John 13: 1a-2
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son to betray Him.
NOTE: This was not the Passover Seder but a meal preceding it.
13: 21, 25-30
When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” Then leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “LORD, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is he to who I shall give a piece of bread, when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast [Passover],” or that he should give something for the poor. Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.
NOTE: This was a particular night preceding Passover or before March/April 14.
John 18: 28
Then they led Jesus from Caiphas to the Praetorium [Pilate’s headquarters], and it was early morning [Friday]. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should not be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover [March/April 14].
NOTE: It seems that the Passover hadn’t been observed yet, before Jesus was already betrayed to be crucified.
John 19: 14a, 31a, 42
Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour [12 noon]. Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for the Sabbath was a high day). . . So they laid Jesus, because of the Preparation day, for the tomb was nearby.
NOTE: The Preparation Day was during sundown Thursday until dusk on Friday, so Jesus was crucified between the times of 12 noon until 3 PM on Friday. The first and seventh days of Unleavened Bread are also observed as a Sabbath Day because God commanded that no customary work was to be performed in them (Cp. Leviticus 23: 7-8).
Matthew 26: 17, 19
Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover.
NOTE: The Passover was celebrated first and then the feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated afterwards (Cp. Leviticus 23: 5-6).
Exodus 12: 17a, 18
So you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread. . . In the first month [Abib-“March/April”], on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.
NOTE: Leviticus 23: 5-6 says that the Feast of Passover was on the 14th day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread was on the 15th day, which probably had to do with the lunar/solar cycle and therefore the days were not fixed. The feast of Unleavened Bread does NOT precede the Passover, so this statement is a little curious or puzzling.
Matthew 26: 36; 27: 1
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death.
Matthew 27: 57-60, 62
Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also became a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body be given to him. When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and departed. On the next day which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate,
NOTE: Was the day after the Day of Preparation not the Passover, which was either observed as a Sabbath rest [“no work to be done”-Leviticus 23: 5-8] if not, then was it actually on the Sabbath Day? There is no mention about a concern over the bodies remaining on the cross during Sabbath, here.
Mark 14: 1, 12
After two days it was [would be] the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?”
NOTE: The author has the celebration all mixed up, too. The Passover lamb was obtained on the tenth day of the first month and then slain 4 days later on the fourteenth (Cp. Exodus 12: 2-3, 6, 8, 21). The Feast of Passover precedes the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the first day would be March 15th (Cp. Leviticus 23: 5-6).
Mark 14: 16-17
So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover. In the evening He came with the twelve.
Mark 15: 42-45
Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.
NOTE: This would be Thursday evening, and according to the author, Jesus had already been crucified (Cp. Mark 15: 39). This is the only narrative that specifically mentions the Preparation Day as the day before the Sabbath [see note on Matthew 27: 57-60, 62]. Also, there is no mention about a concern over the bodies remaining on the cross during Sabbath, also.
Luke 22: 1, 7
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover [lamb] must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we might eat”
NOTE: The author of Luke’s gospel must have used Mark’s sources because in both accounts the Passover and Feast of Unleavened bread are presented as essentially the same, along with the Passover lamb being slain whereas in the Torah these celebrations are distinct, although occurring one after the other with Passover as the first.
Luke 23: 44-46, 54
Now it was about the sixth hour [12 noon], and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour [3 PM]. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, he said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit. “ Having said this, He breathed His last. That was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath drew near.
NOTE: The Sabbath started on sundown Friday. There is no mention about a concern over the bodies remaining on the cross during Sabbath.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce ST. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
April 18, 2011
robertrandle51@yahoo.com
