"Six Days Before The
Passover" (John 12:1).
This
Is Appendix 156 From The Companion Bible.
We
are furnished by Scripture with certain facts and fixed points which, taken
together,
enable us (1) to determine the events which filled up the days of "the
last
week" of our
Lord's life on earth; (2) to fix the day of His crucifixion; and (3) to
ascertain
the duration of the time He remained in the tomb.
The
difficulties connected with these three have arisen (1) from not having noted
these
fixed points; (2) from the fact of Gentiles' not having been conversant with
the
law
concerning the three great feasts of the LORD; and (3) from not having reckoned
the
days as commencing (some six hours before our own) and running from sunset
to
sunset, instead of from midnight to midnight.
To
remove these difficulties, we must note :-
I. That
the first day of each of the three feasts. Passover, Pentecost, and
Tabernacles,
was " a holy convocation", a "sabbath" on which no servile
work
was to be done. See Leviticus 23:7, 24,
35. Compare Exodus 12:16.
"That
sabbath" and the "high day"
of John 19:31, was the "holy
convocation", the
first day of the feast, which quite overshadowed the
ordinary
weekly sabbath.
It
was called by the Jews Yom
tov = (Good day), and this is the greeting on
that
day throughout Jewry down to the present time.
This
great sabbath, having been mistaken from the earliest times for the
weekly sabbath, has led to all the confusion.
II. This has naturally caused the futher difficulty as to the Lord's
statement that
"even as
Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so
shall
the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three
nights" (Matthew
12:40). Now,
while it is quite correct to speak according to
Hebrew
idiom of "three days"
or "three years", while they are only parts of
three
days or three years, yet that idiom does not apply in a case like this,
where
"three nights"
are mentioned in addition to "three
days". It will be
noted
that the Lord not only definitely states this, but repeats the full
phraseology,
so that we may not mistake it. See the subject fully discussed in
Appendix
144.
III. We have therefore the following facts furnished for our sure
guidance:
1. The
"high day"
of John 19:31
was the first day of the feast.
2. The
"first day of the feast"
was on the 15th day of Nisan.
3. The
15th day of Nisan, commenced at sunset on what we should call
the
14th.
4. "Six
days before the passover"
(John 12:1) takes us back to the 9th
day
of Nisan.
5. "After
two days is the passover"
(Matthew 26:2. Mark 14:1) takes
us
to
the 13th day of Nisan.
6. "The
first day of the week", the day of the resurrection (Matthew
28:1, etc.), was from our Saturday sunset to
our Sunday sunset. This
fixes
the days of the week, just as the above fix the days of the
month, for:
7. Reckoning
back from this, "three days and three nights"
(Matthew
12:40), we arrive at the day of the burial,
which must have been before
sunset,
on the 14th of Nisan; that is to say, before our Wednesday
sunset.
8. This
makes the sixth day before the passover (the 9th day of Nisan) to
be
our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.
Therefore
Wednesday, Nisan 14th (commencing on the Tuesday at sunset),
was
"the preparation day", on which the crucifixion took place: for all four
Gospels
difinitely say that this was the day on which the Lord was buried
(before
our Wednesday sunset), "because it was the preparation [day]" the
bodies
should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, "for
that sabbath
day
was a high day", and, therefore, not the ordinary seventh day, or weekly
sabbath.
See John 19:31.
IV. It follows, therefore, that the Lord being crucified on "the
preparation day"
could
not have eaten of the Passover lamb, which was not slain until the
evening
of the 14th of Nisan (that is to say, afternoon). On that day the daily
sacrifice
was killed at the 6th hour (noon) and offered about the 7th hour (1 p.
m.).
The killing of the Passover lambs began directly afterwards. Thus it is
clear,
that if the killing of the Passover lambs did not commence until about
four
hours after our Lord had been hanging upon the Cross, and would not
have
been concluded at the ninth
hour (3 p.m.) when "He gave
up the
ghost;" -no "Passover
lamb" could have been eaten at the "last supper"
on
the
previous evening.
V. With
these facts before us, we are now in a position to fill in the several days
of
the Lord's last week with the events recorded in the Gospels. By noting
that
the Lord returned to Bethany (or to the Mount of Olives) each night of
that
week, we are able to determine both the several days and the events that
took
place in them.
THE SIXTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 9th DAY OF NISAN.
(Our
Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.)
MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
The
Lord approaches
Jerusalem
from Jericho. 19:1-10
He
passes our Thursday
night
at the house of
Zacchaeus
(Luke 19:5)
And
delivers the Parable
of
the Pounds.
