When Was Jesus Crucified

April 3, AD 33: Why We Believe We Can Know the Exact Date Jesus Died

In our book, The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived, Justin Taylor and I make an educated guess as to the date of Jesus’ crucifixion, but we do not argue for or against it. For a variety of factors, virtually all academics think that Jesus was executed in the spring of either AD 30 or AD 33, with the majority preferring the former. As a result of the astronomical data, the alternatives are reduced to AD 27, 30, 33, or 34). However, we would want to present our case for the date of Friday, April 3, AD 33, as the precise day on which Christ died in our place as atonement for our sins.

However, this does not rule out the possibility of understanding or importance.

No one makes this argument more forcefully than Luke, the Gentile physician who became a historian and inspired recorder of early Christianity.

The Year John the Baptist’s Ministry Began

In Luke’s account, John the Baptist began his public ministry soon before Jesus did, and the author provides us with a historical reference point for when the Baptist’s ministry began: “in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign.” (See Luke 3:16). It is known from ancient Roman history that Tiberius succeeded Augustus as emperor on August 19, AD 14 and was approved by the Roman Senate on the same day. He reigned until the year AD 37. “The fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign” appears to be a straightforward date, but there are some ambiguities, beginning with when one begins the calculation.

Most likely, Tiberius’ reign was measured from the day he assumed office in AD 14 or from the first day of January of the following year, AD 15 (whichever came first).

So John the Baptist’s ministry began anywhere between the middle of AD 28 and the beginning of AD 29.

The Year Jesus’s Ministry Began

Because the Gospels appear to suggest that Jesus began his ministry not long after John, the most likely date for Jesus’ baptism would be late in AD 28 at the absolute earliest, according to the calculations above. Nevertheless, it seems more likely that it occurred somewhere around the first half of the year AD 29, because a few months had probably gone between the beginning of John’s career and the beginning of Jesus’ ministry (and the year AD 30 is the latest possible date). As a result, Jesus’ career must have began somewhere between the end of AD 28 and the beginning of AD 30 at the earliest.

The most plausible dates for Jesus’ birth are 6 or 5 BC, which means he would have been roughly thirty-two to thirty-four years old in late AD 28 to early AD 30. This comes well within the range of “about thirty years of age.”

The Length of Jesus’s Ministry

To determine how long Jesus’ public ministry lasted, we must first determine how long Jesus’ public ministry lasted. If Jesus’ public ministry lasted two or more years, it appears that the spring of AD 30 cannot be considered as a plausible date for the crucifixion. The Gospel of John records that Jesus attended at least three (perhaps four) Passovers, which were held once a year in the spring and were as follows:

  • In Jerusalem, at the beginning of his public ministry (John 2:13–23)
  • In Galilee, during the midpoint of his public career (John 6:4)
  • And in Bethlehem, at the end of his public ministry (John 6:4). In Jerusalem, at the conclusion of his public ministry, that is, at the time of his crucifixion (John 11:55
  • 12:1), there was a final Passover celebration. And it’s possible that Jesus attended another Passover that wasn’t reported in the Gospel of John, but was documented in one or more of the Synoptic Gospels (i.e., Matthew, Mark, and Luke)

This would make a date of a.d. 30 all but impossible as the date of Jesus’ crucifixion, even if there were only three Passovers in all. As previously stated, the earliest possible date for the beginning of Jesus’ career, according to Luke 3:1, is late in the first century AD. The first of these Passovers (which occurred at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry; John 2:13) would happen on Nisan 15 in the year 29 (since Nisan is in March/April, around the beginning of a year), which would be the first of these Passovers in the year 29.

If Jesus’ ministry corresponded with at least three Passovers, and if the first Passover occurred in AD 29, this suggests that he could not have been executed in ad 30, as previously thought.

The Passovers in the book of John would thus take place on the following dates:

Nisan 15 AD 30 John 2:13
Nisan 15 AD 31 Either the unnamed feast in John 5:1 or else a Passover that John does not mention (but that may be implied in the Synoptics)
Nisan 15 AD 32 John 6:4
Nisan 15 AD 33 John 11:55, the Passover at which Jesus was crucified

Jesus Was Crucified on the Day of Preparation for the Passover

It is also mentioned by the apostle John that Jesus was crucified on “the day of Preparation” (John 19:31), which corresponds to the Friday before the Sabbath of the Passover week (Mark 15:42). Earlier in the day, on Thursday evening, Jesus had a Passover meal with the Twelve (Mark 14:12), which is referred to as his “Last Supper.” Passover always falls on the fifteenth day of Nisan (Exodus 12:6), according to the Pharisaic-rabbinic calendar that was generally used in Jesus’ day. According to this calendar, Passover begins on Thursday after sundown and finishes on Friday after nightfall.

