HOW MANY HOURS WAS JESUS DEAD ON THE CROSS?

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Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#41
I was taught Jesus did not die on the weekly Passover. But that there's a Sabbath day called a high day that is a special sabbath that can occur on any day of the week, and not just Saturday. I don't know anything more about this. We do all realize we can't get 72 hours from the way most Churches teach it.
Yes that High sabbath is the first day of unleavened bread.. That was why they where rushing to bury Jesus because they could not leave His body hanging on the cross on a sabbath because that was considered a curse.. The 7 days of unleavened bread start the day after Passover each year .. Both the first and last days of that 7 day period are High sabbaths.. These High sabbaths are linked to dates .. Not days of the week.. The first day of unleavened bread is always on the 15th of nisan the day after Passover..

Of course you can get 72 hours of you know how the week went..

Jesus was executed on a Wednesday the 14th and was buried just before sundown the start of the 15th Thursday.. Then He fulfilled the prophecy of Jonah by rising from the dead at the start of the first day of the week.. So Jesus was raised from the dead on Saturday sundown.. So from Wednesday sundown to Saturday sundown 3 days and 3 nights ,, 72 hours..
 
Jun 15, 2020
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#42
Yes that High sabbath is the first day of unleavened bread.. That was why they where rushing to bury Jesus because they could not leave His body hanging on the cross on a sabbath because that was considered a curse.. The 7 days of unleavened bread start the day after Passover each year .. Both the first and last days of that 7 day period are High sabbaths.. These High sabbaths are linked to dates .. Not days of the week.. The first day of unleavened bread is always on the 15th of nisan the day after Passover..

Of course you can get 72 hours of you know how the week went..

Jesus was executed on a Wednesday the 14th and was buried just before sundown the start of the 15th Thursday.. Then He fulfilled the prophecy of Jonah by rising from the dead at the start of the first day of the week.. So Jesus was raised from the dead on Saturday sundown.. So from Wednesday sundown to Saturday sundown 3 days and 3 nights ,, 72 hours..
I come up with the same data from a book called Jesus Christ Our Passover written by VP Wierwille.
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#44
Jesus observed Passover on the correct Night.. Biblical days start at sundown and end at sundown.. So the night comes before the day.. So on the night of the 14th Jesus observed Passover with his apostles then he went to the garden and was arrested on the same night .. When morning came he was sentenced to death and died in the afternoon of the 14th Passover..
In your scenario, Jesus would have eaten the Passover meal on the evening of the 13th ... end of 13th day/beginning of 14th day. That is one day early.

The Passover meal is eaten in the evening of the 14th day ... end of 14th day/beginning of 15th day.

Jesus, knowing the Feast days, would not have eaten the Passover meal on a day other than what God had prescribed.

Jesus knew He was the Passover Lamb that year:

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.


Jesus did eat an intimate supper with His disciples, knowing that He would be betrayed, taken into custody, crucified.




Adstar said:
The Jews had the Passover meal at the wrong time.. They had the Passover meal on the night of the 15th.. And as far as i know they still do..
The Passover meal is eaten as 14th day ends and as the 15th day begins. The 15th day is the first day of the Feast of Unleavened bread. Unleavened bread is eaten with the Passover meal:


Exodus 12:

5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.


Leviticus 23:

5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.

And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.


Deuteronomy 16:

2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.

3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.

4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.



 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
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#45
Jesus observed Passover on the correct Night.. Biblical days start at sundown and end at sundown.. So the night comes before the day.. So on the night of the 14th Jesus observed Passover with his apostles then he went to the garden and was arrested on the same night .. When morning came he was sentenced to death and died in the afternoon of the 14th Passover.. The Jews had the Passover meal at the wrong time.. They had the Passover meal on the night of the 15th.. And as far as i know they still do..
Yes, you're right - one of the Passover events must have been added by the Jews. In the first Passover meal Jesus had with His disciples,, He was arrested in the evening, it sounds like.
His trial started the next morning. Matthew 27:1
He was crucified: On the same day of His trial: Matthew 28.
On the evening of His trial & crucifixion. Joseph of Arimathea took His body and put it into the grave Matthew 27:57 It sounds like He died just before the evening.
The "day of preparation" was on a Saturday, it said earlier in the chapter.
The authorities didn't even want to crucify Him on their "Passover Feast day" - so it's clear Jesus died after the first Passover meal, at least. it looks like. Mark 14:2