19:11-27
He
proceeds toward
Jerusalem.
19:28
He
sends two disciples
apenanti for an "ass" and
a
"colt" (two animals).
21:1-7
And
makes His first entry
from
Bethphage (not
Bethany)
(Appendix 153).
21:8,9
He
is unexpected, and they
ask
"Who is this?"
21:10, 11
He
cleanses the Temple. 21:12 - 16
HE RETURNS
TO BETHANY.
21:17 12:1
THE FIFTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 10th DAY OF
NISAN.
(Our Friday sunset to
Saturday sunset.)
MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
The
Lord passes the
Sabbath
at Bethany; and
after
sunset (on our
Saturday),
the first of three
suppers
was made,
probably
at the house of
Lazarus,
in Bethany
(Appendix
157).
12:2
At
this supper the first of
two
anointings took place
(Appendix
158).
12:3 - 11
THE FOURTH DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 11th DAY OF
NISAN.
(Our Saturday sunset to
Sunday sunset.) the
Gentile "Palm Sunday".
MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
The
second, or triumphal
entry
into Jerusalem. He
sends
two disciples
(katenanti for a colt (one
animal).
(See
Appendix 153).
11:1 - 7 19:29 - 35
12:12-
The
Lord starts from
Bethany
(not Bethphage)
and
is met by multitudes
from
Jerusalem (Appendix
153)
11:8 -10 19:36 - 40
12:12 - 19
He
weeps over the city. 19:41 - 44
He
enters the Temple,
looks
around. 11:11-
And
RETURNS TO
BETHANY
11:-11
THE THIRD DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 12th DAY OF
NISAN.
(Our Sunday sunset to Monday
sunset.)
MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
In
the morning (our
Monday
a.m.) the Lord
returns
to Jerusalem.
21:18 11:12
The
Fig - tree cursed. 21:19 - 22 11:13 , 14
The
Temple. Further
cleansing.
11:15 - 17 19:45, 46
In
the Temple. Further
teaching,
"Certain
Greeks".
19:47- 12:20 - 50
Opposition
of Rulers. 11:18 19:-47, 48
He
goes out of the city
(probably
to Bethany; see
Luke
21:37, 38 below).
11:19
THE SECOND DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 13th DAY OF
NISAN.
(Our Monday sunset to Tuesday
sunset.)
MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
In
the mornig (our
Tuesday
a.m.) on the way
to
Jerusalem, the question
of
the disciples about the
Fig
Tree.
11:20 -26
In
Jerusalem again: and in
the
Temple. 21:23 - 27 11:27 - 33 20:1 - 8
In
Jerusalem teaching in
Parables;
and questions. 21:28 - 23:39 12:1 - 44 20:9 - 21:4
The
first great prophecy, in
the
Temple (Appendix
155).
21:5 - 36
(Parenthetical
statement as
to
the Lord's custom
during
the last week).
21:37, 38
The
second great
prophecy,
on the Mount of
Olives.
24:1 -51 13:1 - 37
The
second great
prophecy,
continued
(see
Appendix 155).
25:1 - 46
"After
two days is the
Passover". 26:1 - 5 14:1, 2
HE RETURNS
TO
BETHATNY, and is present
at
the second supper in the
house
of Simon the leper.
The
second Anointing. See
Appendix
157 and
Appendix
158.
26:6 - 13 14:3 - 9
THE DAY BEFORE THE PASSOVER, THE 14th DAY OF NISAN -
"THE PREPARATION DAY" - THE DAY OF THE
CRUCIFIXION.
(Our Tuesday sunset to
Wednesday sunset.)
MATTHEW. MARK. LUKE. JOHN.
The
plot of Judas Iscariot
to
betray the Lord. 26:14 - 16 14:10, 11 22:1 - 6
The
"preparation"for the
last
supper.1 26:17 - 19 14:121 -16 22:71 - 13
"The
even was
come" (our
Tuesday after
sunset)
when the plot for
the
betrayal was ripe for
execution.
26:20 14:17
The
last supper,
commencing
with the
washing
of the feet.
13:1 - 20
The
announcement of the
betrayal,
etc.. 26:21 - 25 14:18 - 21 13:21 - 30
The
supper eaten, the
"New
Covenant" made
(Jeremiah
31:31). The
lamb
abolished, bread and
wine
substituted.
26:26 - 29 14:22 - 25
22:14 - 23
The
first prophecy of
Peter's
denials (Appendix
160).
13:31 - 38
The
strife; who should be
the
greatest, etc.. 22:24 - 30
The
second prophecy of
Peter's
denials (Appendix
160).
