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"SIX
DAYS BEFORE THE
PASSOVER"
(John 12:1). |
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| Appendix 156 To The Companion Bible. | ||
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We are
furnished by Scripture
with certain facts and
fixed points which,
taken together,
enable us
(1) to determine the events
which filled up the days of
"the last week"
of our Lord's life on earth;
(2) to fix the day
of His crucifixion;
and
(3) to ascertain the
duration of the time
He remained in the tomb.
The difficulties connected with these three have arisen (1) from not having noted these fixed points; (2) from the fact of Gentiles' not having been conversant with the law concerning the three great feasts of the LORD; and (3) from not having reckoned the days as commencing (some six hours before our own) and running from sunset to sunset, instead of from midnight to midnight. To remove these difficulties, we must note:— I. That the first day of each of the three feasts. Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, was "a holy convocation", a "sabbath" on which no servile work was to be done. See Leviticus 23:7, 24, 35. Compare Exodus 12:16. "That sabbath" and the "high day" of John 19:31, was the "holy convocation", the first day of the feast, which quite overshadowed the ordinary weekly sabbath. It was called by the Jews Yom tov (= Good day), and this is the greeting on that day throughout Jewry down to the present time. This great sabbath, having been mistaken from the earliest times for the weekly sabbath, has led to all the confusion. II. This has naturally caused the further difficulty as to the Lord's statement that "even as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40). Now, while it is quite correct to speak according to Hebrew idiom of "three days" or "three years", while they are only parts of three days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this, where "three nights" are mentioned in addition to "three days". It will be noted that the Lord not only definitely states this, but repeats the full phraseology, so that we may not mistake it. See the subject fully discussed in Appendix 144. III. We have therefore the following facts furnished for our sure guidance: 1. The "high day" of John 19:31 was the first day of the feast. 2. The "first day of the feast" was on the 15th day of Nisan. |
3.
The 15th day of Nisan,
commenced at sunset
on what we should
call the 14th.
4.
"Six days before
the passover"
(John
12:1)
takes us back to the
9th day of Nisan.
5.
"After two days
is the passover"
(Matthew
26:2.
Mark
14:1)
takes us to the
13th day of Nisan.
6.
"The first
day of the week",
the day of the resurrection
(Matthew
28:1,
etc.),
was from our
Saturday sunset to
our Sunday sunset.
This fixes the days
of the week,
just as the above
fix the days of
the month,
for:
7.
Reckoning back from this,
"three days and
three nights"
(Matthew
12:40),
we arrive at the day of the burial,
which must have been before sunset,
on the 14th of Nisan;
that is to say,
before our Wednesday sunset.
8.
This makes the
sixth day before
the passover
(the 9th day of Nisan)
to be our Thursday sunset
to Friday sunset.
Therefore
Wednesday,
Nisan 14th
(commencing on the
Tuesday at sunset),
was
"the preparation day",
on which the
crucifixion took place:
for all four Gospels
definitely say that
this was the day
on which the
Lord was buried
(before our
Wednesday sunset),
"because it was
the preparation
[day]"
the bodies should not
remain upon the cross
on the sabbath day,
"for that sabbath
day was a high day",
and,
therefore,
not the ordinary
seventh day,
or
weekly sabbath.
See
John 19:31.
IV.
It follows,
therefore,
that the
Lord being
crucified on
"the preparation day"
could not have eaten
of the Passover lamb,
which was not slain
until the evening of
the 14th of Nisan
(that is to say,
afternoon).
On that day the
daily sacrifice
was killed at
the 6th hour
(noon)
and
offered about
the 7th hour
(1 p.m.).
The killing of
the Passover lambs
began directly
afterward.
Thus it is clear,
that if the killing
of the Passover lambs
did not
commence
until about
four hours after
our Lord had been
hanging upon the Cross,
and would not have been
concluded at the
ninth
hour
(3 p.m.)
when
"He gave up the
ghost;"—no
"Passover lamb"
could have
been eaten at the
"last supper"
on the previous evening.
V.
With these facts before us,
we are now in a position
to fill in the several days
of the Lord's last week
with the events recorded
in the Gospels.
By noting that the
Lord returned to Bethany
(or to the Mount of Olives)
each night of that week,
we are able to determine
both the several days
and the events that
took place in them.
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THE
SIXTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER,
THE 9th DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.) |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
| The Lord approaches Jerusalem from Jericho... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:1-10 | ||||||
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He passes our Thursday night at the house of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:5.) And delivers the Parable of the Pounds... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:11-27 | ||||||
| He proceeds toward Jerusalem... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:28 | ||||||
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He sends two disciples (apenanti) for an "ass" and a "colt" (two animals)... |
21:1-7 | ||||||||
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And makes His first entry from Bethphage (not Bethany) (Appendix 153)... |
21:8, 9 | ||||||||
| He is unexpected, and they ask "Who is this?"... | 21:10, 11 | ||||||||
| He cleanses the Temple... | 21:12-16 | ||||||||
| HE RETURNS TO BETHANY... | 21:17 .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 12:1 | |||||
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THE
FIFTH DAY BEFORE
THE PASSOVER,
THE 10th DAY
OF NISAN.
(Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.) |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
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The Lord passes the Sabbath at Bethany; and after sunset (on our Saturday), the first of three suppers was made, probably at the house of Lazarus, in Bethany (Appendix 157)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 12:2 | |||||
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At this supper the first of two anointings took place (Appendix 158)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 12:3-11 | |||||
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THE
FOURTH DAY BEFORE
THE PASSOVER,
THE 11th DAY
OF NISAN.
(Our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset), the Gentile "Palm Sunday". |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
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The second, or triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He sends two disciples (katenanti) for a colt (one animal). See Appendix 153... |
.. .. .. | 11:1-7 .. | 19:29-35 .. | 12:12- | |||||
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The Lord starts from Bethany (not Bethphage) and is met by multitudes from Jerusalem (Appendix 153)... |
.. .. .. | 11:8-10 .. | 19:36-40 .. | 12:12-19 | |||||
| He weeps over the city... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:41-44 | ||||||
| He enters the Temple, looks around... | .. .. .. | 11:11- | |||||||
| And RETURNS TO BETHANY... | .. .. .. | 11:-11 | |||||||
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THE
THIRD DAY BEFORE
THE PASSOVER,
THE 12th DAY
OF NISAN.
(Our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset). |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
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In the morning (our Monday a.m.) the Lord returns to Jerusalem... |
21:18 .. .. | 11:12 | |||||||
| The Fig-tree cursed... | 21:19-22 .. | 11:13, 14 | |||||||
| The Temple. Further cleansing... | .. .. .. | 11:15-17 .. | 19:45, 46 | ||||||
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In the Temple. Further teaching. "Certain Greeks"... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:47- .. | 12:20-50 | |||||
| Opposition of Rulers... | .. .. .. | 11:18 .. .. | 19:-47, 48 | ||||||
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He goes out of the city (probably to Bethany; see Luke 21:37, 38, below)... |
.. .. .. | 11:19 | |||||||
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THE
SECOND DAY BEFORE
THE PASSOVER,
THE 13th DAY
OF NISAN.
(Our Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset.) |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
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In the morning (our Tuesday a.m.) on the way to Jerusalem, the question of the disciples about the Fig Tree... |
.. .. .. | 11:20-26 | |||||||
| In Jerusalem again: and in the Temple... | 21:23-27 .. | 11:27-33 .. | 20:1-8 | ||||||
| In Jerusalem teaching in Parables; and questions... | 21:28—23:39 | 12:1-44 .. | 20:9—21:4 | ||||||
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The first great prophecy, in the Temple (Appendix 155)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | 21:5-36 | ||||||
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(Parenthetical statement as to the Lord's custom during this last week)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | 21:37, 38 | ||||||
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The second great prophecy, on the Mount of Olives... |
24:1-51 .. | 13:1-37 | |||||||
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The second great prophecy, continued (see Appendix 155)... |
25:1-46 | ||||||||
| "After two days is the Passover"... | 26:1-5 .. | 14:1, 2 | |||||||
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HE RETURNS TO BETHANY, and is present at the second supper in the house of Simon the leper. The second Anointing. See Appendix 157 and Appendix 158... |
26:6-13 .. | 14:3-9 | |||||||
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THE
DAY BEFORE THE
PASSOVER—THE
14th DAY OF
NISAN—"THE
PREPARATION
DAY"—THE
DAY OF THE
CRUCIFIXION.