John 19:31 makes it sound like Jesus died on a Friday. And yet He was in the grave for 3 days. I can't see how He could have been raised from the dead on Sunday, if that's so. Puzzling!
One gospel book says He was crucified in "the third hour" (Mark 15:25)- and Matthew, Mark, and Luke said He died in "the ninth hour" (Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 & Luke 23:44). Whatever time that was is unclear to me. But do know that in Old Testament Passovers, the Passover lamb was to be killed in the evening - Numbers 9:5.

It's my bedtime - so I'll go through what you said again and also the rest of the gospel books of the Bible on the subject probably tomorrow.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#47
In your scenario, Jesus would have eaten the Passover meal on the evening of the 13th ... end of 13th day/beginning of 14th day. That is one day early.

The Passover meal is eaten in the evening of the 14th day ... end of 14th day/beginning of 15th day.

Jesus, knowing the Feast days, would not have eaten the Passover meal on a day other than what God had prescribed.
Until you understand that in the Bible the 24 hour day starts at sundown.. Not at sunrise.. You will not be able to understand..

In the passion week Jesus and His disciples celebrated passover which is commonly called the last supper on the night of the 14th and Jesus was executed on the day of the 14th.. Night preceeds Day in the Bible..
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#48
John 19:31 makes it sound like Jesus died on a Friday. And yet He was in the grave for 3 days. I can't see how He could have been raised from the dead on Sunday, if that's so.
There where Two Sabbaths on the week of the execution of Jesus.. The first was on the 15th of nissan called the first day of unleaved bread,, This Sabbath started on wednesday sundown and went to thursday sundown.. Jesus remained in the toimb untill sundown saturday which was the end of the Normal weekly Sabbath..


Puzzling!
One gospel book says He was crucified in "the third hour" (Mark 15:25)- and Matthew, Mark, and Luke said He died in "the ninth hour" (Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34 & Luke 23:44).
Mark's third hour was when Jesus was crucifed Not when He actually died.. Crucified meaning being nailed to a cross.. we read..

(Mark 15:25-34) "And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. {26} And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. {27} And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. {28} And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. {29} And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, {30} Save thyself, and come down from the cross. {31} Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. {32} Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. {33} And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. {34} And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#49
In the passion week Jesus and His disciples celebrated passover which is commonly called the last supper on the night of the 14th and Jesus was executed on the day of the 14th.. Night preceeds Day in the Bible..
If the last supper was in the evening on the day prior to the 14th, then the last supper was held at the end of the 13th day/beginning of the 14th day.

We know from Scripture that the Passover meal was to be eaten in the evening of the 14th day ... end of 14th day/beginning of 15th day:

Leviticus 23:

5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.

6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.


Unleavened bread is eaten as part of the Passover meal:

Exodus 12:

6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

...

8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.


And the Feast of unleavened bread begins on the 15th day and the first day of the Feast is a high day in which no servile work was to be done. So, as they partake of the Passover meal, unleavened bread is a part of that meal.


The unleavened bread commemorates the children of Israel having been delivered out of Egypt:

Exodus 12:17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.


The Passover meal commemorates the angel of the Lord having passed over the houses of the children of Israel

Exodus 12:26-27 And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.



 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
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#50
There where Two Sabbaths on the week of the execution of Jesus.. The first was on the 15th of nissan called the first day of unleaved bread,, This Sabbath started on wednesday sundown and went to thursday sundown.. Jesus remained in the toimb untill sundown saturday which was the end of the Normal weekly Sabbath..




