacrificed between the time Yahweh gave the Law to Moses and Jesus death. But they could only temporarily cover over sin. His once for all sacrifice put away sin. We have already seen that Jesus died on 14th, just as the Passover lamb did.

A Lamb Slain Between the Evenings

The congregation of Israel shall kill it between the evenings. (Exodus 12:6b)

All men were constituted sinners and subject to death as a result of one mans (Adam) sin. In the

A study of the Hebrew words for morning and evening, show that together they make up the day, the 12 hour period of sunlight. Morning is the time from sunrise (~6 AM) and noon (~12 PM). Evening is the time from noon to sunset (~6 PM). The phrase between the evenings refers to 3 PM, the time between when the sun begins to set (noon) and when it actually sets (~6 PM). Based on a 12

hour day, 3 PM is the ninth hour, which is exactly when Jesus died (Matthew 27:46-50). He died exactly when the Passover lambs were to be sacrificed.

Fire Roasted Lamb

Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire, its head with its legs and its inward parts. (Exodus 12:9)

Lambs Blood Applied

And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin, and you, none of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. (Exodus 12:22)

In Justin Martyrs Dialogue with Trypho, he writes:

The [Passover] lamb which was commanded to be wholly roasted was a symbol of the suffering of the cross which Christ would undergo. For the lamb, which is roasted, is roasted and dressed up in the form of the cross. For one spit is transfixed right through from the lower parts up to the head, and one across the back, to which are attached the legs of the lamb. (Chapter 20)

The Israelites were to apply blood to the two doorposts and the lintel. Also notice, the blood was in a basin. The word used for basin means also, sill, threshold. The locations of the blood on the door are representative of the four places from which Jesus shed His blood lintel (head, crown of thorns), two doorposts (two wrists), and sill (ankles).

In John 19:28, we read, Jesus, knowing that all had been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be accomplished, said, I thirst! What Scripture is this referring to? It is the great Messianic psalm, Psalm 22, where David writes:
I have been poured out like water, and all My bones have been spread apart; My heart has become like wax; it has melted in the midst of My inward parts. My strength is dried like a potsherd, and My tongue is cleaving to My jaws; and to the dust of death You are appointing Me. (vv. 14, 15)

Lambs Flesh Eaten

And they shall eat the flesh on that night with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. (Exodus 12:8)

While the lambs blood saved them from death, the lambs flesh gave them strength for their upcoming escape from Egypt. Jesus said to those who were following Him, many merely because of His miracles:
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you possess no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood possesses eonian life, and I shall raise him up in the last day. For My flesh is truly food, and My blood is truly drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood stays in Me, and I in him. (John 6:53-56)

The fire represents the sufferings that Jesus experienced at the hand of His enemies. I have to very briefly address the topic of Gods wrath and the cross. A popular song (In Christ Alone) states:
In Christ alone, who took on flesh Fullness of God in helpless babe This gift of love and righteousness Scorned by the ones He came to save 'Til on that cross as Jesus died The wrath of God was satisfied For every sin on Him was laid Here in the death of Christ I live

The key to what He is saying is found in vs. 35:

And said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall not get hungry at all, and he who believes in Me shall not get thirsty at all. (John 6:35)

Eating His flesh, which keeps you from being hungry, involves coming to Him. Drinking His blood, which keeps you from being thirsty, involves believing in Him. When the lambs flesh was eaten, it became part of the person. That is why Jesus said that if we eat His flesh and drink His blood, He would abide in us.

Did God pour out His wrath on His Son? Was it satisfied? If Gods wrath was poured out on Jesus and satisfied, how is it that Paul could say two decades later, for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18)? If Gods wrath was satisfied, why was it still being revealed? Did God need to be appeased like the gods of the heathen? Is that what was going on during the final Passover?

The Apostle Paul tells us what was going on in 2 Corinthians 5:

God has restored us to favor with Himself through Jesus the Messiah, and has given us the service of restoration to favor, that is, that God was in Messiah restoring the world to favor unto Himself, not reckoning their trespasses to them. (vv. 18, 19a)

demonstrated on the cross of Calvary and stops his warring. A much better lyric than the wrath of God was satisfied would be love of God was magnified. God handed His Son over to wicked men because He wanted to demonstrate His love, not to appease His wrath. Jesus words regarding thirst also draw us to Psalm 69, where we read:
Reproach has broken my heart and I am sick; I looked for sympathy, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. And they gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (vv. 20, 21)

God did not have to be reconciled to man, man had to be reconciled to God. The mind of the flesh is enmity against God (Romans 8:7). Man viewed God as an enemy; it was not the other way around. Adams sin did not change Gods love for mankind, nor did Jesus death on the cross change Gods wrath against sin. Jesus was not a lightning rod for the wrath of God. Paul writes in Colossians 1:
And He (Jesus) is before all, and in Him all hold together. And He is the Head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that He might become the One who is first in all. Because in Him all the completeness was well pleased to dwell, and through Him to completely restore to favor all unto Himself, whether on earth or in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were estranged and enemies in the mind by wicked works, but now He has completely restored to favor in the body of His flesh through death, to present you set-apart, and blameless, and unreprovable before Him. (vv. 17-22)

We will see another connection with this psalm later on in this study.

Lamb with Unbroken Bones

It is eaten in one house, you are not to take any of the flesh outside the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. (Exodus 12:46)

As you will see in the attached harmony of the gospel accounts, the Jewish leaders wanted to hasten the death of crucified by having their legs broken, which caused suffocation. After they broke the legs of the two criminals, they found that Jesus was dead already and they did not break his legs. This not only fulfilled the Passover type, but the words from Psalm 34:
Many are the evils of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all. He is guarding all his bones; not one of them is broken. (vv. 19, 20)

Reconciliation did not take place ON the cross, but took place THROUGH the cross. Again, it is not, God reconciles Himself to the world, but He reconciles the world to Himself:
For when we were still weak, Messiah in due time died for the wicked. For one shall hardly die for a righteous one, though possibly for a good one someone would even have the courage to die. But God proves His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Messiah died for us. Much more then, having now been declared right by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, being enemies, we were restored to favor with God through the death of His Son, much more, having been restored to favor, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:610)

It is important to note that man did not take Jesus life from Him:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to receive it again. This command I have received from My Father. (John 10:18)

It didnt take Jesus death on the cross to get God to love us, but Jesus died on the cross because God loved us so much already. Reconciliation takes place when man becomes convinced of Gods love,

When He had accomplished His work, He gave up His spirit and died, on His timetable, not mans. There were times before this when they tried to kill Him, but were unable to do so, because it wasnt time (e.g., John 7:30). However, in Matthew 26:5, they indicate that they did not want to kill Jesus on Passover, because the crowds will revolt. However, on Gods timetable, He had to die on Passover and that is exactly when He died. God is sovereign, no man can thwart His plans.

Totally Consumed Lamb

And do not leave of it until morning, and what remains of it until morning you are to burn with fire. (Exodus 12:10)

their first-born, whom Yahweh had smitten among them. Also on their mighty ones Yahweh had executed judgments. (vv. 3, 4)

Finally, the lamb was not to remain until morning (sunrise). As shown in the attached Jesus Last Week, Jesus was buried, not before sunset as many teach, but rather before sunrise in accordance with the Passover regulations.

As Abib 14 is Yahwehs Passover (Leviticus 23:5), Yahweh passed over the Israelites around midnight, and Abib 15 is said to be on the morrow of the Passover, it shows that biblical days begin with sunrise, not sunset otherwise Yahweh would have passed over on Abib 15, not Abib 14. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (Septuagint [LXX]), the word used for arise is anistmi, a word used, for example, by the Apostle Peter in preaching on the day of Pentecost:
Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man from God, having been pointed out to you by mighty works, and wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know, this One, given up by the set purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have impaled and put to death through the hands of lawless men Him God raised up (anastsen), having loosed the pangs of death, because it was impossible that He could be held in its grip. For David says concerning Him, I saw Yahweh before me continually, because He is at my right hand, in order that I should not be shaken. For this reason my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad, and now my flesh shall also rest in expectation, because You shall not leave my being in the grave, nor shall You give Your Kind One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life, You shall fill me with joy in Your presence. Men and brothers, let me speak boldly to you of the ancestor David, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being a prophet, then, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him: of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up (anastsein) the Messiah to sit on his throne, foreseeing this he spoke concerning the resurrection (anastases) of the Messiah, that His being was neither left in the grave, nor did His flesh see corruption. God has raised up (anastsen) this Jesus, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Set-apart Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself said, Yahweh said to my Master, Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has

A RESURRECTED PEOPLE
And the children of Israel set out from Rameses to Sukkoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides the little ones. And the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to be at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, on that same day it came to be that all the divisions of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be observed unto Yahweh for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This night is unto Yahweh, to be observed by all the children of Israel throughout their generations. (Exodus 12:37, 40-42)

Were the Israelites in Egypt for 430 years? Did they leave Egypt at night? The answer to both of those questions is No. The first question is addressed in the attachment How Long Was Israel in Egypt? Later we will look at the significance of 430 years. The answer to the second question is very clear from what Yahweh told the people in verse 22: None of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning. They could not leave their homes during the night without being disobedient. We read, Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Arise, go out from the midst of my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go; serve Yahweh as you have said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go. Then you shall bless me too (vv. 31, 32). As Moses and Aaron could not leave their homes, a messenger must have been sent to them from Pharaoh. Yahweh did the work that set His people free at night, but the people did not leave from Rameses to travel to Sukkoth until the morning, Abib 15, as we read in Numbers 33:
So they departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month, on the morrow of the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness before the eyes of all the Egyptians and the Egyptians were burying all

made this Jesus, whom you impaled, both Master and Messiah. (Acts 2:22-36)

We will come back to this passage. In the midst of death all around them (i.e., the Egyptians burying the firstborn dead), Israel began their exodus from bondage. It was the resurrection of the nation Pharaoh could no longer hold them. Think about what Peter said in his sermon, Jesus God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was impossible that He could be held in its grip (Acts 2:24). Just as Pharaoh could no longer hold Israel captive, death could not hold Jesus. As Israel was resurrected on Abib 15, I believe that Jesus was also. Scripture does not give us a clear statement regarding the time of the resurrection, but we can put the pieces together. You may be thinking what about Matthew 28:14? Well what about it?
Now after the Sabbath, toward dawn on the first day of the week, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And see, there was a great earthquake, for a messenger of Yahweh came down out of heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. And his appearance was like lightning and his garments as white as snow. And the guards trembled for fear of him, and became like dead men.

