Grace Covenant Church Of Mid Missouri

1 day ago

Nisan 15 (Feast of Unleavened Bread, High Sabbath)

This day, from Wednesday evening to Thursday evening in the scenario, was the “high day” Sabbath of Unleavened Bread. All ordinary work ceased. The Gospel of Luke notes that the women who had followed Jesus saw the tomb and how His body was laid, and “then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56, NKJV). This verse can be puzzling if one assumes only a Friday burial followed by a Saturday Sabbath – when did the women prepare spices? John’s and Luke’s accounts together imply the women had to wait until after the festival Sabbath to buy and prepare spices, but before the weekly Sabbath. Indeed, Mark 16:1 clarifies that “when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.” The Sabbath after which they bought spices could not be Saturday evening (after the weekly Sabbath) because by then Jesus had risen; it makes sense only if it refers to the Thursday (Nisan 15) festival Sabbath ending. Thus, on Thursday (daytime) the women would still be resting for the high Sabbath; no work such as buying spices could be done. ... See MoreSee Less

Grace Covenant Church Of Mid Missouri

2 days ago

Nisan 14 (Passover Preparation Day)

By Jewish reckoning, this day begins at sunset on the previous evening. Jesus ate an evening Passover meal with His disciples after sundown (now the start of Nisan 14, which, if Nisan 14 was a Wednesday, would mean Tuesday night in our modern reckoning). That night He was betrayed and arrested in Gethsemane (still Nisan 14, but the early pre-dawn hours) and brought to trial before the Jewish council. In the morning (still Nisan 14, Wednesday daylight), He was handed over to Pilate and the Romans (Mark 15:1). By 9 a.m. that morning, the crucifixion was underway (Mark 15:25) . Jesus hung on the cross until about 3 p.m., at which time He died (Mark 15:34–37). Because the Jews did not want the bodies to remain exposed “on the Sabbath”, which would commence at sunset, they hurried to bury Jesus before nightfall (John 19:31, 19:42). Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus’ body and laid it in a new tomb in a garden near Golgotha, finishing just as evening approached (Luke 23:53–54). Sunset on Nisan 14 marked the end of the Preparation Day and the start of Nisan 15. ... See MoreSee Less