Mark's third hour was when Jesus was crucifed Not when He actually died.. Crucified meaning being nailed to a cross.. we read..

(Mark 15:25-34) "And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. {26} And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. {27} And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. {28} And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. {29} And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, {30} Save thyself, and come down from the cross. {31} Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. {32} Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. {33} And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. {34} And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
It's getting a bit clearer to me, but I'm still working on it. Going through that part in each of the gospels at this time. He rose on the first day of the week, I'll mention. So to me that day doesn't sound like a Saturday.
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#51
It's getting a bit clearer to me, but I'm still working on it. Going through that part in each of the gospels at this time. He rose on the first day of the week, I'll mention. So to me that day doesn't sound like a Saturday.
The text tells us that on the first day of the week, very early in the morning when it was still dark, Jesus was already risen:

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mark 16:1-2 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.



 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#52
It's getting a bit clearer to me, but I'm still working on it. Going through that part in each of the gospels at this time. He rose on the first day of the week, I'll mention. So to me that day doesn't sound like a Saturday.
The first Biblical day of the weeks starts at Saturday sunset...
 

Adstar

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#53
If the last supper was in the evening on the day prior to the 14th, then the last supper was held at the end of the 13th day/beginning of the 14th day.
No..
I do not know any other way to explain the Biblical day and how it is different to the way we calculate days now and even the way the Romans calculated the day.. I have explained it twice but you have been unable to understand.. So be it..
 
Mar 23, 2016
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#54
No..
I do not know any other way to explain the Biblical day and how it is different to the way we calculate days now and even the way the Romans calculated the day.. I have explained it twice but you have been unable to understand.. So be it..
Adstar ... I understand that the days begin in the evening. You are the one who needs to go back and re-calculate.

Since Jesus died on the 14th day at approximately 3:00 in the afternoon, and if, as you have indicated, He ate the last supper on the evening before the afternoon of the 14th, He ate His last supper at the end of the 13th day/beginning of the 14th day.

The Passover meal was to be eaten at the end of 14th day/beginning of 15th day:

Leviticus 23:
5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
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#55
No..
I do not know any other way to explain the Biblical day and how it is different to the way we calculate days now and even the way the Romans calculated the day.. I have explained it twice but you have been unable to understand.. So be it..
Yes, well i can't help it - oh well! The Bible doesn't tell us how the Jewish calendar compares with the Roman calendar or our calendar. So it's no surprise people can't agree on how they compare. According to Genesis, the Sabbath day was the last day of the week. But who knows? Maybe the Jews changed their calendar from time to time too. Hard to tell as we didn't live in the time of Jesus.
Gen 2:2-3

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
KJV
It's clear that He was dead for 3 days, as the Bible makes that clear, though.
 

MyrtleTrees

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Sep 5, 2014
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#56
where is the verse that states the preparation was on Saturday? thanks.
I don't remember what I said before about it, but I see now that the day of preparation was before the Sabbath:
Mark 15:42

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
KJV
But I see upon looking, that the preparation of the Passover was another event - I don't know what day of the week it was on for sure, though it is described as being the day before the Sabbath.
And Jesus died on this day, which was before the Sabbath day
Mark 15:37

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
KJV


John 19:14

14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
KJV
So this implies that Jesus died on a Passover day (there seems to have been two Passover feast events: (1) The one Jesus had with His disciples a few days earlier and (2) The Passover Day on which Jesus died. Somehow the Jews must have added a different Passover meal in addition to the original one told about throughout the Old Testament.
The Bible doesn't explain any differences there may have been between the Jewish calendar days of the week and the Roman ones, either - which makes it difficult to know for sure just what days all these events took place on. But at least we can know Jesus was dead for 3 days, as the Bible is very clear on that!
:
 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
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#57
The book I read had him dead on Wednesday and already up come early Sunday.
I've concluded it seems evident the Bible doesn't make clear (or state in words clearly what days are meant throughout the story) according to the Roman calendar or ours - what days exactly the events of his arrest, crucifixion, burial and rising from the dead took place. Sure there are explanations online - but they aren't from the Bible and so are based on human assumption, I think. All that's clear that I can think of are these things: (1) He died before Sabbath (on someone;s calendar definition of Sabbath day (2) He rose on the 1st day of the week - I'd think that would refer to Sunday (unless it was a different day back then that was regarded as the first day of the week), at least if going by the fact that Jesus rested from creating, on the 7th day - which at the time of the creation - meant the last day of the week -Genesis 2:2, and that He was dead for 3 days for sure -as that is made very clear in the Bible - Matthew 17:23 & Matthew 12:40
 

