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September 2002
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How Does “Good Friday” Discredit Jesus? Can You Count to Three?
By Maria Merola


Many of us have been brought up in the church to believe that Yahu'shua/Jesus our Messiah died on “Good Friday” and he resurrected on “Easter Sunday.”

Well today I am here to dismantle these lies and show how these deceptions actually prove to discredit Yahu'shua as the Jewish Messiah and also make him out to look like a liar. First of all we must ask ourselves, “Why have we been conditioned to believe that Yehoshua was crucified on a Friday”?

Well, the answer to this question is simple. The biblical account tells us that after Jesus was crucified and his body taken down from the cross, the women were in a hurry to anoint his body with spices because at sundown began the Sabbath. Those within the Christian Church read this as though the “Sabbath” day spoken of here is the weekly 7th day Sabbath (Saturday). But what is being spoken of in this account is an annual Sabbath known as “The Feast of Unleavened Bread.” And so if we don’t have a foundation of understanding God’s Holy Feast Days, we will naturally assume that the scriptures are telling us that the night of Yahu'shua's crucifixion was followed by the weekly Sabbath day (Saturday). But this is not the case. The night of Yahu'shua’s crucifixion was followed by an annual Sabbath known as the “Feast of Unleavened Bread.” And we know also from reading the gospel accounts, that there were two more days in between his crucifixion, his burial and then yet another Sabbath (the weekly Sabbath), followed by the day of his resurrection known as “First Fruits.”

Because most people assume that the day after Yahu'shua’s crucifixion was the weekly Sabbath, they naturally assume then that he was crucified on a Friday, and thus he would’ve been a false prophet and a liar when he said that he would be “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Had Yahu'shua died on Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and then buried at sundown before the weekly Sabbath (which is erroneous), then he would’ve only been in the heart of the earth for “one day” not three! Keep in mind that on God’s time table, a new day begins at sundown, not midnight. So who changed the new day to midnight instead of sundown?

Since YHWH introduced his divine calendar to us at creation in Genesis 1:5, a new day was to begin at sunset, but Pope Gregory XIII changed the new day to midnight during his reign in 1572.

In Daniel 7:23-25, the angel tells Daniel that the “Beast” (Papacy) “shall think to change times and laws” and so we see here that the Papacy has been instrumental in distorting prophetic events by changing the calendar of YHWH to fit these lies.

At the time of Yahu'shua's crucifixion, Israel and the entire world still acknowledged God's standard of measure for a new day, and so we learn that Yahu'shua was actually crucified and died on a Wednesday around 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and then buried at sunset around 6 p.m. which began a new day going into Thursday, as the first day following his crucifixion. Thursday at sunset completed one full day or 24 hours going into Friday. Then Friday at sunset began the weekly Sabbath and was the second day after his crucifixion. Saturday at sunset became the first day of the week or Sunday and it marked the third day after his crucifixion. Yahu'shua rose again as the Sabbath was ending "after three days." This is why Jesus called himself "the Lord of the Sabbath." The Catholic Church changed the Sabbath to Sunday claiming that it is because Yahu'shua resurrected on "Sunday" morning, but this is wrong! Yahu'shua resurrected at sunset just as the Sabbath was ending!

Biblical Proof Yahu'shua/Jesus Died Wednesday & Rose on Sabbath
Good Friday is a Myth; Jesus Died on a Wednesday!!
By Roy A. Reinhold

http://ad2004.com/prophecytruths/Articles/Prophecy/3days3nights.html
3 DAYS AND 3 NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH

One of the most common questions asked by new Christians is, this:

"How could Jesus have been in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights if He died on a Friday afternoon and rose before sunrise on a Sunday?"

