THE LAST WEEK: ATONEMENT AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST

by Richard D. Kirkham HOW DO WE SET THE DATE? -- Many biblical scholars disagree on the dating of Christ's birth, life, and death. Elder Bruce R. McConkie in his 4 volume work, The Mortal Messiah places the death of Christ in the year 30 A.D. of the Julian * Calendar or the year 3790 of the Hebrew calendar. That year the Passover began on Thursday evening. Under the Law of Moses, Passover always falls on the 14th of Nisan (or Abib as it was called in Moses time). Using this starting point we can calculate the events of the last week of Christ's life. THREE 'DAYS' IN THE TOMB? -- According to Jewish customs for reckoning time, any part of a day (even 1 hour) constitutes 'a day'. The logic is similar to the way we consider a birthday to occur on a given day even if the child is born 1 minute before midnight ends that day. Thus Jesus, being entombed briefly on Friday, is by Jewish thinking, to have been in the grave that day and it is counted as the first day of his entombment. Saturday (Sabbath) becomes day 2 and is a full 24 hours. Then Sunday constitutes the 3rd day of His laying in the tomb even though He resurrects in the early hours of Sunday morning. Thus three days passed even though it was likely less than 30 hours of actual time. The scriptures do say three days, not 72 hours. Other scholars will argue that the term '3 days' means nothing more nor less than 72 hours and fix the death of Christ on Thursday for that reason. It is likely the debate will rage on amongst the scholars. And in the end it will not materially change the facts that Jesus died and Jesus resurrected, so the purpose of this study is not to offer a conclusive argument one way or the other but rather to provide a study guideline of the events of the final week. I have chosen to use Friday afternoon as the time and day of his death. WHEN DOES THE DAY BEGIN? -- Jewish customs also state that a day begins at Sunset, not at Midnight as is reckoned amongst western cultures. Leviticus clearly states, 'In the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan) at even (meaning 'evening') is the Lord's Passover.' (Leviticus 23:5) Taking that literally, we set the date of Thursday as the 14th of Nisan, and at evening passover would begin. Evening also would trigger the beginning of the 15th day of Nissan, at least as Jews would see it.

NISAN, 3790 APRIL 5, 30 A.D. Lamb Inspected 3 Days

Saturd Sunday ay 2nd week of the mont h of Nisan 6th day 5th day before before Passov Passover er Monday Tuesday Wednesd Thursda Friday ay y PASSOV Day ER Day before 2 days & Passover before Eve of the (passover Passover Feast of begins at Unleaven Sunset) ed Bread 13 Nisan, 14 Nisan, 15 Nisan, 3790 3790 3790 April 6, 30 A.D.. April 7, 30 A.D.

4th day before Passover

3 days before Passover

Hebre 9 w Nisan, date 3790 April 1, Julian 30 Date A.D. Jesus spends the Sabbat h in Bethan y: Supper at Mary & Main Martha' Event s s Jesus anointe d by Mary Judas' protest People gather to Jesus &

10 Nisan, 3790 April 2, 30 A.D..

11 Nisan, 12 Nisan, 3790 3790

April 3, 30 April 4, 30 April 5, A.D. A.D. 30 A.D. fig tree cursed, withers priests challenge Jesus authority Parables: two sons, wicked Husbandm an, wedding of a king's son (day change to Tuesday not recorded in scripture) Tribute to Caesar Marriage/ resurrection question: Sadducees Great commandm ent question: Pharisees Widow's mite Denunciati on of Hypocrisy Jesus leaves temple forever Jesus' lament over Jesus prophecy of Passover crucifixio n Conspira cy at Caiaphas' palace Feast with Simon the Pharisee Jesus Anointed by a woman Judas' conspirac y to

TRIUMPH AL ENTRY Prophecy fulfilled Pharisees disapprove Jesus weeps over Jerusalem. Greeks wish to see Jesus Discourse: Jesus sent by the Father Moneychan gers cast out

* For the full account Peter & SEE John sent BELOW to secure lamb and Last Supper room Gethsema for passover ne Trials supper PASSOV Crucifixio n ER BEGINS Death Burial AT SUNSET Constitute s 1st day in the tomb

Lazarus

Jerusalem. betray Signs of Jesus 2nd coming (Matt 24 & 25) Parable: talents, sheep & goats Sunday Morning After Sabbath after Passover 2nd Day of Unleavened Bread Monday Tuesday Wednesd Thursda Friday ay y 5th Day of Unleaven ed Bread 7th or 6th Day Last Day of of Unleaven Unleaven ed Bread ed Bread

3rd week of the mont h of Nisan Hebre w date Julian Date

Saturda y Sabbath after Passover 1st day of Unleaven ed Bread

3th Day of Unleaven ed Bread

4th Day of Unleaven ed Bread

16 Nisan, 18 Nisan, 19 Nisan, 20 Nisan, 21 Nisan, 22 Nisan, 17 Nisan, 3790 3790 3790 3790 3790 3790 3790 April 9, 30 April 10, April 11, April 12, April 13, A.D. 30 A.D. 30 A.D. 30 A.D.. 30 A.D. 3rd day in the tomb earthquake RESURRECTI ON DAY Celebration of First Fruits April 14, 30 A.D. offering by fire (Lev. 23:8)