Jesus was not buried in the heart of the earth. The heart is a metaphor for the middle of something. Jesus did not speak Greek, but Aramaic. The Peshitta provides us with a good indication of His actual words, namely, blebah dara. The Hebrew word for heart is leb, which can clearly be seen in the Aramaic blebah. The Aramaic word for earth or more properly land is ara and it is equivalent to the Hebrew erets, which we find in Ezekiel 5:
Thus said the Master Yahweh, This is Jerusalem which I have set in the midst of the nations, with the other lands (arazot) all around her. (vs. 5)

I believe that Jerusalem was the heart of the land from Jesus and His audiences viewpoint. Several times we read things like the following:
And Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve taught ones aside on the way and said to them, See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man shall be delivered up to the chief priests and to the scribes. And they shall condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the nations to mock and to flog and to impale. And the third day He shall be raised. (Matthew 20:17-19)

The stone was not rolled away to let Jesus out. The stone and the guards were removed to allow Jesus followers in. This passage does not pinpoint the time of the resurrection. Lets look at the evidence that is available to us. 1. The Sign of the Prophet Jonah Three Days & Three Nights In Matthew 12 when asked for a sign, Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees:
A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights (treis hmeras kai treis nuktas) in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:39-40)

The Lord was very clear, He had to suffer, die, and rise again in Jerusalem. I believe the 3 days and 3 nights were from the time Judas Iscariot betrayed Him during the night portion of Abib 12 (delivered up to the chief priests and scribes) until He was resurrected after sunrise on Abib 15 (see attached Jesus Last Week) (12N, 13D, 13N, 14D, 14N, 15D). For those who demand that Jesus be in the tomb for 72 hours, we will see that this is not scripturally possible considering that Jesus did not undergo corruption and a further connection with Jonah under Item #3. 2. Three Days & the Third Day There are multiple Scriptures that refer to three days and the third day in relationship to Jesus resurrection from the dead. It is indicated in the New Testament that this was prophesied in the Old Testament. For instance, Jesus Himself in speaking with the disciples following His resurrection:
These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all have to be filled that were written in the Torah of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. Then He opened their minds to understand the

The heart of the earth is generally taken to refer to His burial and people try to jump through hoops to get 3 days and 3 nights out of a 36 hour period (Friday sunset to Sunday sunrise), which they try to do with a Roman calendar. I have never thought of this as a very good explanation.

Scriptures, and said to them, Thus it has been written, and so it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise again (anastnai) from the dead the third day (t trit hmera), and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these matters. (Luke 24:44-48)

On the same day there came certain Pharisees, saying to Him, Get out and go from here, for Herod wishes to kill You. And He said to them, Go, say to that fox, See, I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. (Luke 13:31, 32)

From the perspective of something occurring today, the third day could be as little as:
1 hr of Today (1st Day) Tonight Tomorrow (2nd Day) Tomorrow Night 1 hr of Following Day (3rd Day) Total 1 hr 12 hrs 12 hrs 12 hrs 1 hr 38 hrs

The Apostle Paul as well writes:

For I delivered to you at the first that which I also received: that Messiah died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised (eggertai) the third day (t trit hmera), according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4)

We see in these passages two words that are used with regards to raising from the dead: anistmi and egeir. Where is this written? It would seem to be in Hosea 6:
Come, and let us turn back to Yahweh. For He has torn but He does heal us, He has stricken but He binds us up. After two days He shall revive us, on the third day (LXX tn hmera tn trit) He shall raise us up (LXX anastsometha), so that we live before Him. (Hosea 6:1, 2)

However, three days and three nights is a different story:

1 hr of Today (1st Day) Tonight (1st Night) Tomorrow (2nd Day) Tomorrow Night (2nd Night) Following Day (3rd Day) 1 hr of Following Night (3rd Night) Total 1 hr 12 hrs 12 hrs 12 hrs 12 hrs 1 hr 50 hrs

The Hebrew words translated torn and stricken are used in great Messianic passages regarding the crucifixion (translated raging and smitten, respectively):
Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong ones of Bashan have encircled Me. They have opened their mouths against Me, as a raging and roaring lion. (Psalm 22:12, 13) Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookednesses. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. We all, like sheep, went astray, each one of us has turned to his own way. And Yahweh has laid on Him the crookedness of us all. (vv. 4-6)

The 38 hrs from Friday just before sunset to Sunday just before sunrise is too short to account for a fulfillment of the sign of Jonah. Lets look at the passages regarding three days and the third day. Following the Transfiguration, we read in the synoptic gospels:
Then He warned His taught ones that they should say to no one that He is Jesus the Messiah. From that time Jesus began to show to His taught ones that it was necessary for Him to go to Jerusalem, and to suffer much from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and to be raised again (egerthnai) the third day (t trit hmera). (Matthew 16:20, 21) (cf. Mark 8:31; Luke 9:21, 22) There are three phases to what will occur to Jesus in Jerusalem (the heart of the earth): 1. Suffering at the hands on elders, chief priests and scribes (first day Abib 13); 2. Being killed (second day Abib 14); and, 3. Being raised from the dead (third day Abib 15) This is really similar language to what Jesus used in Luke 13 today, tomorrow, the third day. We see these same three stages in these other passages:

For two days while given over the hands of wicked men, Jesus was torn and crushed. But on the third day, Yahweh raised Him from the dead. As noted earlier, thinking with Western minds, many are convinced that Jesus had to be in the grave exactly 72 hours. What does Jesus have to say about three days:

And while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, The Son of Man about to be delivered up into the hands of men, and they shall kill Him, and the third day (t trit hmera) He shall be raised up (egerthsetai). And they were deeply grieved. (Matthew 17:22, 23 [cf. Mark 9:31]) And taking the twelve aside, He said to them, See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all that have been written by the prophets about the Son of Man shall be accomplished. For He shall be delivered up to the nations and shall be mocked and insulted and spat upon, and having flogged Him they shall kill Him. And on the third day (t hmera t trit) He shall rise again (anastsetai). But they understood none of this, and this word was hidden from them, and they did not know what was being said. (Luke 18:31-34 [cf. Matthew 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34]) Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has been raised up! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man has to be delivered into the hands of sinners, and be impaled, and the third day (t trit hmera) rise again (anastnai). (Luke 24:5-7)

believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. (John 2:18-22)

We can see why the individuals at the trial were false witnesses Jesus did not indicate that He would destroy the Dwelling Place of Yahweh, the Jews were going to do that when they handed Him over to be crucified. We will not focus on the false witnesses testimony, but Jesus actually words. It sounds like He is saying that once they have killed Him, He will raise it three days later which would contradict what I have been saying. This passage seems to favor the Friday crucifixion Sunday resurrection theory they completed tearing down the temple on Abib 14 (1st day), He was in the grave on Abib 15 (2nd day) and arose on Abib 16 (3rd day). However, this theory cannot account for the sign of Jonah 3 days and 3 nights as it is only:
1 hr of Daylight on Abib 14 Nighttime Hours of Abib 14 Daylight Hours of Abib 15 Nighttime Hours of Abib 15 1 hr of Daylight on Abib 16 Total 1 hr 12 hrs 12 hrs 12 hrs 1 hr 38 hrs

Over and over again, the same three stages: suffering at the hands of the religious leaders and Romans, death and resurrection on the third day. During Jesus trial, we read the following:
And the chief priests, and the elders, and all the council were seeking false witness against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Although many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, and said, This one said, I am able to destroy the Dwelling Place of God and to build it in three days (dia trin hmern). (Matthew 26:59-61 [cf. Mark 14:57, 58])

This is only 3 days and 2 nights. However, if our understanding of the heart of the earth is correct, and the clock begins with betrayal of Judas during the night of Abib 12, then Jesus would be in the heart of the earth for 4 days and 4 nights. This scenario does not work either way. Therefore, it would seem that Jesus started the clock for rebuilding on the day that they started tearing down the temple of His body. This sign in John 2 cannot be any different than the sign given in Matthew 12, since Jesus refers to the Matthew 12 sign as the only sign. References to Jesus statement in John 2 are made two other times in the gospel accounts by Jesus enemies:
And those passing by were blaspheming Him, shaking their heads, and saying, You who destroy the Dwelling Place and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the stake. (Matthew 27: 39, 40 [cf. Mark 15:29, 30]) On the next day, which was after the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, Master, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, After three days I am raised. Command, then, that the tomb be safeguarded until the third day, lest His

This takes us back to the beginning of Jesus ministry when John records Him saying:
And the Jews answered and said to Him, What sign do You show to us, since You are doing these? Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this Dwelling Place, and in three days (en trisin hmerais) I shall raise (eger) it. Then the Jews said, It took forty-six years to build this Dwelling Place, and You are going to raise it in three days? But He spoke about the Dwelling Place of His body. And when He was raised (gerth) from the dead, His taught ones remembered that He said this to them. And they

taught ones come by night and steal Him away, and should say to the people, He was raised from the dead. And the last deception shall be worse than the first. (Matthew 27:62-64)

We have already addressed the understanding of his enemies of Jesus words in John 2. Although I cannot prove it, I believe Jesus had already left the tomb before the chief priests and Pharisees set their worthless guard up. We have one last passage to look at the conversation between Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus:
And He said to them, What are these words you are exchanging with each other as you are walking and you are sad? And the one whose name was Cleopas answering, said to Him, Are You the lone visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what took place in it these days? And He said to them, What? And they said to Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and impaled Him. We, however, were expecting that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. But besides all this, today is the third day since these matters took place. (Luke 24:19-21)

found not one cause for death, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. And when they had accomplished all that was written concerning Him, taking Him down from the timber, they laid Him in a tomb. But God raised (geiren) Him from the dead, and He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. And we bring you the Good News, the promise made to the fathers, that God has filled this for us, their children, having raised up (anastsis) Jesus, as it has also been written in the second Psalm, You are My Son, today I have brought You forth. And that He raised (anestsen) Him out of the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has said thus, I shall give you the trustworthy kindnesses of David. For this reason He also says in another Psalm, You shall not give Your Kind One to see corruption. For David, indeed, having served his own generation by the counsel of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption, but He whom God raised up (geiren) saw no corruption. (Acts 13:2637) As both Paul and Peter use this Psalm, it is important for us to look at it. David writes: For You do not leave my being in the grave (sheol), Neither let Your Kind One see corruption. (Psalm 16:11)

This is on Abib 16. Jesus died on Abib 14, with three hours of daylight remaining. Therefore, at the time the disciples were talking to Jesus, it was the third day (Abib 14, Abib 15 & Abib 16). However, this verse has nothing to do with the timing of Jesus resurrection, other than that it had to occur before this conversation. I believe an evaluation of all the three days and third day Scriptures upholds the interpretation of Jesus resurrection being on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Abib 15). 3. No Corruption We have already quoted Peters sermon and his use of Psalm 16 with regards to Jesus resurrection (Acts 2). The Apostle Paul similarly uses this Psalm in his sermon in Pisidian Antioch:
Men, brothers, sons of the race of Abraham, and those among you fearing God, to you the word of this deliverance has been sent, for those dwelling in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have filled them in having judged Him. And having

The Hebrew word translated corruption is shachath. It comes from an ancient root meaning sharp walls, picturing a pit dug into the ground for the purpose of trapping someone or something. Where does the idea of corruption or decay come from? The LXX translators used the Greek word diaphthora, a word found in the NT only in Peters sermon in Acts 2 and Pauls sermon in Acts 13, which means to utterly bring into a worse state. An animal falling into a trap would die and then decompose. How long before bacteria begin decompose a dead body? Lets let Gods word provide the answer. In the book of Leviticus we read:
And when you bring a peace offering to Yahweh, bring it for your acceptance. It is eaten the same day you slaughter it, and on the next day. And that which is left on the third day is burned with fire. So if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable, it is not accepted, and he who eats it bears his crookedness, because he has profaned the set-apart offering of Yahweh, and that being shall be cut off from his people. (19:5-8)