22:31 - 34
The
final appeal to His
first
commission (Luke9:3). 22:35 - 38
The
last discourse to the
eleven,
followed by His
prayer.
14:1 - 17:26
They
go to Gethsemane. 26:30 - 35 14:26 - 29 22:39 18:1
The
third prophecy of
Peter's
denial. (Appendix
160).
14:30, 31
The
agony in the garden. 26:36 - 46 14:32 - 42 22:40 - 46
The
apprehension of the
Lord
(Appendix 165). 26:47 - 56 14:43 - 50 22:47 - 54
18:2 - 11
The
escape of Lazarus
(see
notes on Mark 14:51,
52).
14:51, 52
The
trials: continued
throughout
our Tuesday
night.
26:57 -
27:31 14:53 - 15:19 22:54 -
23:25
18:12 -
19:13
About
the sixth hour (our
Tuesday
midnight) Pilate
said
"Behold your King".
19:14, 15
Led
away to be crucified. 27:31 -34 15:20 - 23 23:26 - 31
19:16, 17
And
"led with Him"
two
"malefactors" (kakourgoi)
(Appendix
164).
23:32, 33 19:18
Discussion
with Pilate
about
the Inscriptions
(Appendix
163).
19:19 - 22
The
dividing of the
garments.
27:35 - 37 15:24 23:34 19:23, 24
"It was
the third hour, and
they
crucified Him" (our 9
a.m.
Wednesday).
15:25, 26
"Then
were there two
robbers" (lestai) crucified
with
Him"(Appendix 164).
27:38 15:27, 28
The
revilings of the rulers,
both
"robbers", and one
"malefactor".
27:39 - 44 15:29 - 32
23:35 - 43
The
Lord's mother and
John.
19:25 27
"The
sixth hour" (our
Wednesday
noon) and the
darkness
(Appendix 165).
27:45 - 49 15:33 23:44, 45
"The
ninth hour" (our
Wednesday
3 p.m.) and
the
expiring cry (Appendix
165).
27:50 15:34 - 37
23:46 19:28 - 30
Subsequent
events. 27:51 - 56 15:38 - 41 23:47 - 49
19:31 - 37
Buried
in haste before
sunset
(our Wednesday
about
6 p.m.), before the
"high
day" (the first day
of
the Feast began), our
Wednesday
sunset.
27:57 - 66 15:42 - 47
23:50 - 56
19:38 - 42
"THE FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST" - "THE HIGH
DAY" (Yom tov) - THE
15TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Wednesday sunset to
Thursday sunset.)
THE FIRST NIGHT AND FIRST DAY IN THE TOMB.
THE SECOND DAY OF THE FEAST - THE 16TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Thursday sunset to Friday
sunset.)
THE SECOND NIGHT AND SECOND DAY IN THE TOMB.
THE THIRD DAY OF THE FEAST - "THE (WEEKLY)
SABBATH" - THE
17TH DAY OF NISAN.
(Our Friday susnset to
Saturday sunset.)
THE THIRD NIGHT AND THIRD DAY IN THE TOMB.
"THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK" - THE 18TH DAY OF
NISAN.
(Our Saturday sunset: "the third day" of Matthew 16:21,
etc.;
not the third day of the Feast.)
MATTHEW MARK LUKE JOHN
Thus,
the Resurrection of the Lord took
place
at our Saturday sunset, or
thereabouts,
on "the third day";
compare
"after three days"
(Matthew
27:63. Mark 8:31).
28:1 - 10 16:1 - 18 24:1 - 49 20:1 - 23
[For
the sequence of events connected with and following the Resurrection,
see
Appendix 166.]
It
will be seen from the above that we have neither power nor authority to alter
or
shift
any day or date; or to change the order or position of any of the events
recorded
in
Holy Writ.
Each
day is marked by a return to Bethany during the last week (up to the
Preparation
Day); and each day is filled with the recorded events.
It
follows, therefore, that the Lord was crucified on our Wednesday; was buried on
that
day before sunset; and remained "three days and three nights"
in the tomb, as
foretold
by Him in Matthew 12:40;
rising from the dead on "the third day", "the
first
day of the week".
The
fixed days and dates, at either end, hold the whole period as in a vice, and
place
the whole subject on a sure foundation.
NOTE
1
The words in Mark 14:12 and Luke 22:7
refer to "the first day of unleavened
bread", which
was the 14th day of Nisan, and therefore "the preparation day". That
is
why the Lord goes on to tell the two disciples to go and make preparation for the
Passover.