April 8, 30 A.D. Christ in the Main World of Event Spirits s 2nd day in the tomb

* EVENTS 14 & 15 NISAN 3790 A HARMONIZED RENDITION OF THE EVENTS OF THE LAST DAY OF THE LIFE OF

THE THIRD HOUR (MARK 15:25) (APPROXIMATELY 9 AM) 35. Matthew 27:31-32 JESUS IS

MOCKED, LED TO GOLGOTHA AND CRUCIFIED FRIDAY (Remember, the Passover begins at 36. Luke 23:27-32 Sunset on the 14th of Nissan (See Leviticus 37. Matthew 27:33-34 22:5) 38. Mark 15:25,27-28 39. John 19:19-22 SUPERSCRIPTION 1. John 18:2-3 THE BETRAYAL BY 'THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JUDAS JEWS' 2. Matthew 26:50a,48-49 40. Luke 23:34a FATHER FORGIVE 3. Luke 22:48 THEM 4. John 18:4-9 41. John 19:23-24 SOLDIERS CAST 5. Luke 22:49 PETER REBUKED FOR LOTS FOR HIS GARMENTS TRYING TO STOP THE ARREST 42. Matthew 27:39-43 FURTHER 6. John 18:10 MOCKING BY THE PEOPLE 7. Luke 22:51 43. Luke 23:39-43 WORDS WITH 8. Matthew 26:52-54 THE THIEF; 'BE WITH ME IN 9. Luke 22:52-53 PARADISE' 10. John 18:12 THE ARREST, 44. John 19:25-27 JESUS SPEAKS TO APOSTLES FLEE HIS MOTHER 'BEHOLD' 11. Matthew 26:56 12. Mark 14:51-52 THE SIXTH HOUR 13. John 18:13-16,18 JESUS TAKEN TO (APPROXIMATELY 12 NOON) THE PALACE OF ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS 45. Mark 15:33 DARKNESS FROM 14. (Luke 22:55) THE 6TH TO THE 9TH HOUR (noon 15. John 18:19-24 FIRST PRETRIAL BY to 3) ANNAS 16. Mark 14:55-64 SECOND PRETRIAL THE NINTH HOUR (APPROXIMATELY 3 PM) BY CAIAPHAS AND 'THE COUNCIL' 17. Luke 22:63-65 MOCKING OF JESUS 46. Mark 15:34-35 FINAL WORDS AT CAIAPHAS' PALACE AND DEATH OF JESUS 18. Matthew 26:69-75 PETER DENIES 47. John 19:28-30 KNOWING JESUS 48. Luke 23:46 FATHER INTO THY HANDS DAWN, OR SUNRISE 49. Matthew 27:51 VEIL OF THE (APPROXIMATELY 6 AM) TEMPLE RENT AFTER SUNRISE AND MORNING 50. Matthew 27:54 TESTIMONY OF SACRIFICE IN THE TEMPLE WITNESSES 19. Luke 22:66-71 FORMAL TRAIL BY 51. Luke 23:47-49 SANHEDRIN 52. Matthew 27:55-56 CHRIST

20. Matthew 27:3-10 JUDAS COMMITS SUICIDE

53. (Mark 15:41) 54. John 19:31-37 JESUS SIDE IS PIERCED THE FIRST HOUR (APPROXIMATELY 7 55. Mark 15:42 THE BURIAL OF AM) JESUS 56. Luke 23:50-52 21. John 18:28-32 FIRST APPEARANCE 57. Mark 15:44-45 BEFORE PILATE 58. John 19:39-41 22. Luke 23:2 59. Matthew 27:60 23. John 18:33-38 60. Luke 23:54-56 24. Mark 15:3-5 25. Luke 23:5-7 SATURDAY, 15 NISAN 26. Luke 23:8-12 JESUS BEFORE HEROD 61. Matthew 27:62-66 THE SECOND HOUR (APPROXIMATELY 8 AM ) 27. Luke 23:13-17 SECOND APPEARANCE BEFORE PILATE 28. Mark 15:7-8 29. Matthew 27:17-21 30. Mark 15:12 31. Luke 23:21-22 32. Matthew 27:27-30 SCOURGING AND MOCKING OF JESUS 33. John 19:4-15 PILATE PLEADS FOR JESUS 34. Matthew 27:24-26 PILATE RELEASES BARABBAS AND DELIVERS JESUS TO BE CRUCIFIED

Sources: LDS Bible Dictionary The Mortal Messiah, by Bruce R. McConkie Hebrew Calendar Conversion v2.1, Panda Systems * Today we reckon time by the Gregorian Calendar but in the time of Christ there was only 2 days difference between the Gregorian and the Julian Calendars. Today there are 14 days difference.
SOURCE: http://www.ida.net/users/rdk/ces/Last_week_calendar.html