Bible Questions and Answers
Published 10/15/2013
When exactly, on what day of the week, was Jesus Christ crucified according to the Bible? The Gospel of John says that Jesus was crucified on the eve of Easter, while other Evangelists say that Jesus Christ was crucified on Easter itself.
Answer:
On what day of the week was Jesus Christ crucified?
It is difficult to say on what day of the week Jesus was crucified. This is one of the difficult questions. There is no doubt that John is saying that Jesus Christ was crucified on the eve of Easter. This was also the day before the Sabbath.
“Because it was Friday, when the Jews were preparing for the Sabbath, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus in it.” (Gospel of John 19:42)
The Jews had different Sabbaths. It was Saturday - the Sabbath Day and other "Saturdays" such as Easter. This is the first source of possible misunderstanding.
The question is: was Saturday the Sabbath, Easter Saturday, or both. I believe that all the evidence tells us that Jesus Christ was crucified on the day before Easter. Matthew confirms this:
“All this happened on the day of preparation. The next day the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate" (Matthew 27:62)
Some people interpret the words “day of preparation” to mean that Jesus Christ was crucified on Thursday, not Friday. This is possible, because Easter could fall on Friday. In this case, the crucifixion could fall on the day of preparation and on the day before the Sabbath (we are not talking about the Sabbath).
What day of the week the crucifixion fell on depends on what year Jesus Christ was killed. I'm in China now and writing from memory, so it was either 29 or 30 AD. On the one hand, the day of the week and the year of the crucifixion are not significant for Christianity. However, this time is significant for Christianity, as there is a very strong symbolic (and real) connection to Easter and the Feast of First Fruits. All Evangelists are unanimous that Jesus Christ was crucified on the eve of Easter, on the day of preparation.
III. The story of the last days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ
When the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes were forced to remain silent, the Lord, addressing His disciples and the people, said: “The scribes and Pharisees sat in the seat of Moses15; So whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do; But do not act according to their deeds; for they speak and do not do, they bind heavy and unbearable burdens on the shoulders of people, but they themselves do not want to lift them with a finger.”
Then, turning to the Pharisees and scribes, the Lord said: Woe
You,
scribes and Pharisees, will be hypocrites, because you close the Kingdom of Heaven to men!
for you yourself do not enter, and you do not allow those who want to enter. The scribes and Pharisees taught the people to hypocritically bypass the requirements of the commandments, which express the will of God; thus, they did not lead him along the path that leads to the Kingdom of Heaven. The people were looking for the real way to this Kingdom; and they pointed him to another path, and thus, as it were, closed the gates of this Kingdom in front of him.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you devour the houses of widows and hypocritically pray for a long time! for this you will receive all the more condemnation.
By standing for a long time in feigned prayer, this imaginary piety, they ingratiated themselves into the trust of widows and other people; and shamelessly robbed them, luring them out of their last wealth in the form of donations for the causes of God.
Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who go around sea and land to convert even one! and when this happens, you make him a son of Gehenna, twice as bad as you.
The scribes and Pharisees made long journeys to convert at least one stranger to their faith, and imagined that they were doing a good deed; in reality, they caused great harm to the convert, because they led him with them to eternal torment.
Woe to you, blind leaders, who say: “If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is guilty!” Also: “If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on it, he is guilty!” Mad and blind! What is greater: gold or the temple consecrating gold? gift or altar sanctifying the gift? So, he who swears by the altar swears by it and everything that is on it; and he who swears by the temple swears by it and by Him who dwells in it; and he who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and Him who sits on it
.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you tithe mint, anise and caraway seeds, and forsake the most important things in the law: judgment, mercy and faith! this had to be done and not abandoned. Blind leaders who strain out a mosquito and swallow a camel!
They gave a tenth of the income they received to the temple, which was not taxed; and at the same time they did not fulfill the most important requirements of the law: they judged unfairly, treated everyone mercilessly and did not show any loyalty to God. Caring about fulfilling all the petty requirements of legend, they resembled those people who, according to a popular saying, carefully strain out a mosquito caught in a drink, fearing to swallow it, and fearlessly swallow a whole camel.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you cleanse the outside of the cup and platter, while inside they are full of robbery and unrighteousness! Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of them may also be clean.