Most Christians duck the question, since at most they can only come up with one day and two nights (Friday nighttime, Saturday daytime, and Saturday nighttime in our measure of days). If they add in the Friday daytime they get two periods of daytime, even though Jesus would have died in the late afternoon on a Friday. This late afternoon death is consistent with the Passover lamb being killed between the two evenings of Jewish teaching. The lamb was killed between 3 and 6 PM on the afternoon of the 14th of Abib/Nisan and prepared, because the 15th was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which was an annual Sabbath observance (the first and last days of Unleavened Bread were annual Sabbaths in addition to the normal weekly Sabbaths). This search of the Word is important, not because it affects salvation, but because it answers the questions posed on whether Jesus kept His Word, and whether the Bible is true in this matter. A legitimate concern and question for all Christians!!

Leviticus 23: 5-8 In the fourteenth day of the first month (Crucifixion of Jesus on Wednesday) at even is YHWH's passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread (Yahu'shua/Jesus' burial on Thursday) unto YHWH: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation (Yahu'shua/Jesus' resurrection on Sunday) ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto YHWH seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

The above text confirms that the first and last days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are annual Sabbaths, to be observed as a day of rest in addition to the weekly Sabbaths. These days would occur on the 15th and 21st of Abib/Nisan. The Passover meal was an important religious observance in which to remember that the blood of the lamb on the doorposts of their houses kept them alive when the angel of death passed by, and that God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. The Passover is a perpetual observance to celebrate passing from death to life. These ancient events foretold the blood of Yahu'shua/Jesus being spilled for our sins, and our passage from death to eternal life, by the everlasting covenant of the blood of Yahu'shua/Jesus. They also foretold that Yahu'shua/Jesus would die exactly on the 14th of Abib/Nisan and that the day following was an annual Sabbath.

What follows is a close examination of the biblical record, in which Yahu'shua/Jesus was killed on the 14th of Nisan in the afternoon, and the next day was the annual Sabbath, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We shall also see from the biblical record that this annual Sabbath did not fall on the weekly Sabbath, in the year that Yahu'shua/Jesus died.

Matthew 12:38-40 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas (Jonah) 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.

Matthew 27:62-66 Now the next day that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 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. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

The above verses show that Yahu'shua/Jesus had openly taught that the major sign that He was the Messiah was that He would die and three days later rise again. Even more clearly, He said that He would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. This promise meant that 72 hours would pass from His death to His resurrection and that this would be the sign for the Jews that He was who He said He was (the Messiah). The Friday crucifixion with a resurrection before sunrise on Sunday morning totals approximately 36 hours. If we understood Jesus to mean that within three days and three nights He would rise again, then any period short of that would suffice. But He taught that after three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, then He would rise again. This logically would necessitate the crucifixion on a Wednesday, then the daylight and nighttime periods of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday would be three days and three nights. We count from either His actual death shortly after 3 p.m. or from the time His body was laid in the tomb, shortly before the annual Sabbath began, although I believe we should count the 72 hours from the time the body was laid in the tomb.

You'll notice that the above text from Matthew 27, recorded that the chief priests met with Pilate the morning after the crucifixion to get permission to post a guard and seal the tomb. The Bible records that this was the day after the day of preparation. This day of preparation is the 14th of Abib/Nisan, when the homes were scoured for any leavened bread within the house and a preparation of food was readied for the Passover meal, and the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Mark 15:42, Luke 23:54, John 19:14, 31, 42].

Therefore, the grave of Yahu'shua/Jesus was not sealed until the morning of the 15th of Abib/Nisan, on the annual Sabbath. In the text from John 19, we learn that the body of Yahu'shua/Jesus needed to be removed from the cross because the Sabbath was about to begin and that Sabbath was a high day or annual Sabbath. This is consistent with the other verses which teach that the day of preparation was the day that Yahu'shua/Jesus died. Now we only need to determine whether the annual Sabbath and weekly Sabbath fell on the same day, which would lead us to the conclusion that Yahu'shua/Jesus died on a Friday afternoon, shortly after 3 p.m. as commonly taught. If not, then He died on another day of the week.

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.

John 19:39-40 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Yahu'shua/Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Yahu'shua/Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury."

Matthew 27:59-61 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.

