Grace Covenant Church Of Mid Missouri

1 day ago

Nisan 18 (First Day of the Week)

This corresponds to Sunday, beginning Saturday at sundown through Sunday sundown. The Feast of First Fruits was biblically observed on the day after the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread. In the timing of that year, Nisan 18, the Sunday morning, was the Feast of First Fruits (the “morrow after the Sabbath” of Lev. 23:11, interpreted by many to be the Sunday after Passover week). Fittingly, the Gospels record a sequence of events on this day: just before dawn, an earthquake and angelic appearance occurred, rolling away the tomb’s stone (Matthew 28:1-4). Women arrived at the tomb at dawn and found it empty; Jesus had risen (Matthew 28:5-6, John 20:1). Jesus then began appearing to His followers: first to Mary Magdalene (John 20:14-17), then to other women (Matthew 28:8-10), then to two disciples on the road to Emmaus by afternoon (Luke 24:13-31), and later that evening to a group of disciples behind closed doors (John 20:19). It was a day of astonishment and joy—the Lord had truly risen. Notably, that very Sunday was likely the Feast of First Fruits, when according to Leviticus 23:10-11 the priest would wave the first sheaf of the barley harvest before God as an offering of the firstfruits. Jesus’ resurrection on this day embodies the fulfillment of First Fruits: “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20, NKJV). In God’s providence, Jesus, the firstborn from the dead, rose on the very feast day celebrating the firstfruits of the harvest. This was not a coincidence, but part of a pattern of prophetic fulfillment. ... See MoreSee Less

Grace Covenant Church Of Mid Missouri

2 days ago

Nisan 17 (Weekly Sabbath)

From Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. This was the weekly Sabbath (Saturday) during the Feast of Unleavened Bread that year. By this time, Jesus had been in the tomb since late Wednesday afternoon. The women, having prepared the spices on Friday, “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56) again – this time observing the weekly Sabbath. We hear nothing specific about activities on this day in the tomb; Jesus’ body lay still, guarded by soldiers, and the disciples rested as the Law prescribed. Importantly, by the end of this Sabbath (late Saturday afternoon), Jesus would have been in the grave for the third full day. According to Jonah's sign, the third night would have concluded by sunset on Saturday. Sometime around the end of this weekly Sabbath, Jesus rose from the dead, fulfilling the prophecy of 72 hours in the earth. The Gospels do not describe the moment of resurrection, only the aftermath, but indirect evidence points to a resurrection prior to dawn on Sunday. In fact, there is reason to believe Jesus rose right as Saturday ended. For instance, when the women arrived at the tomb “while it was still dark” on Sunday pre-dawn, they found it already empty (John 20:1). An angel told them, “He is risen! He is not here” (Mark 16:6). Jesus did not need to wait for sunrise to rise; He likely returned to life at the close of the third night – which would be around sunset on Saturday by Jewish reckoning (start of the first day of the week). This means nobody witnessed the event, but by Saturday night or very early Sunday, the sign of Jonah had been fully accomplished: three days and three nights in the heart of the earth were completed, and the Son of God was alive again. ... See MoreSee Less

Grace Covenant Church Of Mid Missouri

3 days ago

Nisan 16 (Second Day of Unleavened Bread)

From Thursday evening to Friday evening. This day was not a Sabbath, since only the 1st and 7th days of Unleavened Bread were Sabbaths. It corresponds to Friday in the week in question. This was the crucial free day when the women could purchase and prepare burial spices. After the High Sabbath (Thursday) was over, Mark says they bought spices (likely Thursday night or early Friday morning) and Luke’s wording suggests they prepared the spices and oils on Friday (Luke 23:56). They intended to go apply these to Jesus’ body, but could not go on Friday night once the sun set because the weekly Sabbath began. Also on this day (Friday daytime), according to Matthew 27:62-66, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate to secure the tomb. Notably, Matthew 27:62 says, “On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered to Pilate…” – this “next day” was Friday, following the Preparation (Passover) Day. They remembered Jesus’ prophecy of rising in three days and wanted the tomb sealed and guarded to prevent any hoax. Pilate obliged, and they set a guard and sealed the stone. This errand to Pilate had to occur on Friday, since Thursday was a holy day when such business would not be conducted. The fact that the Jewish leaders took action the day after Preparation underscores that an intervening day existed between the crucifixion and the weekly Sabbath. Scripture thus depicts Friday as a non-sacred work day sandwiched between two Sabbaths (the High Sabbath on Thursday and the regular Sabbath on Saturday). This is precisely what a Wednesday crucifixion timeline provides. ... See MoreSee Less