33, the year in which the crucifixion is most likely to have occurred, the most likely date for Jesus’ crucifixion is April 3 in the year a.d.

Accordingly, we created the following chart in The Final Days of Jesus to indicate the dates for Jesus’ final week in the year a.d.

April 2 Nissan 14 Thursday (Wednesday nightfall to Thursday nightfall) Day of Passover preparation Last Supper
April 3 Nissan 15 Friday (Thursday nightfall to Friday nightfall) Passover; Feast of Unleavened Bread, begins Crucifixion
April 4 Nissan 16 Saturday (Friday nightfall to Saturday nightfall) Sabbath
April 5 Nissan 17 Sunday (Saturday nightfall to Sunday nightfall) First day of the week Resurrection

Conclusion

The computations in the preceding section may look difficult, but in a nutshell, the reasoning goes as follows:

HISTORICAL INFORMATION YEAR
Beginning of Tiberius’s reign AD 14
Fifteenth year of Tiberius’s reign:Beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry AD 28
A few months later:Beginning of Jesus’s ministry AD 29
Minimum three-year duration of Jesus’ ministry:Most likely date of Jesus’s crucifixion AD 33 (April 3)

While this is, in our opinion, the most plausible scenario, it should be noted that many people think Jesus was killed in the year AD 30, rather than the year AD 33, as we have said. If, on the other hand, the beginning of Tiberius’ rule is set at the year AD 14, it becomes nearly difficult to fit fifteen years of Tiberius’ reign and three years of Jesus’ ministry between AD 14 and AD 30, as is the case. As a result, some have speculated that Tiberius and Augustus shared co-regency (combined rule) during the last few years of Augustus’ reign.

As a result, we believe that Jesus was most likely crucified on April 3, AD 33, as previously stated.

Because of this, when we celebrate Easter and walk with Jesus every day of the year, we may be certain that our faith is founded not just on subjective personal confidence, but also on solid historical evidence, which makes our faith a perfectly rational faith.

Crossway’s executive vice president and publisher for books, Justin Taylor, holds this position. Andreas Köstenberger and he have written a book together called The Final Days of Jesus: The Most Important Week in the Life of the Most Important Person Who Ever Lived (Crossway, 2014).

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When it comes to the killing of Jesus, how detailed can we be? Is it possible to pinpoint the precise date? We are in the midst of our yearly commemoration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, which began on Easter Sunday. All of us are aware that something like this occurred in Jerusalem during the first century. That distinguishes Jesus from mythological pagan deities, who were said to have lived in places and at times that no one could pinpoint precisely. When it comes to the killing of Jesus, how detailed can we be?

We have the ability to do so.

Clue1: The High Priesthood of Caiaphas

According to the gospels, Jesus was executed at the behest of Caiaphas, a high priest from the first century who was known for his ruthlessness (Matthew 26:3-4,John 11:49-53). Based on previous accounts, we know that he served as high priest from 18 to 36 A.D., which places Jesus’ death at that time period. However, we may be a little more particular. There’s a lot more.

Clue2: The Governorship of Pontius Pilate

All four gospels agree that Jesus was killed on Pontius Pilate’s orders, according to the New Testament (Matthew 27:24-26,Mark 15:15,Luke 23:24,John 19:15-16). Due to information from other sources, we know when he served as governor of Judea — from A.D. 26 to 36 — and hence can restrict the time period down by several years. Nevertheless, how are we going to narrow the scope to a single day and year?

Clue3: After “the Fifteenth Year of Tiberius Caesar”

The beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry is specified in the Gospel of Luke as follows: In the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign.the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert, where he remained for forty days. This specifies a certain year, namely A.D. 29. Because all four gospels represent Christ’s ministry beginning after that of John the Baptist (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3, and John 1), we may trim a few more years off our estimated time frame for his birth. The death of Christ has to take place within a seven-year time span: between A.D.

36.

Clue4: Crucified on a Friday

There is unanimous agreement among the four gospels that Jesus was crucified on a Friday (Matthew 27:62, Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, and John 19:42), immediately before a Sabbath, which was just before the first day of the week (Luke 23:54; John 19:42). (Matthew 28:1,Mark 16:2,Luke 24:1,John 20:1). Due to the fact that Friday was designated as “the day of preparation,” we know it was a Friday. This means that it was the day on which Jews made the preparations they required for the Sabbath, as they were not permitted to work on that day.