So it appears that an offering could be eaten on the day that it was offered or on the next day, but it was abominable on the third day. This Hebrew word for abominable (piggul something that stinks or is rotten) is used only three other times in the Scripture. Once in a similar passage in Leviticus 7. Once by Ezekiel in declaring that he had never eaten this type of sacrifice (meat left over to the third day). And finally in Isaiah 65, where Yahweh says to Israel:
I have held out My hands all day long to a stubborn people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; the people who provoke Me continually to My face, who slaughter in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves, and spend the night in secret places, who eat flesh of pigs, and the broth of unclean (piggul) meat is in their pots. (vv. 2-4)

Save me, O God! For waters have come up to my neck. I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no place to stand; I have come into deep waters, and the floods overflow me. I am worn out from my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes grow dim as I wait for my God. Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; they are mighty who would destroy me, my lying enemies; what I did not steal, I restored. (vv. 1-4)

There is a clear connection between the thoughts of the Messiah on the cross and Jonah inside the fish. This points out to me at least that Jonahs three days and three nights is more about the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus, than His time in the tomb. One more thought with regards to the Messiah not undergoing corruption. During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was celebrated from Abib 15 through Abib 21 (seven days), unleavened bread is to be eaten the seven days, and whatever is leavened is not to be seen with you, and leaven is not to be seen with you within all your border (Exodus 13:7). What is leaven? Seor is inedible fermented grain which is used to ferment dough. Fermentation is a form of corruption. The resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is consistent with Davids declaration that the Messiah would not undergo corruption. 4. Messiahs Exodus During the account of Transfiguration, Luke writes:
And it came to be, as He prayed, the appearance of His face changed, and His garment dazzling white. And see, two men were talking with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who having appeared in esteem, spoke of His death which He was about to complete at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:29-31)

If Jesus was offered on Abib 14, His body could no longer be in the tomb come Abib 16 (the third day). He definitely could not have been in the tomb for 72 hours. In both cases, He would have undergone corruption His body would have decomposed and Davids prophecy would not have been fulfilled. While Israelites at the time of Isaiah may have been going to cemeteries to consult with the dead (sit among the graves spend the night in secret places), as Jesus underwent no corruption, I believe He spent as little time as possible in the tomb buried just before sunset of Abib 14 and was resurrected just after sunrise on Abib 15. We also see the word shachath in Jonah, where the prophet prays from inside the fish:
I called to Yahweh because of my distress, and He answered me. From the stomach of the grave (sheol) I cried, and You heard my voice. For You threw me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me. All Your breakers and Your waves passed over me. So I said, I have been driven away from Your eyes. Would I ever look again toward Your set-apart temple? Waters encompassed me, unto life, the deep closed around me, weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the base of the mountains, the earth with its bars were behind me forever. But You brought up my life from the pit (shachath), O Yahweh, my God. (2:2-6)

His death is not a very good translation of the Greek word exodus, rather we could say that they were speaking of His departure or simply His exodus, seeing that we are familiar with this word from the name of the second book of Moses. This word is also used:
By belief, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the outgoing (exodou) of the children of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones. (Hebrews 11:22)

This prayer draws us back to the opening words of Psalm 69, which we looked at previously with regards to a fire-roasted lamb:

Jesus was about to complete an exodus at Jerusalem during the final Passover, similar to that which Israel completed as a result of the first Passover.

As Israel began its exodus on Abib 15, it seems only right that Jesus would do the same. 5. The Bones of Joseph We just made reference to the bones of Joseph. In Exodus 13, we read regarding the beginning of the Israels departure from Egypt:
And it came to be, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, though that was nearer, for God said, Lest the people regret when they see fighting, and return to Egypt. So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up armed from the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he certainly made the children of Israel swear, saying, God shall certainly visit you, and you shall bring my bones from here with you. And they departed from Sukkoth and camped in tham at the edge of the wilderness. (vv. 17-20)

between the Abrahamic Covenant and the Exodus/Mosaic Covenant, not the time in Egypt alone. According to the synoptic gospel writers, Jesus cried out the opening words of Psalm 22 from the cross (e.g., Matthew 27:46):
My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (vs. 1)

Jesus was not saying that God had actually forsaken Him, but was drawing the crowds and our attention to this psalm of David. His enemies had mocked him by quoting this psalm (e.g., Matthew 27:43):
All those who see Me mock Me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted in Yahweh, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, seeing He has delighted in Him! (vv. 7,8)

The first day (Abib 15) they traveled from Rameses to Sukkoth and there Josephs grave was emptied. Jesus was in Josephs grave, Joseph of Arimethea, that is. Again I think it is appropriate that Joseph of Arimetheas grave was emptied the same day as the patriarch Josephs grave especially as Josephs life was a type of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. 6. The Sheep in the Pit In Matthew 12, the same chapter where we find the sign of the prophet Jonah, we have an account where Jesus enemies question whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. He answers their question by healing the man with the withered hand. But before He does, He asks them a question:
What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, shall not take hold of it and lift it out? (vs. 11)

By quoting the first verse of the psalm, Jesus was saying Open up your Bibles to Psalm 22 and read it! See what was really happening here today! His enemies were essentially saying that Yahweh had abandoned Him, why would Jesus give credence to their lies. Jesus had said the following about His relationship with the Father:
When you lift up the Son of Man, then you shall know that I am He, and that I do none at all of Myself, but as My Father taught Me, these words I speak. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him. (John 8:28, 29)

Jesus says the Father never leaves Him alone, for He always does was pleases His Father. Was Jesus pleasing God on the cross? He most certainly was, so the Father did not abandon Him. Also, after informing His disciples that they will abandon Him, Jesus says:
See, an hour is coming, and has now come, that you are scattered, each to his own, and leave Me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. (John 16:32)

The Greek word translated lift out is one of the two words that we have seen used regarding Jesus resurrection, namely, egeir. Jesus was Gods sheep and He was in a pit (the grave) on the Sabbath. I believe that God raised His lamb on the Sabbath (Abib 15). 7. 430 Years & Abrahamic Covenant In Exodus 12:40, 41, we are told that Israels sojourn was exactly 430 years to the day. As shown in the attachment How Long Was Israel in Egypt?, this timeframe relates to the timeframe

Was God no more faithful than the disciples? Of course not, He did not abandon or forsake Jesus while on the cross. What does this have to do with the 430 years? Remember Jesus is pointing us to the entire psalm, not just the actual quotes in the New Testament. We read in the latter part of the psalm:
Let all the ends of the earth remember and turn to Yahweh, and all clans of the nations bow themselves before You. For the reign belongs to

Yahweh, and He is ruling over the nations. (vv. 27, 28)

The heart of the Abrahamic Covenant is found in the words in you all the clans of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis 12:3). A restatement of this comes after the symbolic death and resurrection of Isaac in Genesis 22: And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (vs. 18). Paul makes clear that these promises find their fulfillment in Messiah Jesus (Galatians 3:16). It appears that Israel came out of Egypt the very same day 430 years after the promise made to Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed in Messiah. I think it is appropriate that Jesus was raised from the dead this very same day, which was Abib 15. 8. The Offering of Isaac by Abraham We mentioned in passing the episode of Abraham and Isaac in Genesis 22:
And it came to be after these events that God tried Abraham, and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. And He said, Take your son, now, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I command you. And Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son. And he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place which God had commanded him. And on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place from a distance. So Abraham said to his young men, Stay here with the donkey while the boy and I go over there and worship, and come back to you. And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. And Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. And he said, See, the fire and the wood! But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God does provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering. And the two of them went together. And they came to the place which God had commanded him, and Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order. And he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son, but the Messenger of Yahweh called to him from the heavens and said, Abraham,

Abraham! And he said, Here I am. And He said, Do not lay your hand on the boy, nor touch him. For now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me. And Abraham lifted his eyes and looked and saw behind him a ram caught in a bush by its horns, and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, Yahweh Yireh, as it is said to this day, On the mountain Yahweh provides. (vv. 1-14)

Refer to the attachment Where Was Jesus Crucified? to see that this episode occurred at the same place as the crucifixion. In the book of Hebrews, we read:
By belief, Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only brought-forth son, of whom it was said, In Isaac your seed shall be called, reckoning that God was able to raise (egeirein), even from the dead, from which he received him back, as a type. (11:17-19)

This episode is a type of the sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection occurs on the third day from when the suffering began or Abib 15.

THE WAVE SHEAF

And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, and you shall say to them, When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, for your acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it. And on that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year old, a perfect one, as a burnt offering to Yahweh, and its grain offering: twotenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a sweet fragrance, and its drink offering: one-fourth of a hin of wine. And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Yahweh a law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. And from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths. Until the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring a new grain offering to Yahweh. (Leviticus 23:9-16)

The morrow after the Sabbath refers to second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first day (Abib 15) is both a regular Sabbath (which were on the 8th, 15th, 22th and 29nd days of every month) and also a high Sabbath (John 19:31). On Abib 16, a sheaf of first-fruits of the barley harvest was to be waved before Yahweh. I think our understanding of this will be aided if we look at Numbers 8 where we read about the dedication of the tribe of Levi:
And you shall bring the Levites before the Tent of Meeting, and you shall assemble all the congregation of the children of Israel. And you shall bring the Levites before Yahweh, and the children of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, and Aaron shall wave the Levites before Yahweh, a wave offering from the children of Israel so shall they be for doing the service of Yahweh. And the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. And one shall be prepared as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Yahweh, to make atonement for the Levites. And you shall have the Levites stand before Aaron and his sons, and then wave them, a wave offering to Yahweh. Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the children of Israel, and the Levites shall be Mine. Then after that the Levites shall go in to do service in the Tent of Meeting, when you have cleansed them and waved them as a wave offering. For they are given ones, given to Me from among the children of Israel. I have taken them for Myself instead of all who open the womb, the first-born of all the children of Israel. For all the first-born among the children of Israel are Mine, both man and beast. On the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I set them apart unto Myself. And I have taken the Levites instead of all the first-born of the children of Israel. And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the Tent of Meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the setapart place. (vv. 9-19)

Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brothers and say to them, I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. (John 20:17)

The Hebrew word for sheaf is omer, which was the amount of manna each person was to collect each day. It includes many heads of grain, not a single one. This seems to be hinted at in Jesus words I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God. We are not really given much detail regarding this ascension, but it seems to be a fulfillment of the wave sheaf offering. Jesus presented Himself, as the first-born from the dead (Colossians 1:18) along with the children God had given to Him as a wave offering. They were set apart as kings and priests to serve the High Priest. One thing needs to be noted regarding the way the New Testament refers to the day. We read the following:
Now after the Sabbath, toward dawn on the first day of the week, Mary from Magdala and the other Mary came to see the tomb. (Matthew 28:1) And when the Sabbath was past, Mary from Magdala, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, to go and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. (Mark 16:1, 2) And on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. (Luke 24:1) And on the first day of the week Mary from Magdala came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. (John 20:1) When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the taught ones met, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace to you. (John 20:19)

The Levites were a wave offering in place of the firstborn of the children of Israel. They were set apart as a gift to the high priest Aaron and his sons. In His conversation with Mary of Magdala in the early hours of Abib 16, Jesus said to her:

In each case, the phrase first day of the week is a variant of the Greek mia sabbatn, which is more accurately translated as first of the Sabbaths. This day was the first day in the count of seven completed Sabbaths (LXX sabbatn) plus 50 days to the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost).

