Dear Explorer,
I want us to finish our discussion of the crucifixion by reminding you that Jesus died on the Friday of the Jewish Passover. This was the Judean Day of Preparation. On this day, each Jewish family would kill a lamb so that its blood would cover and protect the people from death. We've already talked about this on Day 264. Or you can read about the original Passover in Exodus 12:1-28.
This Day of Preparation was a holy day for each Jewish family. The family would work together to sacrifice the lamb, the blood was sprinkled on the doorpost in the shape of a cross, and the rest of the Seder meal had to be prepared. The other primary job for the day was to remove anything that would symbolize sin in their home. So, all dirt and mold and yeast had to be removed. The family scrubbed and scrubbed to make their house clean for the Passover celebration.
So, on this day when every Jewish family living in Judea was focused on getting rid of “sin”, and every household was sacrificing the Passover lamb, Jesus died.
The Lamb of God was sacrificed exactly as God had told the Israelites 1500 years earlier. Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 emphasize that great care should be taken to see that no bones were broken on the Passover lamb. Jesus was the Passover Lamb that takes away the sins of the world so that we can escape death (separation from God) and live in Heaven for all eternity.
Joseph and Nicodemus hastily laid Jesus in the nearby tomb and quickly wrapped His body with the cloth and spices.
Then the Sabbath began at sundown and a hush fell over the city of Jerusalem as each family began the Seder feast. Each family was focused on the Passover Lamb and the coming Messiah.
Friday night and all day Saturday, the Sabbath was quietly celebrated. No one worked, there was little movement in the streets. Supposedly everyone was in worship.
Where do you think the Pharisees and Chief Priests were?
Read Matthew 27:62-66
They were talking to Pilate about Jesus! What did they want?
Why?
Isn't it interesting that the Chief Priests and Pharisees were thinking about Jesus' teachings!
Now we've talked before that the Jews counted time differently than we do. If Jesus died on Friday afternoon and said he would rise again after 3 days, when would you expect that to happen?
The Bible says 3 days in the grave! How do they figure that? The Jews don't count the interval of time, they count the number of days involved. And remember that their 24-hour day went from sundown to sundown.
Day 1 Friday because he was placed in the tomb before sundown Friday night.
Day 2 Saturday, their Sabbath and
Day 3 started at sundown Saturday night. Jesus arose on the 3rd day or about dawn on Sunday morning!
Hallelujah! But we'll save that for next time!
What 2 steps did they take to “secure” the grave?
They posted a guard of Roman soldiers. We don't know how many there were, but there were plenty to stand guard 24 x 7.
And they put Pilate's seal on the tomb which meant that no one should break the seal except under Pilate's orders. This was done with wax back then. Today, the government would put tape over a door. It would say “posted” and would include the name of the government official who had ordered that door to stay shut.
We know that the disciples had scattered and were probably in hiding. Because it was the Sabbath, they were probably at their homes, or the homes of other followers in Jerusalem. I doubt they would have risked going to the temple or local synagogues at this point. But we really don't know anything about how they passed that Sabbath, except to know that it was one of grief and confusion and fear for their safety.
In His service, dale
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