According to the Jewish Encyclopedia: Friday is referred to as ‘Ereb Shabbat’ since it is the day before Shabbat (The Eve of Sabbath).

In Josephus’ Antiquitiesxvi.

The day is referred to as “Yoma da-‘Arubta” in Yer. Pesaim iv. 1 of the Jewish calendar (Day of Preparation). There were still a significant number of Fridays between A.D. 29 and 36, despite the fact that six days of the week were eliminated. Is it possible to figure out which one it is?

Clue5: A Friday at Passover

It is also agreed upon by the gospel writers that Jesus was crucified in connection with the yearly festival of Passover (Matthew 26:2,Mark 14:1,Luke 22:1,John 18:39). We get into a slight snag here since the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke characterize the Last Supper on Holy Thursday as a Passover feast (Matthew 26:19,Mark 14:14,Luke 22:15). That would imply that Good Friday occurred the day after Passover was observed. On the other hand, while recounting the morning of Good Friday, John makes it clear that the Jewish rulers had not yet eaten the Passover meal.

  1. It was still early in the morning.
  2. As a result, Pilate walked out to meet them.
  3. There are a variety of options for dealing with this situation.
  4. Another possibility is that Jesus simply moved the date of the Passover celebration for him and his disciples forward a few days.
  5. In the event that he announces, “We’re celebrating Passover today,” and it happens to be a day earlier than most people are used to, they would just accept it.
  6. No matter what Jesus’ movement did, we may use John’s remark about the kidnappers of Jesus to determine what the Jewish authorities or mainstream Judaism were like in those days: They were beginning their Passover celebrations on Friday evening, which is what we would call Friday.
  7. The following is a comprehensive list of the days between A.D.
  • Monday, April 18, the year 29
  • Friday, April 7, the year 30
  • Tuesday, March 27, the year 31
  • Monday, April 14, the year 32
  • Friday, April 3, the year 33
  • Wednesday, March 24, the year 34
  • Tuesday, April 12, the year 35
  • And Saturday, March 31, the year 36
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As you can see, there are just two candidates remaining on the table: Jesus was crucified on either April 7th, A.D. 30 or April 3rd, A.D. 33, depending on the source. Which one was it, exactly? The year A.D. 33 is generally accepted as the date. There are a significant number of people that support the A.D. 30 date in today’s world. Do the gospels provide us the option of choosing between the two?

Clue6: John’s Three Passovers

During Jesus’ career, the Gospel of John mentions three separate Passovers: the first, the second, and the third.

  • Jesus’ first public appearance was during the Passover Seder, which was described in John 2:13, towards the beginning of his career. 2nd Passover: This event is mentioned in John 6:4 and takes place in the midst of Jesus’ career. Passover3: This is mentioned in John 11:55 (and has been referenced several times thereafter), and it occurs near the conclusion of Jesus’ career.

That implies that Jesus’ ministry had to have lasted at least a couple of years longer than that. An in-depth examination would disclose that it lasted around three and a half years; yet, even if we believe that it began immediately before Passover1, the inclusion of two additional Passovers demonstrates that it lasted at the very least more than two years. That indicates the A.D. 30 deadline has passed. A ministry of at least two years cannot be accommodated in the period available between the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar (A.D.

29) and the next year’s Passover because there is insufficient time. The numbers don’t add up in this case. Consequently, the conventional date of Jesus’ death—Friday, April 3, AD 33-must be accepted as the true date. Is it possible to be any more specific?

Clue7: “The Ninth Hour”

Jesus died about “the ninth hour,” according to the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (Matthew 27:45-50,Mark 15:34-37,Luke 23:44-46). The “ninth hour” is what we would regard to as 3:00 p.m. in our modern day. This permits us to narrow down the time of Jesus’ death to a very particular point in history: approximately 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 3, A.D. 33, on the third day of the first month of the first century. Of course, there are a slew of thorough counter-arguments that I haven’t had time to address in this article.

This is the exact moment it occurred.

What Now?

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The original version of this item published on April 10, 2013, at the Register.

When Did Jesus Die? The Year, Day & Time

There has been much speculation concerning the day and year of Christ’s crucifixion and death, owing to the absence of clear day-to-day linkage in the stories of the four Gospels. We know that Jesus died on Preparation Day because it is mentioned in each of the four Gospel narratives. But was it a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday when that happened? In addition, what hour did Jesus die? There has even been discussion over the year in which he passed away. To figure out the day of Jesus’ death on the cross, we must piece together the evidence from his four Gospels and our understanding of his historical period and cultural context.