MyrtleTrees

Junior Member
Sep 5, 2014
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#58
I do not agree. I see nothing in the Scriptures that say Jesus was killed in the morning after they arrested him.
You're right - by now, I see it wasn't morning, but evening when He died.
But it was still hard to figure out what days were in which He was dead. The Bible doesn't explain how to compare their calendar they were using, with ours. The only places ones can find that is not in the Bible - so hard to tell how trustworthy such a knowledge source is.
I studied the story through Mark, today. I color-coded the events to try to keep track of them.
(1) The first Passover Mark 14:12-54.
(2) Jesus took some disciples with Him up to the Mount of Olives, the next morning - Mark 14:26 I assume it was morning - I can't find the verse just now, but in the Old Testament, somewhere, it said that they were forbidden to go out of their houses until the morning after the day of the Passover was through.
(3) Jesus was arrested during His prayer time there in the Mount of Olives. Peter denied Him 3 times - evidently before the next morning came.
(4) He was brought to trial that morning, and then handed over to Pilate. After which He was shortly crucified. And Jesus died right after a period of 3 hours of darkness. Joseph of Arimathea came and took His body and put it into the tomb that evening. Which was evidently, the day before the "day of preparation" - whatever that means in that passage - either referring to the Sabbath Day or to the 2nd Passover Feast day.
(5) One thing clear is that He was dead for 3 days. Also he rose from the dead on "the first day of the week" - whatever day that might have been on our calendar.
Comment: Like what one Bible commentator said on the subject, He couldn't have died on a Friday and been dead 3 days and rose on the first day of the week, if that day means Sunday. Since 3 days don't fit in that time span.
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#59
Adstar ... I understand that the days begin in the evening. You are the one who needs to go back and re-calculate.

Since Jesus died on the 14th day at approximately 3:00 in the afternoon, and if, as you have indicated, He ate the last supper on the evening before the afternoon of the 14th, He ate His last supper at the end of the 13th day/beginning of the 14th day.

The Passover meal was to be eaten at the end of 14th day/beginning of 15th day:

Leviticus 23:5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
NO.. One last time.. The Passover day started at sundown tuesday Jesus had his passover / last supper with His apostles After Sundown tuesday.. Therefore Jesus had the passover meal on the right day on Passover AND was executed on the same day Passover..

If you cannot accept it then so be it..
 

Adstar

Senior Member
Jul 24, 2016
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#60
Yes, well i can't help it - oh well! The Bible doesn't tell us how the Jewish calendar compares with the Roman calendar or our calendar. So it's no surprise people can't agree on how they compare. According to Genesis, the Sabbath day was the last day of the week. But who knows? Maybe the Jews changed their calendar from time to time too. Hard to tell as we didn't live in the time of Jesus.
Gen 2:2-3

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
KJV
It's clear that He was dead for 3 days, as the Bible makes that clear, though.
Look back at post #53 my post was Not to you but to user reneweddaybyday..

It matters no if the Jews of the time changed the start of the day and conformed it to Roman tradition the important fact is the Bible declares what a Biblical day is and His Word is forever established.. The Jews did celebrate the weekly Sabbath on the last day of the week .. Friday sunset to Sunday sunset.. But for some unfathomable reason they decided to have the Passover on the wrong night the 15th of nisan instead of the correct night of the 14th of nisan.