A Fathers Love
I have put a lot of time into this study over the years. In the end, I may be out in left field. The most important thing is that Jesus did die and that He rose again from the dead. With regards to the timing of the death and resurrection of Jesus, you may disagree with me whole-heartedly. But I hope this meditation has given you a taste of the amazing plan of God in providing for your salvation. Philips, Craig & Dean sing a song that begins as follows: What kind of love is this That climbs the hill That bears the cross That takes the nails What kind of love is this That takes my place That gives His life And clears my name Oh, I want to know what kind of love is this It's wonderful It's glorious It's full of grace And full of mercy Powerful It's marvelous That's what this love is That's what God's love is My prayer for you is that you might firmly grasp the wonderful, glorious, gracious, merciful, powerful and marvelous love of God its width and length and depth and height (Ephesians 3:18).

In Jesus Love, Donald

Jesus Last Week

Day
8 Sabbath

Night

Event
Comes to Bethany (home of Mary, Martha, & Lazarus) six days before the Passover (9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th & 14th) Mary, Martha & Lazarus have a supper for Him and Mary anoints His feet with very costly oil of spikenard. Judas Iscariot questions the waste of this act. Many come to the home to see Jesus & Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. Approaching Jerusalem, Jesus sends two disciples to get an unbroken colt and its mother for Him. They place their coats on the colt and Jesus sits upon it. Others spread their coats or palm branches on the road. People rejoice, praise God & cry out Hosanna, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of Yahweh! Matthew indicates that this was in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9. Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus goes into the temple and looks around. As the hour is late, He goes back to Bethany with the disciples. Jesus returns from Bethany to Jerusalem in the morning. Jesus curses the fig tree upon which He finds only leaves and no fruit. The disciples hear Him. The tree immediately withers, but is not noticed by the disciples. Jesus cleanses the temple of animal sellers and money changers. The scribes & chief priests sought how to destroy Him (i.e., they selected a Passover lamb). Jesus teaches and heals the lame in the temple. The religious leaders are indignant that the people are crying out, Hosanna to the Son of David! and question why He is allowing it. Jesus returns to Bethany for the night.

Matthew

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

John
12:1

12:2-11

21:1-11

11:1-10

19:28-40

12:12-19

19:41-44 11:11 11:12

11:13, 14

10

21:12, 13

11:15-18

19:45, 46

21:14-16

19:47

12:20-50

21:17

11:19

Jesus Last Week

Day Night Event
Jesus returns from Bethany to Jerusalem in the morning. The disciples question Jesus concerning the withered fig tree. Chief priests and elders question Jesus authority to do the things He had been doing. Jesus parables of the two sons, wicked vinedressers & wedding feast. Pharisees question Jesus regarding taxes paid to Caesar. Sadducees question Jesus regarding the resurrection. 11 Scribe questions Jesus regarding the first commandment. Jesus questions leaders concerning the relationship between the Messiah & David. Jesus woes against religious leaders. Jesus teaching on the widows mite. Jesus Olivet Discourse concerning the destruction of Jerusalem (in AD 70) and the end of the age & His second coming. Jesus indicates that after two days He will be betrayed. The chief priests & scribes meet on how to take Jesus by trickery (11th & 12th [see night of 12th for Jesus betrayal by Judas Iscariot]) 24:1-25:46

Matthew
21:18 21:19-22 21:23-27 21:28-22:14 22:15-22 22:23-33 22:34-40 22:41-45 23:1-39

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

11:20a 11:20b-26 11:27-33 12:1-12 12:13-17 12:18-27 12:28-34 12:35-37 12:38-40 12:41-44 13:1-36 20:41-44 20:45-47 21:1-4 21:5-37 20:1-8 20:9-19 20:20-26 20:27-40

John

26:1-5

14:1, 2

22:1, 2

Jesus Last Week

Day Night Event
Jesus has meal at the house of Simon the leper in Bethany. A woman anoints Jesus head with very costly oil of spikenard. Again the act is questioned. 11 Note: This is different than the anointing by Mary on the 8th. She anointed Jesus feet. Judas Iscariot agrees to betray Jesus to the chief priests. 12 Jesus sends Peter & John to prepare the room where they would celebrate Passover. 26:17-19 Note: They never did celebrate Passover, as Jesus died at the time the lamb would have been sacrificed for the Passover meal. Jesus washes the disciples feet after supper. Jesus identifies His betrayer. Jesus institutes the bread and wine ceremony symbolic of His body & blood. Disciples argue about which one is the greatest. 12 Jesus predicts Peters denials Jesus farewell discourse Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus and He is arrested. All the disciples flee. 26:36-46 26:47-56 14:32-42 14:43-52 22:39-46 22:47-52 18:1-12 26:31-35 14:27-31 22:31-38 13:31-38 14:1-17:26 26:20-25 26:26-30 14:17-21 14:22-26 22:21-23 22:14-20 22:24-30 13:18-30 13:1-17 14:12-16 22:7-13 26:6-13 14:3-9

Matthew

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

John

26:14-16

14:10, 11

22:3-6

Jesus Last Week

Day Night Event
Jesus is led to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled. Peter and John follow at a distance. John gets them into the courtyard. Jesus is taken to Annas (Caiaphass father-in-law) first. Peter stands by the fire to warm himself. Servant girl questions him and he denies Jesus for the first time. A rooster crows. 12 Matthew 12 First Night Annas questions Jesus. Annas sends Jesus to Caiaphas. Jesus is tried before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin. Sanhedrin seek false witnesses against Him. No witnesses agree with each other. Jesus is put under oath to answer whether or not He is the Messiah, the Son of God. When He says that He is, He is accused of blasphemy, deserving death. Thy spit in His face and beat Him. He is blindfolded and taunted to prophesy who hit Him. Peter denies Jesus two more times. A rooster crows. Jesus looks at Peter, Peter remembers Jesus prediction, and goes out and weeps Jesus is bound and led from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, the home of Pontius Pilate. As not to defile themselves, they do not enter the Praetorium. Pilate comes out them and asks about the accusation. He tells them to try Him themselves. They indicate that it is not lawful for them to put anyone to death. Judas Iscariot gives money back to chief priests and hangs himself. Pilate returns to the Praetorium and calls for Jesus to be brought to him. He asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews. The chief priests accuse Him, but He makes no answer. Pilate indicates he finds no fault. The chief priests indicate that Jesus has been stirring up the people from Gal3ilee to Judea. Hearing that Jesus was from Galilee, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod. Herod asks Him many questions, but Jesus gives him no answer. Herod and his men of war mistreat Jesus, dress Him in a gorgeous robe, and send Him back to Pilate.

Matthew
26:57, 58

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

14:53, 54a 22:54

John
18:13-16

26:69, 70

14:54b, 66-68

22:55-57

18:17, 18 18:19-23 18:24

26:59-68

14:55-65

22:63-71

26:71-75

14:69-72

22:58-62

18:25-27

27:1, 2

15:1

23:1

18:28-32

13 Preparation of the Passover Matthew 12 First Day

27:3-10

27:11-14

15:2-5

23:3-5

18:33-38

23:6-12

Jesus Last Week

Day Night Event
Pilate tells the chief priests that neither he nor Herod have found any fault in Jesus. He indicates that he will chastise Jesus and release Him according to his Passover custom of releasing one prisoner. Pilate tries to release Jesus, but the chief priests and crowds call for the murderer Barabbas. They cry out for Jesus to be crucified. Despite his wifes warnings and his own belief that Jesus was innocent, he releases Barabbas and delivers Jesus to be scourged. 13 Preparation of the Passover Matthew 12 First Day Soldiers clothed Jesus in purple and placed a crown of thorns on His head and mockingly worship Him. They spit in His face and strike Him with their hands. Pilate brings Jesus out for the crowds to see Him and again declares His innocence, probably hoping if they see how badly He has been beaten, that they will change their minds. The people continue to call for Jesus crucifixion. Pilate tells them to go crucify Him themselves, as he found no fault. The people indicate that Jesus must die because He claimed to be the Son of God. This causes Pilate to fear and he questions Jesus some more. He continues to try to release Him but the crowds indicate that Pilate is not a friend of Caesar if he lets Jesus go. At the 6th hour (~12 noon [cf John 4:6]), Pilate brings out Jesus one last time and presents Him as their king. The people continue to indicate that He should be crucified and that Caesar is their king. He delivers Jesus to be crucified. 13 Matthew 12 Second Night 27:27-31a 15:16-20a 19:2, 3 27:15-25 15:6-14

Matthew

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

23:13-17

John
18:39

23:13-23

18:40

27:26

15:15

23:24, 25

19:1

19:4, 5

19:6-13

19:14-16a

Jesus spends the night in prison. (Isaiah 53:8)

Jesus Last Week

Day Night Event
Jesus led away to be crucified, along with two criminals. The soldiers force Simon of Cyrene to carry His cross to Golgotha, the place of the Skull (Calvary). Along the way, Jesus tells the women not to mourn for Him, but rather for mourn for themselves and their children because of the judgment that will come upon Jerusalem. They give Jesus sour wine mingled with gall but He will not drink it. They nail Him to the cross at approximately the third hour (~9 AM). One of the criminals in placed on His right and one on His left (in fulfillment of Isaiah 53:8). Jesus prays, Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing. As the soldiers watch over Him, they cast lots for His clothes in fulfillment of Psalm 22:18. Pilate has a sign placed on Jesus cross which reads, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews in Greek, Latin & Hebrew. Those passing by blaspheme Him. The religious leaders mock Jesus, saying, He saved others, Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. Both crimi nals also mock Him. One of the criminals has a change of heart and asks Jesus to remember Him. Jesus tells him Today you will be with Me in Paradise. Jesus sees His mother Mary and asks John to take care of her. Darkness is over all the land from the sixth hour (~12 noon) until the ninth hour (~3 pm). 27:45 15:33 23:44, 45a

Matthew

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

John

27:31b, 32

15:20b-22

23:26-32

19:16b, 17

27:34, 35a, 38

15:23, 25, 27

23:33, 34a

19:18

14 Passover Preparation Day for the Sabbath Matthew 12 Second Day

27:35b

15:24

23:34b

19:23, 24

27:37

15:26

23:38

19:19-22

27:39-44

15:28-32

23:35-37, 39

23:40-43 19:25-27

Jesus Last Week

Day Night Event
At the ninth hour (~3 pm), Jesus cries out, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me! The crowds think that He is calling for Elijah. Jesus said, I thirst to fulfill Psalm 22:15. Jesus said, It is finished! 14 Passover Preparation Day for the Sabbath Matthew 12 Second Day Jesus said, Father into Your hands I commit My spirit and dies. The veil in the temple is torn in two, from the top down. The earthquake opened many graves. The centurion glorifies God by acknowledging that Jesus was the Son of God. The crowds leave beating their breasts. The women, who have been following Jesus from Galilee, stand by and watch. Jews request Pilate that the legs of those crucified be broken to hasten death (so that the bodies are not on the crosses on the Sabbath). The soldiers break the legs of the two criminals, but when they come to Jesus, they find that He is dead already, so they do not break His legs (in fulfillment of Psalm 34:20). Just to make sure He is dead, a soldier pierces His side with a spear (in fulfillment of Zechariah 12:10). Near sunset, Joseph of Arimethea requests the body of Jesus from Pilate. 14 Matthew 12 Third Night Joseph of Arimethea and Nicodemus bury Jesus. Note: Jesus not buried before sunset. See attached list of all the things that happened from His death to actual burial. It could not fit into the three hours between the 9th hour and sunset. 27:58b-61 15:44-47 23:53-56 19:38b-42 27:57, 58a 15:43 23:50-52 27:50 15:37 23:46

Matthew
27:46-49

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

15:34-36

John

19:28, 29 19:30a 19:30b

27:51-56

15:38, 39

23:45b-49

19:31-37

19:38a

Jesus Last Week

Day
15 First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread High Sabbath Matthew 12 Third Day

Night

Event
Jesus rises from the dead after sunrise.