Cultural Information to Keep in Mind

1. The gospel writers were more concerned with depicting Jesus as a person than they were with the precise chronology of his appearance. Dates have become increasingly important in today’s environment in order to provide proper news coverage. However, the Gospel authors were more concerned with the events themselves than they were with the precise date of the occurrences. They were attempting to introduce Jesus to a variety of audiences rather than providing a thorough biography. It was the day before the Sabbath that was designated as the Day of Preparation.

This is the day on which Jews prepared meals and completed all of the tasks that were prohibited from being completed on the Sabbath but that still needed to be completed.

Click HERE to download your FREE 8-Day Prayer and Scripture Guide -Praying Through Holy Week. Create your own copy of this wonderful daily devotional to use in the weeks leading up to Easter.

What the Gospels Say about Jesus’ Burial

The Gospel of Matthew contains the most detailed account of Jesus’ death and burial (Matthew 27:31-62). In this tale, we learn about Joseph, a wealthy man from Arimathea “who had himself become a follower of Jesus,” according to one piece (Matthew 27:57 b). In Matthew 27:58-61, it is said that Joseph approached Pilate and begged for permission to bury Jesus’ body. “The next day, the day after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate,” we are told in Matthew 27:62. Joseph followed out this plan on Preparation Day.

In the Jewish calendar, it was Preparation Day (i.e., the day before the Sabbath).” (Matthew 15:42 a.) … Consequently, Joseph purchased some linen material, brought the corpse down from the casket, wrapped it in the linen, and buried it in a tomb dug into the rock.

Jesus died on the Day of Preparation, as confirmed by Luke and John: “Then he carried it down, wrapped it in linen fabric, and buried it in a tomb cut into the rock, in which no one had yet been lain.” As it happened, it was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin” (Luke 23:54).

What Day Did Jesus Die? Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday?

Over the years, academics have developed a variety of hypotheses about what occurred during the days of the week preceding up to Jesus’ death on the cross. These versions each offer a different day for Christ’s death, such as Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

  • Wednesday The fact that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday permits for Him to have been buried for three full days and nights
  • Nevertheless, this also means that He resurrected on the fourth day. Furthermore, the Triumphal Entry would have taken place on Saturday, the day of Sabbath rest
  • Instead, it took place on Thursday. With a Thursday crucifixion, the Triumphal Entry is moved to Sunday, which makes more sense and removes the necessity for a “quiet day” (a day during thePassion Weekwhen no events were recorded). On the other hand, we know that the Pharisees hurried to put Jesus in the tomb on The Day of Preparation (John 19:34-42), which is Friday, and before the Sabbath began at nightfall (the Jews timed days from the beginning of the nightfall to the beginning of the nightfall). Upon closer examination of the facts, we find that Friday is the most consistent with the Gospel narratives and the historical context. According to the New Testament, Jesus rose from the grave on the third day—not necessarily after three complete, literal days—and was buried on the third day (e.g.,Matthew 16:21
  • Acts 10:40). As previously stated, Jesus had to be hustled inside the tomb on the day of preparation because of the crowds. In contrast to a Friday crucifixion, which would demand a “quiet day” (most likely Wednesday), this day gives the Sanhedrin the opportunity to make plans for Jesus’s arrest and following trials. As a result, the day is just “quiet” since we haven’t documented anything significant

What Time Did Jesus Die?

According to Matthew Henry’s interpretation, Jesus was nailed to the crucifixion between the third and sixth hours, which corresponds between nine and twelve o’clock in the morning. After then, he died shortly after the ninth hour, which was sometime between three and four o’clock in the afternoon. Commensurate with the aforementioned practice, the Jews throughout the time of Christ measured days from dusk to nightfall. The Matthew 27:46 KJV, which is the “ninth hour,” can be translated into the Matthew 27:46 NIV, which is the “three o’clock in the afternoon,” according to Bible experts.

Timing of Jesus Death in Mark, Luke, and John

  • The Gospel of Mark 15: 33:34, 37 “At midday, darkness descended across the entire region, lasting until three o’clock in the afternoon. Also, about three o’clock in the afternoon, Jesus said, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” in an obnoxiously loud voice. (which translates as ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’). “Jesus breathed his last with a piercing scream.”
  • Matthew 23:44-46 ” It was now around midday, and darkness descended upon the entire region until three o’clock in the afternoon since the sun had ceased shining. And the temple’s curtain was split in two by the earthquake. I put my spirit into your hands,’ Jesus said with a resounding voice, calling out to the Father. At the moment he stated this, he exhaled his final breath.” (See also John 19:14-16.) “It was approximately midday on the day of Passover preparations, and it was the day of Passover preparations. ‘Your king has arrived,’ Pilate said to the Jews. They, on the other hand, cried out, “Take him away!” Take him away from me! ‘Put him to death!’ ‘Do you want me to crucify your king?’ Pilate was the one who inquired. ‘We do not have a monarch other than Caesar,’ the leading priests responded. Eventually, Pilate gave him over to them, and they crucified him.”

