What Day Was Jesus Crucified?
Two Major Views
The Friday View --This is the traditional view that Jesus was crucified at 9 AM on Friday, buried before Sundown, and raised on early Sunday morning.
The Wednesday View -- This view is built of Matthew 12:40 and requires two non-traditional elements:
“Sabbaths" that Passover week.
That Jesus was raised on Saturday evening, due to two reasons:
Three days and three nights requires it.
Matthew 28:1 implies that Jesus was raised on the Sabbath.
“Wednesday" proponents believe that it is a matter of literally reading the Bible and that faithful Christians must accept the Wednesday view.
Major Support For the Friday View
The Crucifixion Accounts Themselves
Luke 23:53-24:2 -- No hint of two Sabbaths
Day 1 -- vv. 53-56a -- Nissan 14
Day 2 -- vv. 56b- Nissan 15, the Sabbath, and Exodus 20:10.
Day 3 -- vv. 1-2 -- Nissan 16, the first day of the week.
Mark 15:42-16:2 -- No hint of two Sabbaths
Day 1 -- vv. 42-47 -- Note the day before the Sabbath - Nissan 14
Day 2 -- not mentioned
Day 3 -- vv. 1-2 -- Note: when the Sabbath was past Nissan 16
John 19:31, 42, 20:1 -- No hint of two Sabbaths
Day 1 -- It was the preparation (v. 31, 42)-- Nissan 14
“high" Sabbath -- Nissan 15
Day 3 -- The first day (19:42-20:1) -- Nissan 16
Matthew 27:60-28:1 -- No hint of two Sabbaths
Day 1 -- The burial (vv. 60-61) -- Nissan 14
Day 2 -- The Sabbath insurance policy (vv. 62-66). Note the words after three days (v. 63) are met with until the third day (v. 64).
Day 3 -- The first day (28:1). Concerning the problematic phrase, in the end of the Sabbath, simply move the period! Doing so harmonizes with the rest of Scripture.
“third day" is found 52 times in the Bible, tied with “seventh day," and far surpassing others.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 -- the third day according to the scriptures. What Scriptures? Could it be Leviticus 23:1-11? Considering that Christ is the first fruits, this would make perfect sense.
Genesis 1:13 is utterly clear on the third day.
Matthew 16:21 -- why would we not use the Genesis 1:13 definition? If we won't use Genesis 1:13, will we use Luke 13:32?
Luke 24:21 -- could anything be clearer?
Using these clear references (and dozens more), could there be any doubt that Sunday is the third day from Friday?
Major Support For the Wednesday View
This view would never come into being without Matthew 12:40 (and see Jonah 1:17).
My premise: we have been so persuaded by theological parroting that we fail to read this passage for what it says, and in doing so we are forced to create a scenario that rejects the clear teaching of dozens of passages.
The assumption made about this passage: that the heart of the earth means the tomb.
Three things to question the assumption:
Does the context of the passage support the assumption?
Are there other passages that define the term heart of the earth?
“heart of the _" is used 27 times.
It is never about cardiology, always used as metaphor.
“the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate."
Every Jews (and most Romans) would have understood Jerusalem to be the heart of the earth.
How did the original audience understand the term?
They certainly did not understand it as his time in the tomb, for they did not even understand that He was going to die (Lk. 9:51, 12:50).
Why It Matters
Because there is too much false accusation about early believers as it relates to timing, and this adds to it.
Because we need to learn basic Biblical hermeneutics:
One passage cannot negate other passages.
Clear passages interpret difficult passages.
The whole counsel of God is required for a full understanding.