Matthew

Scripture Reference Mark Luke

John

The chief priests and Pharisees come to Pilate and warn him about Jesus prophecy that He would rise from the dead after three days. They indicate that the disciples may try to steal the body of Jesus by night and declare His resurrection. Pilate gives them a guard. This occurs near sunset (original manuscripts had no verses or punctuation, the phrase in the evening of the Sabbaths in Matthew 28:1 belongs with the end of 27:66)

27:62-28:1a

15

The best evidence is that the Sabbath observance was from sunrise to sunset. The commandment was to remember the Sabbath day. After, s unset on the 15th, the woman purchase additional spices. Events between Jesus resurrection and ascension (events #2-#26 below). 28:1b-7

16:1

16:2-7, 9

24:1-8, 12

20:1-17

16 Day of the Wave Sheaf Offering

Jesus ascends to the Father at the time of the wave offering of the sheaf of first-fruits (~9 AM, the time of the daily morning offering). Jesus is referred to as the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5). Paul also writes that He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:20). Events following Jesus ascension (events #27-#33 below). 28:8-10 16:8. 10, 11 24:9-11

Events between the Death & Burial of Jesus: As these passages (Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-56 & John 19:38-42) are dealing with the same episode, they must be consistent. Luke and John do not use the word evening; however, we need to look at all four accounts. The phrase that would seem to point to days beginning at sunset is Luke 23:54, which states, it was the day of preparation, and a Sabbath lighted up. Young translates it as the Sabbath was approaching. Jesus had died at 9th hour (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34). Sunset was at the 12th hour. It is generally believed that Jesus was buried before sunset. However, if Jesus was buried before sunset, the following things had to happen in those three hours (remembering this is a time long before cars and telephones, getting a message from one place to another involved walking and talking to the person face to face): 1. Reaction to the three hours of darkness (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44) in the middle of the day (noon to 3 pm) and the earthquake (Matthew 27:51-54). An overcrowded Jerusalem must have been uproar; Jews walk back to the Praetorium and request Pilate to have the legs broken of those being crucified (John 19:31). Although the distance between Golgotha and Pilates palace is only a third of a mile (a five minute walk a good day), the conditions described above probably hindered movement in the city. After the darkness and earthquake and his previous dealings with the Jews leaders, Pilate probably did not give them instant audience. They did not want the bodies hanging on the Sabbath, particularly the Sabbath associated with

2.

the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Abib 15). As people could remain days on the cross, this does not mean that the Sabbath was merely 3 hours away. The Jews needed to go home and celebrate the Passover and probably wanted to make sure it was finished before they had to leave. According to Exodus 12:6, the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed between the evenings, which is the 9th hour (time between when the sun begins to set at 6th hour [noon] and when it sets at the 12th hour). Jesus died at the 9th hour or between the evenings. Yahwehs law continues in Exodus 12:8 to command that the flesh be eaten on this night or in other words, during the 12 hours of darkness of the 14th. And then, most importantly for our discussion here, Yahweh indicates that none of the flesh shall remain until morning. From the point of view of fulfilling Scripture, Jesus had to be buried before morning or sunrise, not sunset. However, this is not the only Scripture that needs to be evaluated. We read in Deuteronomy 21:
22

In case there should be in a man a sin incurring a judgment of death so that he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23his carcass shall not lodge on the tree all night, for you shall entomb, yea entomb him on that day, for one being hung is under a malediction of Elohim, and you shall not defile your ground that Yahweh your Elohim is giving to you as an allotment. (Deuteronomy 21:22, 23) The verb translated shall lodge means to remain or stay the night. Therefore, the body was not to remain the entire night or 12-hour period of darkness on the tree. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The message is sent from Pilate to the soldiers allowing the legs to be broken; The soldiers break the legs of the two criminals (John 19:32); The soldiers observe that Jesus is already dead (John 19:33); The soldier pierces the side of Jesus (John 19:34); At evening (nearly sunset), Joseph walks to Praetorium and requests the body of Jesus from Pilate (Matthew 27:57, 58a; Mark 15:42, 43; Luke 23:50-52a; John 19:38a). Pilate probably did not give Joseph instant audience. The Greek word translated evening is opsios. We are given insight into its meaning in the following passage:
32

Now evening (opsios) coming on, when the sun sets, they brought to Him all those who have an illness and those who are demoniacs. (Mark 1:32)

So, we see that Joseph did not even go to Pilate until it was nearly sunset. How could Jesus have been buried before sunset? 8. 9. Pilate sends a messenger to the crucifixion site to ask the centurion if Jesus is dead already (Mark 15:44); The centurion returns from the crucifixion site to the Praetorium to tell Pilate that indeed Jesus is dead (Mark 15:45a);

10. Pilate grants Joseph the body of Jesus (Matthew 27:58b; Mark 15:45b; Luke 23:52b; John 19:38b); 11. Joseph purchases a linen cloth in which to wrap the body of Jesus (Mark 15:46b); 12. Nicodemus brings about 100 pounds troy (or 75 standard pounds) of myrrh and aloes (John 19:39). This is 100 times the amount used by Mary to anoint Jesus (John 12:3); 13. Joseph and Nicodemus take Jesus off the cross (Matthew 27:59a; Mark 15:46b; Luke 23:53a; John 19:40a). They had to do this carefully without breaking any of Jesus bones; 14. They wrap the body of Jesus in the linen and spices according to the custom of the Jews (Matthew 27:59b; Mark 15:46c; Luke 23:53b; John 19:40b). What is meant by this is provided in John 11 regarding Lazarus:

43

And, saying these things, He clamors with a loud voice, "Lazarus! Hither! Out!" 44And out came he who had died, bound feet and hands with winding sheets, and his countenance had been bound about with a handkerchief. Jesus is saying to them, "Loose him and let him go!" (John 11:43, 44) 15. They place the body of Jesus in the tomb (Matthew 27:60a; Mark 15:46d; Luke 23:53c; John 19:41, 42); 16. They roll the stone in front of the tomb (Matthew 27:60b; Mark 15:46e); 17. Mary of Magdala and the other Mary observe the tomb (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55); and, 18. Before the Sabbath, the women prepare the spices that they will bring the day following the Sabbath (Luke 23:56). It is very unlikely that all of these things could have been in a period of three hours. But what about the words the Sabbath was approaching in Luke 23:54? The Greek word translated approaching is epiphosko. It is used only one other time:
1

At the lighting up (epiphosko) into one of the sabbaths came Mary of Magdala and the other Mary to behold the sepulcher. (Matthew 28:1b)

Setting aside what is meant by one of the Sabbaths for now, were Mary of Magdala and the other Mary coming to the sepulcher at sunset? Epiphosko comes from epiphaino, which is used in the following passage:
78

Because of the merciful compassions of our God, in which the Dayspring from on high visits us, 79To make its advent to those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, to direct our feet into the path of peace. (Luke 1:78, 79) The dayspring making its advent to those in darkness points to sunrise. The evidence points to Jesus being buried before sunrise, not sunset, just as the women came to the tomb at sunrise, not sunset. Sequence of Early Morning Events The first thing to note is that all of these passages are post-resurrection. There is not a single reference to the actual resurrection of Jesus. We only know that it was before these events. From these passages, the following sequence of events emerges: 1. 2. With the elapsing of the Sabbath, the woman purchase spices (Mark 16:1); The next time that is discussed is described by Matthew as the lighting up into one of the Sabbaths (28:1b), by Mark as very early in th e morning on one of the Sabbaths, at the rising of the sun (16:2), by Luke as in the early depths of one of the Sabbaths (24:1a), and by John as on one of the Sabbaths, in the morning, being still darkness (20:1a); The women come to the tomb (Matthew 28:1c, Luke 24:1b) with the spices they had prepared before the Sabbath (Luke 24:1c) and those just purchased; The women wonder amongst themselves what they will do about the stone in front of the tomb (Mark 16:3); The earthquake and the descending of the angel to roll away the stone (Matthew 28:2, 3). It is clear that this was not observed by the women, as they only observe angels inside the tomb; The guards are frightened by the angel (Matthew 28:4); The women behold that the stone has been rolled away (Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1b);

3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

8.

Mary of Magdala, upon viewing the removed stone and assuming that Jesus body has been taken, runs back to tell Peter and John (John 20:2a). It does not say she told the other disciples at this time. It is possible that John, who had remained in Jerusalem for the crucifixion, and Peter, who had remained in Jerusalem for at least part of Jesus trial, were the only disciples in the city. The nine others may have fled to various places, including Bethany where they had been staying during the week prior to Passover. Meanwhile as Mary went to tell Peter and John, the other women enter the tomb and observe that Jesus body is missing (Mark 16:5a; Luke 24:3);

9.