Mark 15:46-47 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Luke 23:54-56 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

In totality, the above verses together give us the complete picture of what happened after Yahu'shua/Jesus' death, how His body was prepared for burial, and who observed this process. It is extremely important to notice that none of the above texts alone gives the complete story, and that you have to read all together to get the whole story. Joseph took Yahu'shua/Jesus' body after receiving permission from Pilate, bought a linen sheet, and bound the body with Nicodemus' assistance. Nicodemus had brought a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, which they bound with the body. The tomb was near where Yehoshua
(Jesus) was crucified, and belonged to Joseph who had carved this tomb out of rock. It was a new tomb that had never before been used. Also, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses accompanied the body from the cross and watched the entire process of burial. When Yahu'shua/Jesus' body was laid in the tomb, then Joseph, assisted by Nicodemus, rolled a large stone in front of the tomb opening and left. Finally, the two Mary's left and prepared spices and perfumes, before resting on the Sabbath. Up to this point, we have no evidence that the annual Sabbath and weekly Sabbath did not fall on the same day as traditionally taught.

The next collection of verses will explore the role of the women in preparing spices and perfumes with which they intended to anoint the body of Yahu'shua/Jesus.

Luke 24:1-2 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

Matthew 28:1-4 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of YHWH descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Mark 16:1-4 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

John 20:1-2 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. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away YHWH out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

You may have to reread the above verses to notice that the women who had watched Jesus' body being laid in the tomb, prepared perfumes and spices. The Mark 16 text says that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary bought spices AFTER the Sabbath and prepared them. While the Luke 23 text states that the women prepared spices and then rested on the Sabbath. This is consistent with an annual Sabbath on Thursday, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the weekly Sabbath on Saturday. We know that these are the same women because the Bible verses all relate that Mary Magdalene was involved in all these events. However, two other Mary's are mentioned, one the mother of James and Salome, and the other the mother of Joses. In all cases, Mary Magdalene was involved. Therefore, the women saw Jesus' body being laid in the tomb on a Wednesday afternoon; they rested on the annual Sabbath on Thursday, and bought spices on Friday. They prepared the spices on Friday and then rested according to the commandment on the weekly Sabbath on Saturday. After the weekly Sabbath, they intended to anoint Jesus' body with the perfumes and spices. Therefore both intuitively and by evidence, we have proven that Passover was on a Wednesday, and that Yahu'shua/Jesus did as He had said, which was to rise again after three days and three nights. What remains to determine, is whether Yahu'shua/Jesus rose as the weekly Sabbath was ending or at sunrise on Sunday?

You'll notice through a comparison of the four gospels that Mary Magdalene and the disciples went to the tomb a number of times. In some it was still dark, and in some it was already light. It wasn't until it was light on Sunday that they actually discovered that He had risen; in the first visits the tomb was empty. The above text in John 20, tells us of the first visit by Mary Magdalene when it was dark, the tomb was empty, and she had not been told that Yahu'shua/Jesus was risen, and only saw the stone rolled away. I will leave it to the reader to compare the applicable verses in the four gospels to reconstruct the various visits to the tomb. However, there is one verse which seems to tell us that Yahu'shua/Jesus rose on the first day of the week.

Mark 16:9 Now when Yahu'shua/Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

The above text would seem to conclusively prove that Jesus rose early in the morning on the first day of the week, what we would call Saturday night. Some commentators have speculated that verses 9-20 of this chapter were later added since they weren't in any of the early manuscripts. Whether or not that is true, the reader ought to know that the meaning of a verse may be altered by the addition of a comma or a deletion. The original text did not have these punctuation marks in the Greek text, so they were added later. If a comma is added after risen, the verse takes on an entirely different meaning. Now after He had risen, early on the first day of the week He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.