What Year Did Jesus Die?

During this video, Doug Bookman, a New Testament professor at Shepherds Theological Seminary, shows why biblical academics have reached an agreement about the year Jesus died. “It all boils down to this. Pilate served as prefect of Judea and Samaria from 26 A.D. to 36 A.D., according to the evidence we have. So that’s our view out the window. The following question is: On what day of the week did Passover occur during the year that Jesus died? In the opinion of the majority, it occurred on Thursday or Friday.

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Given all of this, the vast majority of researchers will agree that it leads to one of two conclusions: ” Theory 1: Jesus died about the year 30 A.D.

“At this point, the argument becomes pretty technical,” says Bookman of the situation.

“With regard to every one of the chronological questions, there is a case to be formed on both sides of the argument,” he continues. I am convinced that the year 33 A.D. “I teach the life of Jesus within the framework of that structure.”

3 Significant Events Shortly After Jesus’ Death

Matthew 27:51-54, Matthew 27:51-54 As a result of this, the temple’s curtain was split in half, from top to bottom. The ground trembled, the rocks cracked, and the tombs burst into flames. Many pious persons who had died were brought back to life by the power of the Holy Spirit. They emerged from the graves following Jesus’ resurrection and proceeded to the holy city, where they appeared to a large number of people. They were startled and cried, “Surely he was the Son of God!” when the centurion and others with him who were guarding Jesus witnessed the earthquake and everything that had transpired.

  • The temple curtain had been ripped in half.
  • We know from the laws of the Old Testament that entering God’s presence was a severe matter.
  • The fact that this curtain was destroyed represented the completion of Jesus Christ’s accomplished work on the cross, which eliminated the barrier between sinful humans and holy God by becoming the ultimate High Priest and the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of all people.
  • 2.
  • John Gill’s remark on the event states that “this was a demonstration of Christ’s authority over death and the tomb.” When Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his death, he demonstrated that he had destroyed both the power of death and the permanence of the grave.
  • In addition to its grandiose claims, this event is noteworthy because it is a narrative predicting Christ’s second coming to collect the remainder of his people.
  • 3.
  • This text in Matthew glosses over such a remarkable occurrence, but Christ’s resurrection is told in greater detail in Matthew 28, which is the gospel of Matthew (as well as inMark 16,Luke 24, andJohn 20).

When Was Christ Crucified and Resurrected?

Here is the one and only sign that Jesus presented to indicate that He was the promised Messiah. D o you have any idea just how significant the events surrounding Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are to you and to the rest of the world? If you identify as a Christian, you must unquestionably believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but have you ever looked into the one and only proof Jesus ever provided for this claim? Have you ever taken the time to thoroughly consider what Jesus said, what actually happened, and how it compares to the teachings of your own religion?

The religious authorities of Jesus’ day were continually putting Jesus’ teachings to the test.

In the New Testament, the nameJonah is derived from the Old Testament character of the same name, whose life narrative is documented in the book of the same name.

The events surrounding the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are crucial to understanding what it means to be a genuine Christian. Isn’t it past time for you to demonstrate your own beliefs?

Three Days and Three Nights

A number of significant features of Matthew 12:38-40 should be objectively analyzed and examined. It is in verse 40 that Jesus explicitly and expressly states that He will be buried for three days and three nights. This is possibly the most important statement in the Bible. Is this something your church believes? Alternatively, have you been told the tale of a Friday crucifixion and a resurrection on Sunday morning? Make a mental note of the number of nights and days that have passed. From Friday evening until Sunday morning, there will only be two nights and one day available, not three of each kind of accommodation.

  • Assuming the teachings of the majority of “Christian” denominations are correct, Jesus was only on the planet for two nights and one day, concluding that Jesus has not been shown to be the Son of God.
  • How can you claim that Jesus is the Son of God when His own statements contradict that claim?
  • Religious authorities first appeal to the fact that Jesus was executed the day before a sabbath day as evidence of his sacrifice.
  • For the record, this demonstrates that those same religious leaders are aware that Saturday is the biblical Sabbath, which we are obligated to keep holy in the Fourth Commandment.
  • Secondly, it was predicted that there would be erroneous doctrines that would influence or be accepted by “many” people (e.g.
  • Revelation 12:9 reveals that Satan, who has been working to deceive mankind for 6,000 years, is the one who is behind this deceit.
  • Your Bible establishes that Jesus was murdered on Wednesday, April 25, in the year a.d.31, not on Friday, as some have claimed.
  • Now, let us take a closer look at what actually transpired when Jesus was crucified.