10. The women are perplexed by the absence of Jesus body (Luke 24:4a); 11. The women observe two angels dressed in white inside the tomb (Mark 16:5b; Luke 24:4b); 12. The women are awed by the presence of the angels and bow to the ground (Mark 16:5c; Luke 24:5) 13. The angel tells the women not to fear and that they will not find Jesus the crucified for He has risen from the dead as He said He would (Matthew 28:5, 6; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:5b7); 14. The women remember the sayings of Jesus (Luke 24:8); 15. The angel tells the women to report to His disciples and Peter that He will precede them to Galilee (Matthew 28:7; Mark 16:7); 16. While all this is happening to the other women, Mary of Magdala reaches and tells Peter and John that someone has taken Jesus body (John 20:2b); 17. Peter and John race to the tomb (Mary of Magdala returning with them), with John arriving first, peering inside and observing only the empty grave clothes (Luke 24:12a; John 20:3-5). Lukes reporting of Peter going to the tomb is not chronological in his account, but merely indicating that upon the fir st news of something occurring that morning, that he had gone to the tomb. At that point, Peter did not have any information about the women seeing Jesus alive; 18. Peter arrives at the tomb, passes John and enters it, and observes the empty grave clothes (Luke 24:12b; John 20:6, 7); 19. John enters the tomb and believes that the body is missing (John 20:8). As the next verse (20:9) indicates that they did not know the Scripture concerning His resurrection, it is doubtful that John believed He was alive; 20. Peter and John return to their home, marveling at what they had seen (Luke 24:12c; John 20:10); 21. Mary of Magdala lingers, weeping and finally looks inside the tomb and sees the two angels, one where Jesus head had been and one where His feet had been (John 20:11, 12). If she had remained with the other women, she would have seen the angels previously. It is interesting that the angels appeared to the women, but not the disciples. 22. The angels ask Mary of Magdala why she is weeping and she indicates that it is because someone has taken her Lord (John 20:13); 23. Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala and asks her the reason for her weeping and what she is looking for (John 20:14). This is Jesus first post-resurrection appearance (Mark 16:9); 24. Thinking He is a gardener, she asks Jesus where the body of man who had been in the tomb has been taken (John 20:15); 25. Jesus then reveals Himself to her by calling her by her name and she recognizes Him, calling Him Rabboni (John 20:16); 26. Jesus tells her she cannot touch Him for He has not ascended to the Father yet and tells her to report that He is alive and ascending their and His Father and God (John 20:17);

27. Meanwhile as all this was happening to Peter, John & Mary of Magdala, trembling and amazed, the women flee from the tomb saying nothing to anyone for some time (Mark 16:8; Luke 24:9a); 28. Eventually, overcoming their fear, the women run to report to His disciples, that is the disciples other than Peter and John, to whom Mary of Magdala reported the news of the opened tomb and whom are on their way to the tomb; (Matthew 28:8); 29. Jesus meets the women (Matthew 28:9a); 30. The women hold onto His feet and worship Him (Matthew 28:9b). He does not stop them from touching Him as He did with Mary in #26, indicating that He had ascended to the Father; 31. Jesus tells the women to report to His disciples that He will precede them to Galilee (Matthew 28:10); 32. Mary of Magdala and the other women report to the eleven disciples and those with them (Mark 16:10; Luke 24:9b, 10); 33. The disciples do not believe the report and thought it nonsense that Jesus was alive (Mark 16:11; Luke 24:11). Peter and John knew the grave was empty, but they did not believe Him resurrected.

Attachment 1 How Long Was Israel in Egypt?

Genesis 5 & 11 Genesis 5 carries us from creation to Shem and Genesis 11 from Shem to Abram. The narrative tells us the name of one person, how old they were when a descendent was born and how long they lived after the birth of that descendent. The following table summarizes the data, along with some additional data found elsewhere in Genesis regarding Abram, Isaac and Jacob and Exodus 6 and Numbers 33 regarding Jacobs descendents through Levi. The abbreviation AM stands for Anno Mundi (year of the world [time since creation]):
Age When Descendent Born 130 105 90 70 65 162 65 187 182 502 100 35 30 34 30 32 30 29 130 100 60 88 35 29 110 Lifetime After Descendent Born 800 807 815 840 830 800 300 782 595 448 500 403 403 430 209 207 200 119 75 75 120 59 102 104 27

Person Adam Seth Enosh Cainan Mahalalel Jared Enoch Methuselah Lamech Noah Shem Arphaxad Salah Eber Peleg Reu Serug Nahor Terah Abram Isaac Jacob Levi Kohath Amram Aaron

Year of Birth AM 0 130 235 325 395 460 622 687 874 1056 1558 1658 1693 1723 1757 1787 1819 1849 1878 2008 2108 2168 2256 2291 2320 2430

Age When Died 930 912 905 910 895 962 365 969 777 950 600 438 433 464 239 239 230 148 205 175 180 147 137 133 137 123

Year of Death AM 930 1042 1140 1235 1290 1422 987 1656 1651 2006 2158 2096 2126 2187 1996 2026 2049 1997 2083 2183 2288 2315 2393 2424 2457 2553

Data based on direct statements in Scripture See discussion under Noah-Shem See discussion under Terah-Abram See discussion under Jacob-Levi-Kohath-Amram-Aaron (based primarily on Scripture) See discussion under Jacob-Levi-Kohath-Amram-Aaron (based primarily on extra-Biblical sources)

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Noah-Shem
The first difficulty in the genealogy regards Noahs age when Shem was born. Genesis 5:32 states: And Noah was 500 years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Does this verse mean that the three sons were triplets all born to Noah when he was 500 years old? We know that flood came when Noah was 600 years (Genesis 7:6). We are also told in Genesis 11:10: This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was a 100 years old, and begot Arphaxad 2 years after the flood. If Shem was 100 years old two years after the flood, Noah must have been 502 years old at his birth.

Terah-Abram
With Terah, we have a similar situation that we had with Noah. In Genesis 11:26, we read: Now Terah lived 70 years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Again, the question is: are Abram, Nahor and Haran triplets born to Terah when he was 70 years old? In Acts 7, Stephen says: And he said, Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our fathers Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you. Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you dwell. (vv. 2-4) Stephen indicates that when Terah died, Abraham left Haran. In Genesis 11:32, we are told that the days of Terah were 205 years. And in Genesis 12:4, Abram is said to be 75 years old when he departed from Haran. If Abram was 75 when his father was 205, then Terah was 130 years old when Abram was born.

The Exodus
Jacob-Levi-Kohath-Amram-Aaron
As can be seen from the table, when we get to Jacob, the evidence becomes a little less clear. Regarding Joseph, we know that when he stood before Pharaoh, he was 30 years old (Genesis 41:46). When Jacob comes to Egypt, we are told that he is 130 years old (Genesis 47:9), which was two years into the 7 years of famine (Genesis 45:11). Therefore, Jacob was 121 years old when Joseph stood before Pharaoh (i.e., 130 7 [years of plenty] 2 [years of famine]). This means that Jacob was 91 years old when Joseph was born (i.e., 121 30). We are told in Genesis 30:25 that Joseph was born at the end of the 14 years Jacob worked for Leah & Rachel. Therefore, he was 77 years old when he went to Padan Aram. Jacob worked 7 years before he had any children. Levi was the third son that Leah bore to Jacob. Assuming a little more than year between pregnancies, Jacob was approximately 88 years old when Levi was born (i.e., 77 + 7 + 4). In Exodus 6, Moses provides information on the next four generations: Levi, Kohath, Amram and Aaron. However, information is only provided on the lifespans of these four men, but not how old they were when their descendent was born. Based on Genesis 46:11, we know that Kohath was born

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before the descent into Egypt. In the Apocryphal book The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, it is stated that Kohath was born to Levi when he was 35 years old. The book also indicates that Jochebed, wife of Amram and mother of Moses & Aaron, was born to Levi in Egypt when he was 64 years old. The Dead Sea Scrolls provide the following data:
1.

4Q559 Biblical Chronology a. Levi 34 years old when Kohath born b. Kohath 29 years old when Amram born c. Amram 110 years old when Aaron born

2.

1Q21 Words of Levi a. Levi 48 years old when Israel came to Egypt b. Levi 94 years old when Amram married Jochebed

3.

4Q543-48 Vision of Amram a. Amram died after Israel was in Egypt 152 years1

By using the data from 4Q559 and the fact that Aaron was 83 years old at the time of the Exodus (7:7), the Exodus occurs in AM 2512 or 429 years after the Abrahamic Covenant (made in AM 2083, when Abram was 75 years old). This nearly agrees with what Paul writes in Galatians: Brethren, I speak in the manner of men; Though it is only a mans covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no man annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to your Seed, who is Messiah. And this I say, that the law, which was 430 years after, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Messiah, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. (3:15-18) By increasing the age of Levi to 35 years (per The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs), the Exodus is in AM 2513. It is understood that these sources are not the word of God and are not inerrant. The following is a check on the other information. Jacob went down into Egypt when he was 130 years old (AM 2298) and Amram died in AM 2457. This represents 159 years (i.e., very close to the 152 years in the vision of Amram). Levi was born in AM 2256, so that he was 42 years old at the time Israel went to Egypt (i.e., close to the 48 years in Words of Levi). If Jochebed and Amram were married when Levi was 94 years old, they got married in AM 2350. Jochebed was born when Levi was 64, so that she was 30 years old when she married. In AM 2350, Amram was also 30 years of age. Although the scenario presented in the table is not absolutely verifiable by Scripture, there is nothing in it that disagrees with Scripture.

Who are the Egyptians?

One question we want to answer before moving on is who are the Egyptians? In the listing of the descendents of Ham, we read the following: And the sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (from whom came the Philistines and Caphtorim). (Genesis 10:6, 13, 14)

Meyers, Stephen, The Date of the Exodus According to Ancient Writers (www.bibleandscience.com/archaeology/exodusdate.htm)

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Mizraim was the Hebrew name for Egypt. The Philistines descended from Mizraim and are therefore to be considered Egyptians. In Genesis 12, after noting that the Canaanites were in the land, Yahuweh said to Abram, Unto thy seed will I give this land (vs. 7). The land to be given to Abrahams descendents was associated with the Canaanites (descendents of one of the four sons of Ham). In fact, God becomes more specific in Genesis 15: To your descendents I have given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. (vv. 18-21) Israel was not given the land of the Philistines, Edom, Moab or Ammon. The land they were promised was associated with these people groups. Our main point here though is that when Abraham and his descendents were under the shadow of the Philistines, they were under the shadow of Egypt.

430 or 400 or 215 Years?

The time for Israel down in Egypt is 215 years (i.e., AM 2513 AM 2298). This would seem to contradict the words in Exodus 12:40, 41: Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was 430 years. And it came to pass at the end of the 430 years - on the very same day - it came to pass, that all the armied of Yahuweh went out from the land of Egypt. However, a careful review of all the data indicates that this passage does not mean 430 years in Egypt alone. The following evidence is provided against 430 years in Egypt:
1.

The Time between the Abrahamic Covenant & Mosaic Covenant

As we noted above in developing the chronology up to the Exodus, Paul writes in Galatians 3 that the time between the promises to Abraham and the giving of the law was 430 years. If the time in Egypt was 430 years, then God had to make a covenant with Abraham when Jacob went down to Egypt. This is nonsensical. When Jacob went down to Egypt, Abraham had been dead for 115 years.
2.

Septuagint Reading of Exodus 12:40-41

Although the Septuagint is not as reliable as the Hebrew text, the LXX has the following for Exodus 12:40-41: And the sojourning of the children of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, was 430 years. And it came to pass after the 430 years, all the forces of the Lord came forth out of the land of Egypt by night. This is probably an addition made to account for the apparent discrepancies that arise by assuming that Israel was in Egypt 430 years. Israel not only sojourned in the land of Egypt (proper) and the land of Canaan, but also Padan Aram and the land of the Philistines, so the LXX statement is not entirely accurate. The Greek words translated sojourning and sojourned are katoikhsiv and katoikew, respectively. The same verb is used in Hebrews 11: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he would after receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling (katoikew) in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs

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with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (vv. 8-10)
3.