This change is not altering scripture since it was not written with punctuation marks. This makes the verse consistent with all the four gospels, where Mary Magdalene visited the grave, shortly after the Sabbath ended, and saw the empty grave with the stone rolled away, but did not see an angel or see Jesus. It was later, when the sun had risen on Sunday morning that she came with Mary the mother of James and Salome back to the tomb, saw an angel who told her that he had risen, and then saw Yahu'shua/Jesus. One can imagine that Mary asked Mary Magdalene, "Who would roll away the stone?" as they approached the tomb, since Mary Magdalene had not mentioned that she had been there earlier and saw the empty grave. Then she went and told the disciples that she saw the angel and saw Jesus. What any reader should realize is that the Holy Spirit gave us the four gospels with fragments of the story in each, and it takes a study of all together, to arrive at the complete picture. The following verse clearly shows us that Mary Magdalene came to the grave as the weekly Sabbath was ending.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Bishop Papias was an early church bishop in Syria and he wrote that the book of Matthew was originally written in Aramaic, and then translated into Greek by the apostles. Irenaeus and Clement also mentioned seeing the original Aramaic of the book of Matthew. We have some precedence and evidence that at least some of the New Testament books were first written in Aramaic, and translated by the apostles into Greek, and Matthew is one of them. I say all of this because the Aramaic of Matthew 28:1 in Aramaic is much clearer than the Greek. A literal, word for word translation of the Aramaic directly to English is as follows (commas separate meaning of each word):

"….in the evening, at Sabbath, when went up, the beginning (the dawning), belonging, to the last of, in the Sabbath, arrived, Miryam, the Magdalene, and Miryam, the different (the other), came to see, the tomb (the grave)."

It is obvious by repeating "the Sabbath" twice, that it is making the point that it was at twilight that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to the tomb. By stressing "the last of the Sabbath", the verse drives home the point that this was Saturday evening, but that the twilight period still belonged to the Sabbath. There were no streetlights then, and no flashlights, so if the full moon had not yet risen, then when it got dark, it got really dark, really fast. The two Mary's had just enough time to look around and leave. No one can read the Peshitta Aramaic of Matthew 28:1 and mistake it for any other understanding than that the Mary's arrived at the tomb at twilight on Saturday evening and the stone had already been rolled away.

Why didn't the two Mary's try to anoint the body of Yehoshua/Jesus on Friday, since they had prepared the spices and perfumes on Friday before the weekly Sabbath began? It is because in Matthew 27:62-66, Pilate had given the Roman order to have the grave sealed on Thursday morning, and they had put the Roman seal on it and posted guards until the 3 days were complete. Therefore, if the two Mary's had tried to anoint the body on Friday, they would have broken the law and been arrested. They waited until after the 3 days, so as to avoid arrest. The apostles were all in hiding at the time, fearing possibly their own arrest, so it fell to the two Mary's to anoint the body.

The fact is that the Last Supper celebrated with the bread and wine by Yehoshua/Jesus and the disciples took place on the evening of the fourth day of the week (we would say Tuesday evening). Yahu'shua/Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday and was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. He rose from the dead late on the Sabbath. Finally, He revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene and the disciples on the first day of the week, shortly after sunrise. Of course this means that we have a Palm Saturday and NOT a Palm Sunday. It also means that Yahu'shua/Jesus performed the sign He said He would, and that Sunday being the Lord's Day is a fabrication of the bishop of Rome. Bishop Sixtus instituted this teaching at Rome shortly after the death of the Apostle John, and later Bishops of Rome perpetuated the error he brought into the church. In due time, even the keeping of the Passover bread and wine remembrance was outlawed with excommunication.

Roy Reinhold makes a very strong case in the articles on the previous pages showing us that Yahu'shua/Jesus rose again on the Sabbath and was crucified on a Wednesday. No wonder why Satan has used the Catholic Church to change all of these dates! They wanted to change the Sabbath to Sunday for the pagan "sun god" and so they had to change all of the other dates to make it seem true that Yahu'shua/Jesus rose again on Sunday!

