Did the Messiah die on a Friday afternoon and resurrect the following Sunday morning? Let’s examine this conventional belief in the light of the Scriptures. We’ll use the Words of the Messiah Himself to test our understanding of his death and resurrection. Does our conventional belief line up with His prophetic Words about His own life?
From that time יהושע began to show to His taught ones that it was necessary for Him to go to Yarushalayim, and to suffer much from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and to be raised again the third day.
LET’S START WITH MESSIAH’S OWN PROPHETIC WORDS.
For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish (Yonah 1:17), so shall the Son of Aḏam be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
HOW DOES THE SCRIPTURE RECKON A DAY?
Let’s go back to the book of Genesis (Bereshith) – back to the beginning, to review this foundational principle. The Scriptural day does not begin at midnight, as is the custom today. The day begins in the evening, as it transitions from light to day. The Creation Week repeats this clear pattern of evening first then morning.
And there came to be evening and there came to be morning, one day.
— GENESIS 1:5
And Mashah said, “In that יהוה gives you meat to eat in the evening, and in the morning bread to satisfaction…
— EXODUS 16:8
This is reinforced in the book of Exodus, when the Hebrews were taught how to keep the seventh-day Sabbath of YAHUAH.
MESSIAH’S FINAL WEEK ON EARTH
Accordingly יהושע, six days before the Pasach, came to Biyth Anyah, where Al’auzar was, who had died, whom He raised from the dead.
— YahuChanan 12:1-2
MESSIAH TRAVELS TO BIYTH ANYAH (BETHANY)
The Month of Abib is the first Scriptural Month. See Exodus 12:2. Pesach or Passover is on Abib 14, and six days before was Abib 8, as shown above.
MARTHA SERVES SUPPER & MARYAM ANOINTS MESSIAH
ABIB 9: This was on the night after Messiah’s arrival at Bethany. Remember, a new day starts as night sets in–not at midnight.
So they made Him a supper there, and Martha served, while Al’auzar was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
— YahuChanan 12:2
Then Maryam took a pound of costly perfume of nard, anointed the feet of יהושע, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
— YahuChanan 12:3
On the next day a great crowd who had come to the festival, when they heard that was coming to Yarushalam, took the branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and were crying out, “Hushiy’auh-Na! Blessed is He who is coming in the Name of יהוה, the Sovereign of Yashar’Al!” And, having found a young donkey, יהושע sat on it, as it has been written: “Do not fear, daughter of Tsiyun, see, your Sovereign is coming, sitting on the colt of a donkey.”
— YahuChanan 12:12-14
This next day was Abib 10 – the same day YAH commands His people to set aside the chosen Lamb for Passover.
The observance of “Palm Sunday” is not rooted in Scripture.
- THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY WAS ON SHABBAT
- MESSIAH DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK
The observance of “Holy Thursday,” “Good Friday,” “Holy Saturday,” and “Easter Sunday” does not align with Scripture.
And taking it [the body of Messiah] down, he [Joseph] wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, where no one was yet laid. And it was Preparation day, and the Sabbath was approaching.
— Luke 23:53-54
Passover & Feast of Unleavened Bread
Messiah was killed and buried on Passover day, Abib 14. The day after Passover marks the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Abib 15. Each year, this day is observed as an annual Sabbath, according to the Scriptures.
Messiah was laid in the tomb just before the annual Sabbath, the first of two annual sabbaths during Passover Week.
And when the Shabbat was past, Maryam from Magdala, and Mariym the mother of Ya’auqub, and Shalamah bought spices, to go and anoint Him.
— Mark 16:1
According to Scripture, no servile work and no buying and selling should take place on the annual festival Sabbaths, just as these activities are forbidden on the weekly Sabbath. Therefore, the women had to wait until Abib 16 to buy
the spices.
WOMEN RESTED ON THE SABBATH
Buying and selling are permitted on the regular weekdays that fall between the festival Sabbaths.
And having returned, they prepared spices and perfumes. And they rested on the Shabbat according to the command.
— Luke 23:56
According to Scripture, no work at all should be done on the weekly Sabbath, so the women had to prepare the spices and perfumes before the Sabbath arrived.
HE WAS NOT IN THE TOMB ON THE FIRST DAY
Messiah rose just before the end of the weekly Shabbat, fulfilling the “3 days and 3 nights” prophecy.
And on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. And having entered, they did not find the body of the Master יהושע.
— Luke 24:1-3
FORESHADOWING IN GENESIS
THE BAKER AND THE CUP BEARER
The story of the life of Yahuseph (Joseph) foreshadows the Messianic role of our Master and Deliverer. While Yahuseph was in prison, two of Pharoah’s servants dreamed strange dreams, that Yahuseph was able to interpret by the Set-Apart Spirit. The two dreams represent the two pathways we can choose: life or death.
THE CUPBEARER: LIFE
He saw a vine with three branches, which budded, blossomed, and brought forth ripe grapes. He pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. Yahuseph interpreted that within three days Pharaoh would restore him to his place as chief cupbearer.
THE BAKER: DEATH
He saw three white baskets on his head, and in the uppermost basket all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on his head. Yahuseph interpreted that in three days, Pharaoh would hang him on a tree, and the birds would eat his flesh from him. The dreams also contained two important symbols: bread and wine. Passover reminds us of the choice we are called to make in this life. Choose this day who you will serve: choose life! (Jos 24:15 & Deu 30:19)
Receive the free gift offered by Messiah through the shedding of His own blood – the forgiveness of sins – and take hold of the promise of eternal life in the Kingdom of the Most High YAH!
“I have called the heavens and the earth as witnesses today against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore you shall choose life, so that you live, both you and your seed…
— Debarim / Deuteronomy 30:19
“And if it seems evil in your eyes to serve יהוה, choose for yourselves this day whom you are going to serve, whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But I and my house, we serve יהוה.”
— Joshua 24:15
AN APPEAL TO CHOOSE LIFE AND BLESSING!
MESSIAH DIED SO WE CAN LIVE FOREVER IN HIM!
Free booklet: 3 Days & 3 Nights