400 Year Pilgrimage for Abrahams Seed Know certainly that your seed will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and, they will afflict them 400 years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possession. (vv. 13-14)

In Genesis 15, God said to Abraham:

If Israel was in Egypt a total of 430 years and afflicted for 400 of those years, there would be approximately 30 years in which they were not afflicted. The king that afflicts Israel is described as one who did not know Joseph (Exodus 1:8). Joseph was 39 years old when his family came down to Egypt from Canaan. We are told in Genesis 50:22 that Joseph died when he was 110 years old. Therefore, there was at least a period of 70 years when the Pharaoh or king would know Joseph. Therefore, the period in Egypt would have to be at least 470 years (i.e., 70 years when Joseph was known + 400 years of affliction). A reading of Exodus 1 & 2 would imply that Moses was born near the time when the affliction began. Stephen indicates that Moses was born at the time when the king arose that dealt treacherously (Acts 7:17-20). Moses was 80 years old at the time of the Exodus (7:6). Therefore, the affliction associated with murdering Israelite children may have lasted 100 years at most, not 400 years. Based on where punctuation is placed, it is possible that God is saying Israel will be a stranger for 400 years and that during some of that time they will be afflicted and serve the Egyptians. The word translated stranger is Genesis 15:13 is ger. The Greek word used to translate it in the LXX is paroikov, which is the word used by Stephen in Acts 7:6 as he references Genesis 15:13. Abraham uses the word when speaking to the sons of Heth after the death of Sarah: I am a foreignor (ger) and a visitor among you: give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. (Genesis 23:4) The other word used by Abraham is visitor or towshab. In the LXX, the Greek word that is used is parepidhmov. This word is used in Hebrews 11: These all died in faith (Abraham, Isaac & Jacob), not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims (parepidhmov) on the earth. (vs. 13) Since the Exodus occurred in AM 2513, this 400 year period would begin in approximately AM 2113. Based on Gods word to Abraham, it was Abrahams seed that would be strangers in the land. So this period could not begin until Isaac was born (as can be seen in Hebrews, Abraham sojourned with Isaac and Jacob, Ishmael is not included). From our table, we see that Isaac was born in AM 2108. If God was using an approximation, this would appear to be good enough. If God was using exact terms, we need to determine what happened when Isaac was 5 years old. There is only one possibility. In Genesis 21, we read: So the child (Isaac) grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing. Therefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac. And the matter was very displeasing in Abrahams sight because of his son. And God said to Abraham, Do not let it 5 of 7

be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. (vv. 8-12) Since Hagar was Egyptian, so was Ishmael. From the time that Isaac was weaned, we see Egypt in a sense afflicting Israel. It is possible that Isaac was 5 years old at this time, although most children are weaned before this time (e.g., 3 years). Paul writes in Galatians 4 in referring to this episode: But, as he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free. (vv. 29-31) We see Ishmael (son of the bondwoman, born after the flesh) persecuting Isaac (son of the freewoman, born after the Spirit).
4.

Four Generations

In Genesis 15:16, Yahuweh told Abraham that: But in the 4th generation they shall return here: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. Abrahams seed would come out of the nation they would serve after four generations. In Exodus 6:16-27, we are told who these four generations were: Levi, Kohath, Amram and Aaron. We can be fairly certain that Levi was born around AM 2256 and that Jacob went down to Egypt in AM 2298. Based on Genesis 46:11, we know that Kohath was born prior to the descent to Egypt as he is numbered among those who traveled with Jacob. He lived for 133 years (Exodus 6:18). If we assume that Kohath was born just before descending into Egypt, he died in AM 2431 (2298 + 133). If we assume that Kohath became the father of Amram the year of his death and we know that Amram lived for 137 years (Exodus 6:20), then Amram died in AM 2568 (2431 + 137). If we assume that Amram became the father of Moses in the year of his death and we know that Moses was 80 years old at the time of the Exodus (Exodus 7:7), then the Exodus was in AM 2648 (2568 + 80). Based on this analysis of the four generations, the maximum possible length of time in Egypt would be 350 years (2648 2298). As we have seen from other analysis, the time was quite a bit shorter than this, as it was highly unlikely that both Kohath and Amram would become fathers in the year of their deaths (i.e., when they were over 130 years old).

Summary
Based on this analysis, the following has been determined: (1) there was 430 years between the time Abram entered into the land of Canaan in Genesis 12 at the age of 75 and the Exodus from Egypt (i.e., the time between the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants); (2) there was 400 years between the time that Isaac was weaned and persecuted by Ishmael and the Exodus; and (3) the Israelites were in Egypt for 215 years. The Targum of Pseudo-Jonathan paraphrases Exodus 12:40, 41 as: And the days of the dwelling of the sons of Israel in Mizraim were thirty weeks of years, (thirty times seven years,) which is the sum of two hundred and ten years. But the number of four hundred and thirty years (had passed away since) the Lord spake to Abraham, in the hour that He spake with him on the fifteenth of Nisan, between the divided parts, until the day that they went out of Mizraim. And it was at the end of thirty years from the making of this covenant, that Izhak was

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born; and thence until they went out of Mizraim four hundred (years), on the selfsame day it was that all the hosts of the Lord went forth made free from the land of Mizraim. The difference between the Aramaic Targum and our summary is that Abrahams age when Yahuweh made a covenant with him is 70 instead of 75. As such, the 400 years can be taken from Isaacs birth rather than his weaning (interestingly, Jews believe Isaac was born at Passover). By pushing these dates back by five years, reduces the actual time in Egypt (Mizraim) from 215 to 210 years. There is no statement in Scripture however about Abram being 70 years old during of any of Yahuwehs dealings with him. However, this first century understanding of this passage indicates that we are on the right track.

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Attachment 2 Where Was Jesus Crucified?

Deuteronomy 16 bring up something not found in Exodus 12. We read: Therefore, you shall sacrifice the Passover to Yahweh your God in the place where Yahweh chooses to put His name. You may not sacrifice the Passover within any of your gates which Yahweh your God gives you; but at the place where Yahweh your God chooses to make His name abide, there you shall sacrifice the Passover. (vv. 2, 5, 6) Where is the place that Yahweh has chosen for His name to abide? The Hebrew word translated abide is shakan and it is the word from which tabernacle (mishkan) comes. The answer to the question all depends on when you were answering the question. The first place was Shiloh (Jeremiah 7:12). However, after the Solomon completed the construction of the Temple, Yahweh said to him: I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. (1 Kings 9:3) From the time Solomon to the death of Jesus, the Jerusalem temple was the place where Yahweh chose to put His name. The only three Passovers of which we read in the OT following the Canaan conquest were at the times of King Hezekiah, of King Josiah and of Zerubbabel. All three were held in Jerusalem: the first two at Solomons temple and the latter at the restored temple following the Babylonian Captivity. Now, does this mean that Jesus had to die at the temple in Jerusalem? 1. Jerusalem It had to be in Jerusalem, even Jesus makes this clear: From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. (Matthew 16:21) It had to be Jerusalem based on Yahwehs command in Deuteronomy 16. However, Jesus death in Jerusalem brings up a very interesting implication. I have a separate study for anyone who is interested, which concludes that the Garden of Eden was located where the Temple Mount is today in Jerusalem. Strong correlation exists between what occurs in Genesis 2-4 and the structure of the tabernacle/temple, namely: East of Eden (i.e., the land of Nod or wandering), where Cain was driven from the face of Yahweh after murdering his brother, corresponds to the area known as outside the camp, a phrase we will be looking at shortly. This area pictures the condition of Gentiles as described by Paul in Ephesians 2:12: without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel having no hope and without God in the world. Eden, where Adam and Eve were allowed to live after they sinned, corresponds to the Israelite camp (including the court of the tabernacle/temple). Genesis 3:23 does not say that Yahweh sent Adam out of Eden but out of the Garden of Eden. The court area of the tabernacle/temple included the altar of burnt offering, corresponding to where Cain and

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Abel brought their sacrifices at the door guarded by cherubim. This area pictures the condition of Israelites, who could enter the court with a sacrifice but were denied access to the Holy Place. Their access to God was through a mediator a priest. The Garden of Eden, from where Adam and Eve were driven from after they sinned, corresponds to the tabernacle/temple. It was planted on the eastside of Eden, even as the Temple was located on the eastern side of Jerusalem. The tabernacle/temple was composed of the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The Holy Place could only be entered by priests during their service. The vast majority of the priests had no access to the Holy of Holies. The midst of the Garden of Eden corresponds to the Holy of Holies, where Yahweh dwelled above the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant between the cherubim. As most are aware, this portion of the tabernacle/temple, could only be entered by the High Priest very briefly on Yom HaKippurim or the Day of the Atonements. Sin entered the world and all men were constituted sinners when Adam sinned in the midst of the Garden of Eden. If our conclusion is correct (i.e., that the Garden of Eden was in the general vicinity of the Temple Mount), then Yahweh returned to the scene of the original crime to accomplish the work by which all men could be constituted righteous. So it is clear that Jesus had to die in Jerusalem. But did it need to be in the temple? We know that Jesus did not die in the temple. Or did He? I mentioned last time that the scourging of Jesus by the Romans could not represent the shedding of the blood of the Passover for three reasons: (1) it was to be performed by the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel not by the Romans; (2) it was to be performed on the 14th of the month, not the 13th; and, (3) it was to be performed in the place where Yahweh chose for His name to abide and that definitely was not the Praetorium. A surficial reading of Scripture does not seem to indicate that Jesus died in the temple, but that is why surficial readings are not adequate. 2. Outside the Camp The writer of Hebrews gives us one clue to where our Savior died: We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. (13:10-12) What is meant by the phrase outside the camp? We read in Exodus 33: Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought Yahweh went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. (vs. 7) The Targum of Jonathan paraphrases the phrase far from the camp as removed it from the camp of the people to the distance of two thousand cubits. Therefore, the understanding of outside the camp was a distance of at least 2,000 cubits or approximately 3,000 feet. This distance became known as a Sabbath Days Journey, as the people were allowed to walk this distance to get to the tabernacle. According to the Law, what activities occurred outside the camp?