The scribes and Pharisees were especially concerned about all external cleanliness, including the cleanliness of cups and dishes used at the table; but they did not pay any attention to the fact that these cups and dishes were filled with stolen and untruthfully acquired goods.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of the bones of the dead and all uncleanness! So, on the outside, you seem righteous to people, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous and say: “If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been their accomplices in shedding the blood of the prophets!” Thus, you testify against yourself that you are the sons of those who killed the prophets. Complete the measure of the atrocities of your fathers!
carry out the murder you have planned!
But, you brood of vipers!
How will you escape from condemnation to Gehenna? May all the righteous blood shed on earth fall on you, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Barachi, whom you killed between the temple and the altar! “Then, turning to the people, the Lord said: Truly I say to you, all this responsibility will fall on them.
The Lord did not rebuke the leaders of the Jewish people with anger, but with the greatest sorrow. This was the last admonition, the last attempt to save them from a terrible condemnation. And when the Lord saw on the faces of these hypocrites not repentance, but hidden anger against Him, he exclaimed with tears in his eyes: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who beats the prophets and stones those sent to you! how many times have I wanted to gather your children together, like a bird gathers its chicks under its wings! and you didn't want to!
And behold, I am leaving, and
your house is left empty!
for you will see Me only when everyone shouts:
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
blessed is the one who in his life followed the path indicated by the Lord. – Having said this, Christ headed towards the exit from the temple.
Leaving the temple, the Lord stopped near the mug into which donations for the temple were placed; and sat down here to rest. Before His eyes, many rich people deposited heavily; and one poor widow put in only two mites, that is, two of the smallest coins, equal to our half-penny. Calling the Apostles to Him, the Lord said to them: “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all those who put into the treasury: for everyone put in out of their abundance, but out of her poverty she put in all that she had, all her food.”
It was already evening when the Lord left the temple with His Apostles. It was Tuesday.
Predestination
Photo: School.orthpatr.ru
But, as already said, the death of Christ was predetermined from the beginning; he had to die in order to cheat death. It was a way to cure humanity of original sin. The Lord knew what he had to endure in order to atone for the sins of mankind. That’s why he calls himself the son of man, emphasizing that he will suffer like a man, but having died, he will be resurrected.
And thus, to every person consisting of flesh and blood, God gave hope that resurrection awaits him, but at the same time, the main thing is to preserve his immortal soul from sin. That is why believers do not lose heart when reading the description of the terrible torment of the Lord. They just have to prevent them from happening again. But every time people sin, they again send Jesus Christ to the cross, making his atoning sacrifice meaningless.
Crucifixion
Pilate's soldiers took Jesus, took him into the courtyard and gathered the entire regiment. Having undressed Him, they put a scarlet robe on Him, and, having woven a crown of thorns, they placed it on His head. They gave Him a cane in His right hand, and, kneeling before Him, they bowed to Him, mocking: “Hail, King of the Jews!” After which they hit Him on the cheeks, and spat on Him, and, taking a cane, beat Him on the head. Having finished the mockery, they dressed Jesus in their own clothes and took them outside the city to be crucified. They also led two villains with Him to death.
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Fate is on the cutting edge. The mythical story of the spear that pierced Christ
When they came to the so-called Place of Execution (Golgotha in Hebrew), they gave Him sour wine with myrrh to drink (it was a bitter drink that dulled the senses, in order to at least partially reduce the terrible torment on the cross). But Jesus did not accept him. After this the Lord was crucified. It was three o'clock from sunrise.
Two thieves were crucified with Jesus, one on the right and the other on the left. And the word of Scripture spoken by the prophet Isaiah came true: “And he is numbered with the evildoers.” And there was an inscription over Him, which Pilate ordered to be made: “This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The soldiers who crucified the Lord took His clothes and cast lots for them as to who should take what. May what is said in the Scriptures in the psalm of David be fulfilled: “They divided My garments among themselves and cast lots for My clothing.”