(Our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday sunset.) |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
| The plot of Judas Iscariot to betray the Lord... | 26:14-16 .. | 14:10, 11 .. | 22:1-6 | ||||||
| The "preparation" for the last supper ¹... | 26:17-19 .. | 14:12¹-16 .. | 22:7¹-13 | ||||||
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"The even was come" (our Tuesday after sunset) when the plot for the betrayal was ripe for execution... |
26:20 .. | 14:17 | |||||||
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The last supper, commencing with the washing of the feet... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 13:1-20 | |||||
| The announcement of the betrayal, etc... | 26:21-25 .. | 14:18-21 .. | .. .. .. | 13:21-30 | |||||
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The supper eaten, the "New Covenant" made (Jeremiah 31:31). The lamb abolished, bread and wine substituted... |
26:26-29 .. | 14:22-25 .. | 22:14-23 | ||||||
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The first prophecy of Peter's denials (Appendix 160)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 13:31-38 | |||||
| The strife; who should be the greatest, etc. ... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 22:24-30 | ||||||
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The second prophecy of Peter's denials (Appendix 160)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | 22:31-34 | ||||||
| The final appeal to His first commission (Luke 9:3)... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 22:35-38 | ||||||
| The last discourse to the eleven, followed by His prayer... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 14:1—17:26 | |||||
| They go to Gethsemane... | 26:30-35 .. | 14:26-29 .. | 22:39 .. | 18:1 | |||||
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The third prophecy of Peter's denials (Appendix 160)... |
.. .. .. | 14:30, 31 | |||||||
| The agony in the garden... | 26:36-46 .. | 14:32-42 .. | 22:40-46 | ||||||
| The apprehension of the Lord (Appendix 165)... | 26:47-56 .. | 14:43-50 .. | 22:47-54 .. | 18:2-11 | |||||
| The escape of Lazarus (see notes on Mark 14:51, 52)... | .. .. .. | 14:51, 52 | |||||||
| The trials: continued throughout our Tuesday night... | 26:57—27:31 | 14:53—15:19 | 22:54—23:25 | 18:12—19:13 | |||||
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About the sixth hour (our Tuesday midnight) Pilate said "Behold your King"... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:14, 15 | |||||
| Led away to be crucified... | 27:31-34 .. | 15:20-23 .. | 23:26-31 .. | 19:16, 17 | |||||
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And "led with Him" two "malefactors" (kakourgoi) (Appendix 164)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | 23:32, 33 .. | 19:18 | |||||
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Discussion with Pilate about the Inscriptions (Appendix 163)... |
.. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:19-22 | |||||
| The dividing of the garments... | 27:35-37 .. | 15:24 .. | 23:34 .. | 19:23, 24 | |||||
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"It was the third hour, and they crucified Him" (our 9 a.m. Wednesday)... |
.. .. .. | 15:25, 26 | |||||||
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"Then were there two robbers" (lestai) "crucified with Him" (Appendix 164)... |
27:38 .. .. | 15:27, 28 | |||||||
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The revilings of the rulers, both "robbers", and one "malefactor"... |
27:39-44 .. | 15:29-32 .. | 23:35-43 | ||||||
| The Lord's mother and John... | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | .. .. .. | 19:25-27 | |||||
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"The sixth hour" (our Wednesday noon) and the darkness (Appendix 165)... |
27:45-49 .. | 15:33 .. .. | 23:44, 45 | ||||||
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"The ninth hour" (our Wednesday 3 p.m.) and the expiring cry (Appendix 165)... |
27:50 .. .. | 15:34-37 .. | 23:46 .. .. | 19:28-30 | |||||
| Subsequent events... | 27:51-56 .. | 15:38-41 .. | 23:47-49 .. | 19:31-37 | |||||
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Buried in haste before sunset (our Wednesday about 6 p.m.), before the "high day" (the first day of the Feast began), our Wednesday sunset... |
27:57-66 .. | 15:42-47 .. | 23:50-56 .. | 19:38-42 | |||||
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____________________________ |
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"THE
FIRST DAY OF THE
FEAST"—"THE
HIGH DAY"
(Yom tov)—THE
15TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.) THE FIRST NIGHT AND FIRST DAY IN THE TOMB. ________________________________________ THE SECOND DAY OF THE FEAST—THE 16TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.) THE SECOND NIGHT AND SECOND DAY IN THE TOMB. ________________________________________ THE THIRD DAY OF THE FEAST—"THE (WEEKLY) SABBATH"—THE 17TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.) THE THIRD NIGHT AND THIRD DAY IN THE TOMB. ________________________________________ "THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK"—THE 18TH DAY OF NISAN. (Our Saturday sunset: "the third day" of Matthew 16:21, etc.; not the third day of the Feast). |
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| MATTHEW. | MARK. | LUKE. | JOHN. | ||||||
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Thus, the Resurrection of the Lord took place at our Saturday sunset, or thereabouts, on "the third day"; compare "after three days" (Matthew 27:63. Mark 8:31)... |
28:1-10 .. | 16:1-18 .. | 24:1-49 .. | 20:1-23 | |||||
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[For the sequence of events connected with and following the Resurrection, see Appendix 166.]
It will be
seen from the above that
we have neither power nor
authority to alter or
shift any day or date;
or to change the order
or position of any of
the events recorded
in Holy Writ.
Each day is marked by a return to Bethany during the last week (up to the Preparation Day); and each day is filled with the recorded events. It follows, therefore, that the Lord was crucified on our Wednesday; was buried on that day before sunset; and remained "three days and three nights" in the tomb, as foretold by Him in Matthew 12:40; rising from the dead on "the third day", "the first day of the week". The fixed days and dates, at either end, hold the whole period as in a vice, and place the whole subject on a sure foundation. |
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