Not Buried Before a Weekly Sabbath

Following two days, the feast of Passover and unleavened bread was celebrated, and the chief priests and scribes plotted how they could capture him and put him to death by trickery. (Matthew 14:1). In Israel, this occurred just before the start of the spring holy days. The holiday of Passover, as well as the annual sabbath day known as the first day of Unleavened Bread, were just around the corner. Leviticus 23 contains a list of the annual sabbaths that are to be observed. (For additional information about the yearly holy days, get our free bookletPagan Holidays or God’s Holy Days—Which?) “And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where will thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?” (Mark 14:12).

  1. It is with great desire that I have desired to share this Passover with you before I suffer,” he says (Luke 22:15).
  2. (Exodus 12:11, 27; Leviticus 23:5).
  3. Continue reading through Mark 14, and the events and time become evident.
  4. Jesus and His followers partook of the Passover in the evening, then walked to the garden where Jesus prayed.
  5. “And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes” (Mark 14:53).
  6. This was in the night, following the Passover.
  7. “Andstraightwayin the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate” (Mark 15:1).

After the charade that passed for a trial, Jesus was sentenced to be killed.

And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

(Mark 15:22, 24-25).

The third hour was 9 a.m.

“And when the sixth hourwas come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost” (verses 33-34, 37).

Jesus died at 3 p.m. the day before thefirst day of Unleavened Breadreferred to in Mark 14:1. The day before a holy day is called a day of preparation. This was such a day. The first day of Unleavened Bread is an annual sabbath, or a holy day. Next was the burial of Jesus by Joseph.

Two Sabbaths That Week

It is plainly stated in Luke 23:50-55 that Jesus died and was buried on the day before the Sabbath (sometimes referred to as the holy day) and that Jesus was buried in the tomb of Lazarus (John 19:31). The use of the term “the sabbath drew on” indicates that it was approaching very close to sunset, which is when days begin and conclude according to biblical timekeeping. Take a close look at the following occurrence in the book of Mark. Once the Sabbath had passed, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome had gone out and purchased pleasant spices in order to come and anoint him (Mark 16:1).

It is said in the Anchor Bible on Mark that “after the Sabbath was ended, Mary of Magdalla, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went and bought fragrant oils to go and anoint him,” according to the Bible.

This is according to Lange’s Bible Commentary: “Only the two Marys had been at the grave for an excessive amount of time; hence they could not make their purchases until after the Sabbath had gone.” As has been plainly demonstrated in Scripture, Jesus was buried in the afternoon, right before sunset on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath.

  • According to Luke 23:56, they returned and prepared spices and ointments while keeping the sabbath day holy as instructed by the law.
  • There is just one possible explanation that is consistent with both scriptures: Following the purchase of the spices, the ladies prepared them for application to the body of Jesus.
  • John records that the sabbath following Jesus’ burial was the first day of Unleavened Bread, which was a high sabbath.
  • In other words, the Bible is clear that there were two sabbath days the week Jesus was executed, but it requires a little detective effort to figure out which ones they were.
  • Take a look at Matthew 28:1 and the Greek word identified byStrong’s as 4521 that is translated as “sabbath” (King James Version).
  • There are various plural variants indicated by the comment; nevertheless, Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:2, and John 20:1, 19 are particularly noteworthy.

If you look closely, you will notice that each utilizes the plural form of the term “sabbaths,” as opposed to the incorrect single translation. This illusion is initiated by taking off the “s,” which would otherwise indicate that the wordsabbath are plural.

The Timeline

The sequence of events that took place during that sad and glorious week of Christ’s death is unmistakable. There is only one interpretation that fully fits all of the Scriptures, and there are no conflicts in the Word of God. Follow the only timetable that is consistent with every verse surrounding these events and that is in accordance with the three-days-three-nights promise of Christ. Jesus and His followers observed the Passover on a Tuesday evening, after the sun had set. They then walked to the garden, where Jesus was apprehended and crucified.

  • He was crucified at 9 a.m.
  • on Wednesday afternoon.
  • Jesus was laid to rest on Wednesday evening.
  • Friday was the weekly preparation day, and the ladies went out and purchased and prepared spices and anointing oil in order to properly complete the burial of Jesus.
  • The ladies arrived at the tomb early on Sunday morning, just as the sun was rising, to discover that Jesus had already risen.
  • The days of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday add up to a total of three days in the week.
  • It was on Thursday, April 26th, that the first day of Unleavened Bread was observed.

After the feast day, came Friday, April 27—the day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath, during which the ladies prepared the spices for the weekly Sabbath.

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Jesus was, in reality, executed on Wednesday, buried shortly after sunset on Wednesday evening, and stayed in the tomb until just after sunset on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning, someone may inquire about the testimony of the angel who appeared at the tomb (e.g., Luke 24:1-6).

The meaning of the original Greek words can be discovered by anybody with a little detective effort, and none of them imply that Jesus was in the process of rising at the time of the writing of the Gospel of John.

It is stated that Jesus appeared to Mary, not that He was rising from the dead.

God’s Word establishes without any reasonable doubt the Messiahship of Jesus Christ.

If you have your own Bible, you can read it plainly as follows: After being buried for three days and three nights, from sunset on Wednesday until sunset on Saturday, when He was raised, Jesus was laid in the tomb.

He is the Christ; He is our Savior; He is the Son of the living God. He is the Son of the living God.

Where Was Jesus Crucified?

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus determine whether or not the Christian religion is valid. Understanding God’s pardon, everlasting life, and the hope we have in Christ are all built on these two historical events, which are interconnected. The faith is jeopardized if these events do not take place. However, while speaking about Christ’s resurrection, the apostle Paul emphasizes the following point: “But since it is taught that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can any of you argue that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Even if there is no resurrection of the dead, it is unlikely that Christ has been risen from the grave.

These events did in fact take place, and there is a substantial amount of extra-biblical evidence to support this claim.

What Scripture tells us about the crucifixion

The gospels of Matthew and Mark both inform us that the crucifixion took place at a location known as Golgotha. The Aramaic term golgotha literally translates as “skull.” And both Gospel writers provide us with their interpretations of the term: They arrived at a location known as Golgotha (which literally translates as “the site of the skull”) (Matthew 27:33, see also Mark 15:22). Luke doesn’t even bother to call it Golgotha in his gospel (Luke 23:33). And John flips Matthew and Mark’s sequence, referring to it as the “place of the Skull,” and then tells his readers of how it is translated into Aramaic by the author of the Gospel of John.

It was the Latin phrase calvaria, which means “skull” or “bald head,” that was used by the King James translators when they translated the word “skull” in Luke’s story.

Scholars, on the other hand, have some reservations about the location.

Or did it receive its moniker because of the large number of executions that took place there?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

It is at this location, in the northwest sector of Jerusalem’s ancient city, that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is located, which is one of the earliest acknowledged locations for Jesus’ crucifixion. After the storming of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, the city was transformed into a Roman colony, and its name was changed to Aelia Capitolina (Capital of the Capitol). During her journey to Aelia Capitolina, Empress Helena (Constantine’s mother) is said to have discovered a temple to Venus built over the “recognized” location of Jesus’ burial, according to legend.

They were able to select “the real cross” because of a miracle cure that occurred in connection with one of the three crosses.

It has become a must-see pilgrimage destination for many Christians of many denominations and traditions.

There appear to be some big issues with it, to put it mildly.

It appears that Jesus was crucified outside the city according to the Bible when we look at the text: Due to the fact that the site of Jesus’ crucifixion was close to the city and that the sign was written in three languages (Aramaic, Latin, and Greek), a large number of Jews were able to read it (John 19:20, emphasis added).

Likewise, Christ suffered outside the city gate in order to make the people holy via his own blood.

Let us then approach him outside the camp, carrying the dishonor he has endured in his life. In this place, we do not have an enduring city, but we are yearning for the city that is yet to be built (Hebrews 13:11–14, emphasis mine).

Gordon’s Calvary (Skull Hill)

Many evangelical Christians choose a rocky outcrop north of Jerusalem’s Damascus Gate, which is located north of the Old City. This barren hilltop first came to public attention in the 19th century, when a German theologian by the name of Edward Robinson proposed it as a possible location for a religious institution, according to our research. This viewpoint was adopted by Charles Gordon, a well-known British major general, in the late 1800s, and it became linked with him as a result. In what ways does it stand out as a possible place for the crucifixion?

  • This helps to make sense of Mark’s words: “Some ladies were standing nearby, keeping an eye on everything.” Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome were among those who were present” (Mark 15:40).
  • Some also suggest that if there were skull-like features on the site, it is more likely that it would have been known as “Golgotha” by both Romans and Jews.
  • Another element that makes this a viable candidate for Jesus’ tomb is its proximity to the Garden Tomb, which is considered to be one of the possible locations of Jesus’ tomb.
  • One of the most compelling reasons against it is the simple fact that it hasn’t been historically recognized.