One will also note that the lamb for Passover was selected on the 10th of Abib/Nisan, and this did not occur as traditionally taught, but on the weekly Sabbath prior to the Passover. As the Lamb of God, Jesus was selected as the acceptable lamb for slaughter following the triumphal entry, when the chief priests met to determine His death on the Sabbath. He was laid in the tomb as the annual Sabbath was beginning. On the following weekly Sabbath, as it was ending, Yahu'shua/Jesus rose from the dead. This is consistent with His teaching where He said He was "Lord of the Sabbath."

There have been many noted believers in a Wednesday crucifixion, from the time of the early church until now. These include Epiphanus, Victorinus of Petau in 307 AD, Lactantius, Wescott, Cassiodorus, and Gregory of Tours. Later, Finis Dake and R.A. Torrey also believed in a Wednesday crucifixion. We now know that the Bible teaches a Wednesday crucifixion, so the reader now must face the facts of the Bible as compared to the traditions of men. At the same time, I say that this does not determine salvation, for I know that there will be millions who have believed the Friday crucifixion hoax and I will see them in heaven one day. Also, a superficial reading of the gospels does tend to lead one to the conclusion of a Friday crucifixion, when read separately, so one cannot blame the majority of believers for this false belief.

The learned reader might say that the Passover as kept today cannot fall on a Wednesday, in the Jewish calendar. That is the case today, but then neither does First fruits (wave offering) or the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) occur on the first day of the week in the Jewish calendar. The reason is a matter of history. There was a controversy between the Phariseean and Sadduceean way of keeping these important feast days. At the time of Yahu'shua/Jesus, the Sadducees were the high priests and kept the days according to our present Christian understanding from the Torah. For example, the Sadducees believed that First fruits always fell on the first day of the week, which meant that Pentecost also fell on the first day of the week. While the Pharisees believed that First fruits fell on the 16th of Abib/Nisan, the day after the annual Sabbath, leading to Pentecost on various days of the week. At the time of Jesus, the Sadduceean keeping of the feasts was in effect, but after the dispersion, the more numerous and stricter Pharisees perpetuated their understanding of Judaism. They were the ancestors of modern day Orthodox Jews and are the keepers of the calendar today. Their rules have supplanted the days as kept in the time of Jesus.

Jesus (Yahu'shua/Y'shua) was Crucified
on a Wednesday Afternoon (part 2)
by Roy A. Reinhold

As a result of receiving many e-mails concerning the article, The Friday Crucifixion Hoax, Yahu'shua/Jesus Died on a Wednesday, I've decided to add this part 2, to point out the explanation for ALL individual verses that readers have raised. There is not one verse that disproves the Wednesday afternoon crucifixion of Yahu'shua/Jesus. While that's a strong statement, you be the judge.

First, let's review the scenario proven in part 1. The Last Supper was held on a Tuesday evening. On Wednesday the 14th of Nisan/Abib, Yahu'shua/Jesus was crucified, and died late in the afternoon. Joseph of Arimathea received permission from Pilate and took down the body of Jesus from the cross, probably with Nicodemus' help. The scriptural record states that Joseph and Nicodemus worked together. Nicodemus had brought about 100 lbs. of myrrh and aloes. They wrapped the body in a sheet (shroud) and bound it with the myrrh and aloes. It was already getting dark, so they had to hurry, because the annual Sabbath was beginning, the first day of Unleavened Bread on the 15th of Nisan/Abib, which was a Thursday. Watching all this a short distance away were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses. Joseph had a new garden tomb that had never been used nearby. They laid the body of Yahu'shua/Jesus in the tomb and rolled the stone over the entrance to the tomb. The next morning the Jewish leaders met with Pilate and received permission to seal and guard the tomb, so that his disciples couldn't steal the body and say Yahu'shua/Jesus had risen from the dead. They sealed the tomb and posted guards (on Thursday). The women including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Joses, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, bought spices on Friday and prepared them. They bought spices on the day after a Sabbath (the annual Sabbath), and after preparing them on Friday, rested on the weekly Sabbath on Saturday. As the weekly Sabbath was ending late on Saturday afternoon, Mary Magdalene and one of the other Marys' came to the tomb to anoint the body. Since it was already almost dark, or was dark, all they saw was that the stone had been rolled away and no body was there.

