The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet #4509

My highlighted verses: John 19:31  The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away

The Feast of Unleavened (an high day, i.e. an annual Sabbath day) begins at sunset on the 15th day of the first month, 15th Nisan. Now can you believe that these hateful, murderous, Kenites, want to have the bodies taken down from the crosses before sunset, so they are not hanging there on their sabbath. It's OK to murder, but not to break the sabbath laws!

So they go to Pilate and ask that the legs of the "criminals" be broken to help them die faster! Nice people.

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.

We pick up the action three days later...

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.
It is commonly taught that Jesus rose at "sunrise" on Easter Sunday morning, but then what else is new? It is also commonly taught that He was crucified on what the churches call "Good Friday".  Both traditional teachings are Biblically incorrect, but then again, what else is new?

Editors Note: Matthew 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth

Jesus was crucified and became the Passover Lamb on a Wednesday and was placed in the tomb just before sunset, which would have begun the new day, Thursday, which was a High Sabbath, the First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th of Nisan. He [His body] was in the grave three days and three nights as it is written.
1st Day & Night = Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.
2nd Day & Night = Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.
3rd Day & Night = Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
Notice in verse one that when Mary arrived at the sepulcher that it was STILL DARK and the stone was already rolled away and He was gone! Of course we know that only His flesh died, not He Himself, for He was life. So where do you suppose He had been? The answer is given to us in 1 Pet. 3:18-20.
1 Peter 3:18
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Only the flesh was put to death.
[19] By which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Remember that Jesus had to pay the price in order for sins to be forgiven, making redemption and salvation possible. All those who had passed through this flesh age and died, the whole way back to Noah's time, meaning all the way back to the beginning, were only now able to "wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb".
[20] Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Let's return to John 20:1 and read it again.
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.
Just as it was not necessary for the linen to be removed in order for Christ to walk out of the tomb, it was also not necessary for the "stone" to be removed. It was the kenites of the chief priests and Pharisees that had the "stone" placed there. This stone is symbolic of their "rock", the king of Tyrus of Ezek. 28 (Tyrus means rock), i.e. Satan, and the Song of Moses in Deut. 32, which the overcomers in Rev. 15 will be singing, declares that their rock is not our Rock. Deut. 32:31 "For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges." Here's Matthew's account of who had the stone placed at the tomb:
Matthew 27:62
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

[63] Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

[64] Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

This ultimately worked against them.
[65] Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

[66] So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

They could not contain Him with their puny "rock".

So Mary came to the tomb while it was still dark and when she saw that the stone was rolled away, she ran to Peter and John and told them that Jesus is gone. The care and reverence of her remarks suggests she thought Joseph and Nicodemus had moved His body to another location.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

This "American Wisdom Series" pamphlet

is.

Published by:

Rhine Publishing Co.
E-mail address - americanwisdomseries@verizon.net

If you would like to have your essay published
as part of the American Wisdom Series
submit your manuscript to Rhine Publishing Co
at the address above for consideration.

Click Here to Return to "The American Wisdom Series" home page.