Near the Lion’s Gate

In recent years, a missionary by the name of Rodger Dusatko has proposed an alternative location near Jerusalem. This location is located on a hill just outside of the Lion’s Gate. Furthermore, the Lion’s Gate is a symbolic representation of the area where Christians see Jesus’ final journey from the jail to His crucifixion (Via Dolorosa). 330 meters northeast of where the temple formerly stood, on a steep slope beyond the wall, there is a possibility that Golgotha will be built. According to Dusatko, the word skulla is not used to describe Golgotha, which would imply that the skull is being referred to as a whole.

  • This is the origin of the word “cranium,” which refers to the top, curving portion of the head.
  • When assessing a suitable location for Calvary, Dusatko believes that having a straight line of sight to the temple is critical.
  • And the temple’s curtain was split in two by the earthquake.
  • Upon witnessing what had occurred, the centurion expressed his gratitude to God and stated, “Surely this was a virtuous man” (Luke 23:44–47).
  • Some critics of the Lion’s Gate hill argue that Luke did not specifically state that the centurion witnessed the curtain being torn in half.

Luke was most likely implying that the centurion, who had watched the events of the day, had been convinced of Jesus’s righteousness.

Jesus and Adam?

One of the most intriguing traditions about the site of the crucifixion has to do with Adam’s skull, which is said to have been found nearby. Origen (A.D. 184-A.D. 253), one of the most renowned theologians and biblical experts in the early church, was the catalyst for this transformation. It was revealed to Origen in his commentary on Matthew that the corpse of Adam had been buried there in order that, “as in Adam all perish,” so too would Adam be revived and “as in Christ all would be made alive,” as well as “as in Christ all will be made alive.” Apocalyptic writer Epiphanius of Salamis (ca.

  • According to Chrysostom (349–407), in his commentary on the Gospel of John, “‘And He arrived to a spot where there was a skull,'” he adds.
  • The Church of the Holy Sepulchre even contains a Chapel of Adam, which is positioned beneath the alleged rock of Golgotha, as part of its complex.
  • This is one of those tales that is really intriguing to learn about yet serves no benefit whatsoever.
  • I think it’s pretty doubtful that we’ll ever find out where Adam’s body is buried.

So what do we know?

After all this time, it should be clear that we are unable to pinpoint the exact place of Jesus’ crucifixion. Does this imply that it never took place? In no way, shape, or form. A large number of extra-biblical narratives show that Christ was crucified in the manner described in the Gospels. Tacitus was a Roman historian (as well as a senator) who lived in the first century. It is in the Annals of the Emperor Nero that he describes how Nero responded to the fire in Rome by persecuting Christians, and it is in this that he verifies the manner in which Jesus died: As a result, in order to get rid of the report, Nero pinned the responsibility and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class of people despised by the crowd for their abominations and referred to as Christians.

When Christus, the man who gave his name to the religion, was executed by one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, during the reign of Tiberius, an evil superstition that had been suppressed for a time erupted once more not only in Judaea, the origin of evil, but also in Rome, where all that is hideous and shameful from all over the world finds a home and becomes popular, was re-ignited.

Their deaths were made much more miserable by mockery of every kind.

Thallus was a first-century historian, and most of his work has been lost to history—but the second-century historian Sextus Julius Africanus makes use of his writings.

Thallus, in the third book of his History, refers to this darkness as an eclipse of the sun, which looks to me to be without foundation (Julius Africanus, Chronography, 18:1).

In putting Socrates to death, what benefit did the Athenians derive from their decision?

What benefit did the men of Samos derive from the burning of Pythagoras’ statue?

What benefit did the Jews derive from the assassination of their wise king?

God avenged the three wise men in a righteous manner.

But Socrates did not die; he continued to live on via Plato’s teachings.

Neither did the wise monarch pass away; he continued to live via the teachings he had imparted (Mara bar Simpson, a letter to his son).

Although we will never know where Jesus died, we may place our confidence in the assurance that:But he was pierced for our trespasses, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was laid on him, and it is by his wounds that we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

The exact site of the crucifixion is unknown, but we do know, in Paul’s words, that “we are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were appealing to us via Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20a).

Fortunately, Jesus’ death does not mark the end of the tale. Join us in celebrating the resurrection by reading and sharing this article. When it comes to the Resurrection of Jesus, why is it so significant?

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