"Six Days Before The Passover" (John
12:1). This Is Appendix
156 From The Companion Bible.
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 :-
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.
- This has naturally caused the futher 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.
- We
have therefore the following facts furnished for our sure guidance:
- The
"high day" of John 19:31 was the first
day of the feast.
- The
"first day of the feast" was on the 15th day of Nisan.
- The
15th day of Nisan, commenced at sunset on what we should call the
14th.
- "Six days before the passover" (John
12:1) takes us back
to the 9th day of Nisan.
- "After two days is the passover" (Matthew
26:2. Mark
14:1) takes us to
the 13th day of Nisan.
- "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:
- 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.
- 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 difinitely 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.
- 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 afterwards. 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.
- 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.
THE SIXTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 9th DAY OF
NISAN. (Our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.)
|
|
MATTHEW. |
MARK. |
LUKE. |
JOHN. |
The
Lord approaches Jerusalem from Jericho. |
|
|
19:1-10 |
|
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 |
|
He
sends two disciples apenanti for an
"ass" and a "colt" (two
animals). |
21:1-7 |
|
|
|
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 |
THE FIFTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 10th DAY OF
NISAN. (Our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.)
|
|
MATTHEW. |
MARK. |
LUKE. |
JOHN. |
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 |
At
this supper the first of two anointings took place (Appendix
158). |
|
|
|
12:3 - 11 |
THE FOURTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 11th DAY OF
NISAN. (Our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset.) the Gentile
"Palm Sunday". |
|
MATTHEW. |
MARK. |
LUKE. |
JOHN. |
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- |
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 |
|
|
THE THIRD DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 12th DAY OF
NISAN. (Our Sunday sunset to Monday sunset.) |
|
MATTHEW. |
MARK. |
LUKE. |
JOHN. |
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 |
|
In
the Temple. Further teaching, "Certain
Greeks". |
|
|
19:47- |
12:20 - 50 |
Opposition of Rulers. |
|
11:18 |
19:-47, 48 |
|
He
goes out of the city (probably to Bethany; see Luke 21:37, 38
below). |
|
11:19 |
|
|
THE SECOND DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 13th DAY OF
NISAN. (Our Monday sunset to Tuesday sunset.)
|
|
MATTHEW. |
MARK. |
LUKE. |
JOHN. |
In
the mornig (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 |
|
The
first great prophecy, in the Temple (Appendix
155). |
|
|
21:5 - 36 |
|
(Parenthetical statement as to the Lord's custom during the
last week). |
|
|
21:37, 38 |
|
The
second great prophecy, on the Mount of Olives. |
24:1 -51 |
13:1 - 37 |
|
|
The
second great prophecy, continued (see Appendix 155). |
25:1 - 46 |
|
|
|
"After two days is the Passover". |
26:1 - 5 |
14:1, 2 |
|
|
HE RETURNS
TO BETHATNY, 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 |
|
|
THE DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 14th DAY OF NISAN -
"THE PREPARATION DAY" - THE DAY OF THE
CRUCIFIXION. (Our Tuesday sunset to Wednesday
sunset.) |
|
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 |
|
"The even was come" (our Tuesday after sunset)
when the plot for the betrayal was ripe for execution. |
26:20 |
14:17 |
|
|
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 |
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 |
|
The
first prophecy of Peter's denials (Appendix
160). |
|
|
|
13:31 - 38 |
The
strife; who should be the greatest, etc.. |
|
|
22:24 - 30 |
|
The
second prophecy of Peter's denials (Appendix
160). |
|
|
22:31 - 34 |
|
The
final appeal to His first commission (Luke9:3). |
|
|
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 |
The
third prophecy of Peter's denial. (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 |
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 |
And
"led with Him" two "malefactors"
(kakourgoi) (Appendix
164). |
|
|
23:32, 33 |
19:18 |
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 |
"It was the third hour, and they crucified
Him" (our 9 a.m. Wednesday). |
|
15:25, 26 |
|
|
"Then were there two robbers"
(lestai) crucified with Him"(Appendix
164). |
27:38 |
15:27, 28 |
|
|
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 |
"The sixth hour" (our Wednesday noon) and the
darkness (Appendix
165). |
27:45 - 49 |
15:33 |
23:44, 45 |
|
"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 |
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 |
"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 susnset 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.)
|
MATTHEW |
MARK |
LUKE |
JOHN |
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 |
[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.
NOTE
1 The words in Mark
14:12 and Luke
22:7 refer to
"the first day of unleavened bread", which was the 14th day
of Nisan, and therefore "the preparation day". That is why
the Lord goes on to tell the two disciples to go and make
preparation for the Passover. |