DATE OF DEATH OF JESUS

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This message was generated by a question emailed to my email

N. DE LEÓN JUL-08-2007

How are you?

I was browsing the network and found your page. I was in Guatemala more than five years ago, I heard you sing there, and I understand that you're also minister of the Church of God.

… Maybe this question is a bit deeper, so I read in Leviticus 23:5, John 18:28 y John 19:28-31, I can see that Jesus Christ died on Nissan 13th, and now my question is why the Church of God celebrates the Lord’s Supper on Nissan 14th, if since the example given by the Lord we should celebrate on 13th.

I know that maybe you do not know me and I hope that you respond to my questions…

O. MATA JUL-08-2007

Peace.

Thank you to write me, I love it so mucho.

Regarding the date of death of the Lord, I do not understand where you get that from 13th, because Leviticus 23:5 clearly says in the fourteenth day of the first month, in that date Jesus died. Remember, He participated in the Passover (read Mark 14:16), on 14 on night (the biblical day begins on evening at sunset); that night He was arrested, brought before Caiaphas in morning, after He was subsequently handed over to Pilate and crucified, being buried the same 14, before sunset.

It looks like your confusion comes from understanding what surrounding the Passover. On 14, between the evenings, the Passover was celebrated by the sacrifice of the lamb, but on 15, it was the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 12:6; Leviticus 23:5-6). Jesus only ate the lamb, and the same day He died and was buried.

I hope you serve something of what you write.

N. DE LEÓN JUL-09-2007

Well the truth I'm in the same one, and clearly with the verses that you gave me to be honest I am even more confused.

But the confusion I find in John 18:28 “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the praetorium. And it was early. And they did not go into the praetorium, that they should not be defiled, and that they might eat the Passover.” Then, my question is: Why if they had eaten the Passover here says that they might eat the Passover?

And there is else other verse that confirms what I say, in John 19:31 “Then the Jews, because it was Preparation, begged Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. For that sabbath was a high day.”

By why I can see in these two verses, the Passover had not passed, and that is the reason why I told you that Jesus died on Nissan 13th because the 14th was the preparation of the Passover, clearly it would be a solemn Sabbath and they would rest completely. I born in the Church of God, but since I married I have studied the Bible with deeper, and I took a theology classes...

…But as I say all this I do to enrich my understanding, and because I want to be very sure what I am talking about with others, and not give them things that are not certain why before anything I want to be sure. In all other respects I am agree…

O. MATA SEP-07-2007

Let’s consider what the Passover was.

The Passover was one of three holidays of pilgrimage in which all men of Israel went up to Jerusalem. It was a feast of eight days, and was celebrated during the days 14 to 21 of the Hebrew month Nisan (usually April). The Passover begins with a special meal called Seder (meaning “order”) the night before the first day of Passover, called Erev Pesach (preparation of the Passover).

The order of the Feast was thus:

1. On Nisan 14th (Erev Pesach): “And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD.” Numbers 28:16. On this day the lamb was sacrificed, and the Israelites ate unleavened bread (“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.” Exodus 12:18)

2. On Nisan 15th (Pesach I, Sabbath the high day): “And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. In the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no kind of laboring work.” Numbers 28:17-18; “Then the Jews, because it was Preparation, begged Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. For that sabbath was a high day.” John 19:31.

3. On Nisan 16th (Pesach II, first day of the Omer): “And you shall count to you from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.” Leviticus 23:15.

4. On Nisan 17th (Pesach III, second day of the Omer): “And you shall count to you from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.” Leviticus 23:15.

5. On Nisan 18th (Pesach IV, third day of the Omer): “And you shall count to you from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.” Leviticus 23:15.

6. On Nisan 19th (Pesach V, forth day of the Omer): “And you shall count to you from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.” Leviticus 23:15.

7. On Nisan 20th (Pesach VI, fifth day of the Omer): “And you shall count to you from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.” Leviticus 23:15.

8. On Nisan 21st (Pesach VII, sixth day of the Omer, ritual sabbath): “And you shall count to you from the next day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete.” Leviticus 23:15; “And on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no laboring work.” Numbers 28:25.

Jesus said that his death would be at Passover (“You know that after two days the Passover comes, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.” Mathew 26:2). In the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on Nisan 14th, the disciples were to prepare the place where Jesus would eat the Passover (“And on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, Where do You desire that we prepare for You to eat the Passover? And He said, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master said, My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with My disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them. And they made the passover ready.” Mathew 26:17-19).

Then, Jesus ate the Passover in that day (“And He said to them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer” Luke 22:15).

The Word of God confirms that Jesus died on the preparation of the Passover (Erev Pesach), as we saw, it was eaten the Seder or special meal, which it was the lamb of the Passover (“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You shall take from the sheep or from the goats. And you shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month. And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” Exodus 12:5-6). Jesus ate this lamb.

Let's look at everything related to the Erev Pesach: “And that day was the Preparation, and the sabbath drew on.” Luke 23:54; “And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold your king! Then the Jews, because it was Preparation, begged Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. For that sabbath was a high day. There, then, because of the Preparation of the Jews, because the tomb was near, they laid Jesus.” (John 19:14, 31, 42).

On the preparation of the Passover, Caiaphas not entered the preatorium because he could become contaminated, and he would eat the Passover: “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the praetorium. And it was early. And they did not go into the praetorium, that they should not be defiled, and that they might eat the Passover.” John 18:28. However, the food that he would eat was not the lamb of the Passover, but the food of the first day of the Passover, on Nisan 15th (“And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the Passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast. Seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. In the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no kind of laboring work. But you shall offer a fire offering for a burnt offering to the LORD: two young bulls, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year. They shall be to you without blemish” Numbers 28:16-19).

That day of holy gathering, it was a ritual Sabbath, which was called “high day” (“Then the Jews, because it was Preparation, begged Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath. For that sabbath was a high day.” John 19:31).

Reflection

This shows us that Jesus ate the lamb of the Passover, the bread and fruit of the vine, and washed the feet of his disciples, the night of 14 of the first month (“And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them. And they made the passover ready. And when evening had come, He sat down with the Twelve. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat, this is My body. And He took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink all of it.” Mathew 26:19, 20, 26, 27; “And when supper had ended, the Devil now having put into the heart of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon to betray Him, He rose up from supper and laid aside His garments. And He took a towel and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” John 13:2, 4, 5).

As we already saw, Jesus died in the light of the same day. That date in the Jewish calendar (year 30 of our calendar) occurred on April 3, a Wednesday, as it is illustrated here: