EASTER – THE TIMING OF JESUS CRUCIFIXION, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION

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We know that God chose the Feast Day of Passover for the time of Jesus’ Crucifixion as Jesus was the prophesied Passover Lamb.

“And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” Mark 14:12

“For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Passover began at sundown and ended the following day at sundown. Jesus kept the Passover with his disciples and then was arrested later that night. After daybreak, the next morning he was questioned by Pontius Pilate, tortured, crucified, then hurriedly entombed just before the next sunset when the “high day” the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. It has been shown that in the year Jesus was crucified that the Passover Meal was eaten on a Tuesday night and that Wednesday sunset marked the beginning of the “high day”, the day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Jesus, then, was crucified and entombed on Wednesday afternoon, Mark tells us that after the “high day” Sabbath, which that year began Wednesday evening at sundown and ended Thursday evening at sundown, the women bought spices to anoint Jesus’ body. Luke then tells us that the women prepared the spices on Friday and after that, they rested on the weekly Sabbath which was from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. Matthew tells us that the women went to the tomb after the Sabbath.

Jesus was crucified and entombed on a Wednesday. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb on the first day of the week, Sunday, while it was still dark and she sees an empty tomb, so Jesus has risen before the start of the first day of the week as the day does not start until sunrise. As we are told Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40) we can conclude that Jesus emerged from the tomb on Saturday at Sunset.

Let us worship God according to Biblical truth, not human tradition.

DO YOU WANT INNER PEACE?

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 Until individuals have peace with God through Christ’s shed blood there can be no inner peace.

The inner struggles of our nature erupt into conflict, which may even rise to the level of war. It began when Cain raised his hand against his brother Abel, committing the first murder. It is what causes wars among nations.

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” James 4:1-3

The memorial of the Jewish Passover prophetically pointed ahead to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, the Saviour of all those prepared to put their trust in Him as Saviour and Lord.

“Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb has been sacrificed. Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Christ is our Passover. He died for the sins of humanity and is alive today. He is your King and through Him, we can have peace. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to indwell every believer to enable us to live the Christian life, He is your counsellor, your comforter and your teacher. He will guide you into all truth. He will produce the fruit of the Spirit in your life: love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, kindness and self-control. He provides the spiritual gifts for ministry; wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

A lamp requires oil (Holy Spirit) to function. Our spirit was always meant to be a vessel for the Holy Spirit. When Adam sinned the Holy Spirit immediately departed his spirit. He died spiritually first and then physically he died aged 930 years. When we repent and accept Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf we are born again by the Holy Spirit indwelling our spirit. To have the Holy Spirit indwell your spirit is worth everything.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:45

EASTER: JESUS AS OUR PASSOVER LAMB

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According to the annual pattern that God gave Israel, the day we call ‘Palm Sunday’ was Lamb Selection Day! They were to choose an unblemished male lamb and keep it until the fourteenth day of the month when it would be killed at twilight for Passover. Exodus 12:2-6

Jesus entered Jerusalem at the same time the Passover lambs were being selected. He withstood days of interrogation, just as the lambs, too, were being thoroughly inspected for any faults. Then at the same time the Passover lambs were being sacrificed, Jesus was being nailed to a cross, the final sacrifice for all mankind. He was truly the ‘Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.’ John 1:19

Pause to revere Jesus: “…you were…redeemed with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” 1 Peter 1:18-19

The Passover Lamb

“God commanded the priests of Israel to sacrifice two offerings daily, one in the morning, at the 3rd hour which was 9:00 am and one at the ninth hour of the day which was 3:00 pm. Jesus was hung on the cross at the exact time the priests were sacrificing the morning burnt offering. At 3:00 pm the Passover Lamb, the Lord Jesus was slain, as Jesus breathed his last! On Day of Atonement, the high priest would declare after the evening sacrifice, “It is finished!” Jesus our High Priest, cried out with every ounce left in his physical being, “It is finished!” This statement literally meant, “Paid in full!” Jesus purchased us and brought us into his glorious inheritance!” (Dr Jason Hubbard, Lamb’s Reformation, 2017, p.43)

Jesus’ exemplified a ‘heart of humility’, the sweet and lowly gentleness recognised as the mark of the Lamb of God.”  Jesus, the Lord of all, became the servant of all.

As we approach the end of the age, we must see and encounter the face of Jesus as the Lamb! Twenty-eight times in the book of revelation, Jesus is revealed as the Worthy Lamb! Do we really comprehend what Jesus did for us when He became a man on His earth? The extent of His love for us. How do we respond to such love?

“God the Father took His eternal wrath, condensed it, and emptied it into His cup. He distilled eternal judgement, the very lake of fire, hell’s blazing fury and then asked His Son to drink the cup of wrath on our behalf.” Dr Jason Hubbard, Lamb’s Reformation, 2017, pp. 29

“My soul is deeply grieved and overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” After going a little farther, He fell to the ground [distressed by the weight of His spiritual burden] and began to pray that if it were possible [in the Father’s will], the hour [of suffering and death for the sins of mankind] might pass from Him. He was saying, ‘Abba, Father! All things are possible for You; take this cup [of judgement] away from Me; but not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:33-36 AMP