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1. According to Leviticus 4, the hides, flesh, head, legs and entrails of sin offerings were to be burned outside the camp. This is what the writer of Hebrews is referring to. Jesus was a sin offering on the cross. This is why Paul indicates that He became a sin offering for us in 2 Corinthians 5:21. 2. According to Leviticus 13, lepers were to live alone outside the camp. This separation from people points to the separation that Jesus experienced on the cross. 3. According to Leviticus 24, blasphemers were to be stoned to death outside the camp. Jesus was suffering the death penalty that was due to all sinners. 4. According to Numbers 19, the red heifer used for the preparation of the water of purification was slaughtered and burned outside the camp. As we saw last time, Hebrews 9:13 compares the work of Jesus to the ashes of the red heifer. All of these shadows point to the fact that Jesus had to die outside the camp. Are we given any other clues? 3. View of the Temple Veil Matthew writes following the death of Jesus: Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened , they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God! (27:51-54) Among the things that were seen by the centurion was the tearing of the veil in the temple, that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies, the symbolic presence of Yahweh. The only way that he could have seen this was if the crucifixion occurred directly east of the temple. There are two sites are generally believed to be the site of the crucifixion: Catholics favor the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Protestants favor Gordons Calvary. The problem with these sites is that the former is west and the latter is north of the Temple Mount, respectively. They are also less than 2,000 feet from the Holy of Holies. What is 3,000 feet east of the Holy of Holies? The Mount of Olives lies to the east of Jerusalem. According to Acts 1:12, it is a Sabbath Days Journey from Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives rises to an elevation of 2,700 ft. As the Temple Mount is at elevation 2,400 ft, the centurion would have been able to see the veil from the crucifixion site. Regarding the red heifer, we read the following in the Talmud: A causeway was made from the temple mount to the Mount of Olives whereby the priest who was to burn the heifer, the heifer itself and all who aided its preparation went forth to the Mount of Olives. (Tractate Parah, 3.6) Concerning the red heifer ceremony, Alfred Edersheim writes: On the Mount of Olives the priest slayed the sacrifice with his right hand, he caught up the blood in his left. Seven times he dipped his finger in it, sprinkling it towards the Most Holy Place, which he was supposed to have in full view over the Porch of Solomon or through the eastern gate. (The Temple Its Ministry & Service [Ch 18 Purifications]) Just as the priest could see the Holy of Holies during the red heifer ceremony on the Mount of Olives, so also could the centurion during the crucifixion of Jesus. We read:

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Then you shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and burn it in the appointed place of the temple, outside the sanctuary. (Ezekiel 43:21) We have already seen that the sin offerings were burnt outside the camp (i.e., the same location as the red heifer ceremony). Ezekiel informs us that this location, although it was outside the sanctuary, was considered part of the temple. The Hebrew translated appointed place is miphqad (mif-kawd); therefore, the area where the red heifer ceremony took place was called the Miphkad Altar. We will come back to this. 4. View Graves Opening Matthew also indicates that the centurion saw graves open. The Apostle John tells us that in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb (19:41). Was there a garden on the Mount of Olives? A comparison of Matthew 26:36 and Luke 22:39 shows that the Garden of Gethsemane was on the Mount of Olives. Gethsemane is an Aramaic word meaning oil press and oil was made from olives. From the time of Messiah to the present, the Mount of Olives has been a burial ground with an estimated 150,000 graves. 5. Before Yahweh In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul indicates that Jesus was a sin offering. Regarding the sin offering, we read in Leviticus 4: He shall bring the bull to the door of the tabernacle of meeting before Yahweh, lay his hand on the bulls head, and kill the bull before Yahweh. (vs. 4) The phrase before Yahweh in Hebrew means in the face of Yahweh. Although Jesus was not slaughtered in the temple court like Passover lambs, He was slaughtered before the face of Yahweh as His cross faced the Holy of Holies. 6. In the Land of Moriah While we are on the subject of the location of the Passover slaughter, let us consider what occurred in Genesis 22 where we read: Then God said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you. (vs. 2) According to 2 Chronicles 3, Solomon built the temple upon Mount Moriah. But you will notice that God did not say that He was to sacrifice Isaac on Mount Moriah, but rather he was to go to the land of Moriah to a mountain that God would show him. Jerusalem has five mounts associated with it: Zion, Moriah, Olives, Acra and Bezetha. The first three are the only ones mentioned in Scripture. In vs. 4, it states that Abraham saw the place afar off. It is likely that he saw the tallest of these mounts, which is the Mount of Olives. This would mean that the place where Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only beloved son was the same place where God did sacrifice His only beloved Son. When Isaac asked Abraham about the animal to be used for the sacrifice, Abraham said to his son: God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering. (vs. 8) This may be better translated Elohim will appear for Himself the lamb. The indication being that God would be the lamb Himself. And this is exactly what happened. Jesus God in the flesh, became the Lamb who died for the sins of the world in the exact spot where Abraham had 4 of 8

been willing to sacrifice Isaac. As a result of what God had done, Abraham called the place Yahweh Yireh or Yahweh Sees. From His place in the Holy of Holies on Mount Moriah, Yahweh would see the death of His Son. 7. Golgotha In 2 Samuel 15, when David escaped from Jerusalem during the conspiracy of his son Absalom, it is stated that: The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron . So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. (vv. 23, 30) The conspiracy of Absalom was a shadow of the nation of Israel turning against Jesus. David wrote Psalm 3 during this time, where we read: Yahweh, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, There is no help for him in God. (vv. 1, 2) A comparison of 2 Samuel 15:25, 26 and Psalm 22:8 would seem to tie this Psalm also to the time of Absaloms conspiracy and Davids escape to the Mount of Olives. It is in this psalm that we read: My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted Yahweh, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him. (vs. 1, 7, 8) The chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Jesus with very similar words: He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for he said, I am the Son of God. (Matthew 27:42, 43) You many ask why doesnt Scripture just say the crucifixion was on the Mount of Olives? All four evangelists indicate that He was crucified at the place of the skull or Golgotha. Gulgoleth (gul-go-leth) is a Hebrew word for head or skull. In 2 Samuel 15:32, we read regarding Davids ascent of the Mount of Olives: Now it happened when David had come to the top, where he worshiped God. The Hebrew translated the top is ha-rosh, which could be translated the head or the skull. It is not a skull or skulls, but the skull. What skull? Regarding John 19:38, John Chrysostom wrote: And He came to the place of a skull. Some say that Adam died there, and there lies; and that Jesus in this place where death had reigned, there also set up the trophy. For He went forth bearing the Cross as a trophy over the tyranny of death: and as conquerors do, so He bare upon His shoulders the symbol of victory. (Homily 85) It was an ancient belief that Jesus died at the place that Adam was buried. It is amazing symbolism that death was defeated right where the one who brought death to all men was buried. We also noticed earlier that Jesus died not far from where Adam first sinned.

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We mentioned that where Jesus died was near the Miphkad Altar. The Hebrew word miphqad at its root has the idea of counting. Its root (paqad [paw-kad]) is found with gulgoleth in three passages, including this one: These, were the sons of Levi by their ancestral house, the ancestral chiefs of them who were counted (paqad) in the number of their names, by their polls (gulgoleth), doing the work, for the service of the house of Yahwehfrom twenty years old, and upwards. (1 Chronicles 23:24) A census is essentially counting heads. We read in Exodus 30: When you take a census (rosh) of the children of Israel for their number (paqad), then every man shall give an atonement for himself to Yahweh, when you number (paqad) them This is what everyone among those who are numbered (paqad) shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary. And you shall take the atonement money and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting. (vv. 11-16) The Hebrew word translated census is rosh, the same word used to describe Davids location on the Mount of Olives. Here where the atonement money was paid Jesus made atonement for every person. 8. Crucifixion Tree The crucifixion scene is generally portrayed as Jesus on a tee-shaped cross on a barren hillside between two criminals on tee-shaped crosses (one on His left and one on His right). However, is this really the case? Consider the following passages: The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (Acts 5:30) And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. (Acts 10:39) Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. (Acts 13:29) Messiah has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (Galatians 3:13) Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24) The Greek word translated tree is xulon (xoo-lon) and it is used 17 times in the NT. Besides the five we read concerning the crucifixion, it is used 5 times of the staves carried by those who arrested Jesus, one time of the stocks that Paul and Silas were placed in while in the Philippian prison, one time of inferior building material in 1 Corinthians 3:12, four times of the tree of life in the Book of Revelation, and in these words of Jesus as He was going to His death: Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed! Then they will say will begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us! and to the hills, Cover us! For if they do these things in the green wood (xulon), what will be done in the dry? (Luke 23:28-31)

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So we see that xulon can refer to both living trees and materials made of wood. So how about the cross? The word cross is stauros (stow-ros) and it is used 22 times to specifically refer to the place where Messiah died. But why would the NT preachers and writers use tree when they could simply stay cross? I believe that it is because the crossbeam, to which Jesus wrists were nailed, was attached to a tree. As this was a tree in a garden, it would mean that sin began with a tree in a garden and that sin was dealt with on a tree in a garden. And this tree, although an instrument of death, would become a tree of life. Were there three separate crosses? The Scriptural evidence would indicate NO! Consider the following passage: Therefore, because it was the Preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (John 19:31) Does the apostle write, that the bodies should not remain on the crosses (plural)? No, he writes, that the bodies should not remain on the cross (singular)? John says that all three men were on a single cross. This is in agreement with what we read next: Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. (John 19:32) If as is normally depicted, there were three crosses in a line, how could the soldiers come to the crosses of both criminals before they came to the cross of Jesus? However, if each had their crosspiece nailed to a common tree, the soldiers go around the tree and reach the two criminals before reaching Jesus. 9. Roman Input We have seen where Jesus needed to be crucified from a Jewish standpoint. How about from a Roman standpoint? The Romans often crucified people: (1) where they committed their crimes; (2) where they were arrested; or, (3) a high place or busy crossroad. Interestingly, the Mount of Olives fulfilled all three criteria. First, Pilate could not have cared less if Jesus declared Himself to be the Son of God. However, when the Jewish religious leaders, threatened him with not being a friend of Caesar for not crucifying this one who made Himself a king, they won there argument with the Pontius Pilate. Four days previously, it was from the Mount of Olives that Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem with the crowds shouting, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of Yahweh (Luke 19:38). Therefore, it could be said that Jesus committed His crime on the Mount of Olives. Second, in a second or third century work called the Acts of Pilate, we read the following: Then Pilate ordered the curtain of the tribunal where he was sitting to be drawn, and said to Jesus: Your nation has charged you with being a king. On this account I sentence you, first to be scourged, according to the enactment of venerable kings, and then to be fastened on the cross in the garden where you were seized. As to whether these words are accurate, is not the point. It shows that it was believed that Jesus was crucified in the garden where He was arrested. We have already noted that the Garden of Gethsemane was located on the Mount of Olives.

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Regarding the last Roman criterion, we know that the Mount of Olives was elevated above Jerusalem. Interestingly, David went up a road called the Ascent of the Mount of Olives. When Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey, Luke refers to the Descent of the Mount of Olives (19:37). This would point to the fact that there was a major road between Jerusalem and the summit of the Mount of Olives. 10. Summary Amazing. By dying on the Mount of Olives, Jesus fulfilled the following Scriptural and Roman requirements: (1) in Jerusalem close to where the original sin was committed; (2) at the temple (remembering that the Miphkad altar was part of the temple) where Yahweh had chosen for His name to dwell; (3) outside the camp where sin offering were burned, lepers were banished, blasphemers put to death, and the red heifer ceremony carried out; (4) facing the temple; (5) before Yahweh; (6) where Isaac was offered; (7) where the atonement money was paid; (8) where He committed His crime against Rome; (9) where He was arrested; and (10) in full public view. Is it any wonder that the early disciples prayed: For truly against Your servant Jesus, whom You anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. (Acts 4:27) The other two locations that are claimed to be the spot of the crucifixion, do not fulfill any of these requirements. It is because Old Testament shadows are ignored that people visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Gordons Calvary. Remember I began this morning by indicating that this study has important implications. This may sound strong but if Jesus died at either of these locations instead of the Mount of Olives, Gods word would have been broken, He would not have been the Messiah, and we would still be in our sins. But all Scripture points to the fact that He did die on the Mount of Olives. Which means that Jesus was arrested on the Mount of Olives, that Jesus died on the Mount of Olives, that Jesus was buried on the Mount of Olives, that Jesus was raised from the dead on the Mount of Olives, that Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives, and that Jesus will one day return per Zechariah 14 to the Mount of Olives. Hopefully this continues to cement in your heart the truth Jesus declared in John 10:35, Scripture, the word of God, cannot be broken.

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