The people stood in front of the cross and watched. Those passing by cursed Him, shaking their heads: “Save Thyself. If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." The high priests and elders and Pharisees mocked: “He saved others, but he cannot save himself! Let him save himself, if he is the Messiah, the chosen one of God.” Seeing and hearing all this, the Lord Jesus said: “Father! forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”
At the Cross stood the Mother of Jesus and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas , and Mary Magdalene .
One of the thieves crucified with the Lord reviled and slandered Him, saying: “Save Yourself and us.” The other, on the contrary, calmed him down and said: “Or are you not afraid of God, when you yourself are condemned to the same thing? We were condemned justly, because we accepted what was worthy of our deeds, but He did nothing bad.” And he said to Jesus: “Remember me, Lord, when you come into Your kingdom!” And Jesus said to him: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Vasily Golynsky. Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Work no later than 1904. Source: Public domain
The people did not wait for the Messiah
Photo: Radiovera.ru
Why did those people who followed the Lord in crowds, saw the miracles that He performed for them, suddenly turn away from him so easily? Why didn’t they shout down the crowd that was sending Him to death?
Perhaps, and this is one of the versions, He did not live up to their expectations. The Jews believed that He was the Messiah who would become a leader, free Israel from the power of the pagans, make it great and the whole world would respect their state. But instead of taking power from King Herod by force and expelling the Romans who enslaved the Israelites, Christ called the Jews to repentance and prayer. He preached humility and mercy, not war and violence.
As a result: those who a few days ago at the entrance to Jerusalem shouted “Hosanna to the son of David”, a few days later shouted “Crucify, crucify Him!” at the palace of the governor Pontius Pilate.
Body of Christ after death
So what happened to the body of Christ? His human body did not remain on earth. It was buried, but did not decay. Also, his flesh did not remain in outer space. She was transformed into an eternal body, which no longer consists of flesh, but of spirit. It was accepted by heaven. His soul was reunited with his glorified body. None of his students saw this transformation; they saw only a light cloud that rose to the heavens and then disappeared from sight. No one yet knows what we will become after death. This remains a Divine secret.
Trial before the High Priest
Those who led the Lord took Him first to Annas , for he was the father-in-law of the chief high priest for that year, Caiaphas . Annas asked Jesus about His disciples and His teaching. The Lord answered him: “I spoke clearly to the world; I always taught in the synagogue and in the temple, where all Jews meet, and I did not say anything secretly. Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” One of the ministers standing close struck Jesus on the cheek, saying, “Is this the answer you give to the high priest?” The Lord answered: “If I said something bad, show me what is bad; What if it’s good that you beat Me?”
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Resurrection of Christ: history and traditions of Easter
After this, Annas sent the bound Lord to the high priest Caiaphas, where the other high priests and elders and the entire Sanhedrin (court) looked for false testimony to put Jesus to death, and did not find it.
Then Caiaphas turned to Him with the following speech: “I adjure You by the living God, tell us, Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed God?” Jesus tells him: “You said - I, and even I say to you: from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power (one of the names of God) and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest, tearing his clothes, said: “He blasphemes, now you have heard His blasphemy! What more witnesses do we need? They found Him guilty of death (according to the law, blasphemy was punishable by death). Then some began to spit in His face and strangle Him, others beat Him on the cheeks, and others, covering His face, struck Him and said: “Prophesy to us, Messiah, who struck You?”
Meanwhile, the slaves and servants lit a fire in the courtyard because it was cold. Peter approached them. They asked him: “Are you not one of His disciples?” He denied. One of the slaves, a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, says: “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?” Peter denied again. One of the maids came there and, seeing Peter and looking closely at him, said: “And you were with Jesus the Galilean - the Nazarene.” But he denied before everyone, saying: “I don’t know and don’t understand what you are saying.” And the rooster crowed. A little later, those standing there again began to say to Peter: “Surely you are one of them, for your speech also convicts you.” He began to swear and swear that he did not know this man. While he was still speaking, the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He told him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me.” And, going out, he began to cry bitterly.