Summary: Yahu'shua/Jesus died on Wednesday afternoon and was laid in the grave as the annual Sabbath was beginning. He was in the grave Wednesday night, Thursday day, Thursday night, Friday day, Friday night, and Saturday day. Therefore, He was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights. He was resurrected late on the weekly Sabbath on Saturday. Therefore, He rose on the third day. Also, it was after 3 days and 3 nights. Those are the incontrovertible facts from the scriptural record.

I'd like to face the most troublesome verse first (Luke 24:21), that of the two men walking to Emmaus on Sunday, who were later joined by a stranger who explained all the scriptures to them. We know they were walking on Sunday, the first day of the week, because it is clearly stated so in Luke 24:1, where the sequence of events started.

Luke 24:21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel; and besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done.

Yes, the walk to Emmaus was on Sunday, but it is a misunderstanding and mistranslation that Sunday was the third day since the crucifixion. Instead of writing down the verse in Greek, which most of you don't know, I decided that I ought to use what others have shown concerning this verse (Luke 24:21), which will have greater weight with you.

The Greek word for "since" after "the third day" in Luke 24:21 actually means "away from." Away from is the same as our "after." Yahu'shua/Jesus died late on a Wednesday afternoon and was laid in the grave at sundown on Wednesday as Thursday was beginning. He was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights on Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday night and Thursday day, Friday day, and Saturday day using our reckoning of days and nights. He rose as the Sabbath was ending. So He was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights and rose after 3 days and 3 nights while the Sabbath was ending. So He rose on the third day. Sunday is therefore the 4th day. The actual literal Greek translation of Luke 24:21 is:

"But surely also together with all these things, it brings a third day away from which all these things occurred."

Translators take the cumbersome literal translation and make it flow, taking some liberty with it, but trying to retain accuracy. The 4th day is "away from" the third day. So it is apparent that the verse is literally saying they were walking and talking after the third day, which was Sunday. However, have other translators understood this point too? Yes, let's look at 3 of them. (Luke 24:21)

Moffatt Translation--by James Moffatt: "....but he is dead, and that is three days ago!"

The New Berkeley Version in Modern English-- Gerrit Verkugl: "Moreover, three days have already passed, since all these events occurred."

The Syriac New Testament Translated Into English From The Peshitto Version -- James Murdock:

"...and lo, three days have passed since all these things have occurred."

The Syriac Reading can be confirmed by 2 of the oldest manuscripts in Estrangelo:

"… Aramaic: the Sinaitic Palimpset and the Curetonian Syriac…"

There is exceedingly ample evidence that the correct translation for Luke 24:21 is that the KJV should read, "today is after the third day since these things were done." As the information above shows, the oldest and multiple original manuscripts show that "away from" is the correct word for since, and shows us that they were talking about Sunday being the 4th day since Yahu'shua was laid in the grave. That troubled them; because He has clearly said many times that He would rise on the third day, after 3 days and 3 nights. He would fulfill the sign of Jonah, as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the great fish, so Yahu'shua would be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth. These two disciples were challenged in their faith; because it appeared that Yahu'shua/Jesus' many prophecies concerning His being raised from the dead had failed. They were going back to Emmaus in defeat, when a stranger joined them. This stranger explained to them all the prophecies concerning the Messiah from the Bible (Tanakh or Old Testament). They did not recognize that it was Yahu'shua/Jesus, the risen Messiah talking to them. Only when they sat down to eat and He blessed the bread and gave it to them, were their eyes opened and they recognized Him as Yahu'shua/Jesus. He then instantly disappeared from them.

The next set of verses raised by readers all say the exact same, that He would rise on the third day. The answer is that He did rise from the dead on the third day, late on Saturday afternoon. First a verse that tells us that He rose as the Sabbath was ending on Saturday afternoon.

Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

The dawning of a new day in the biblical and Jewish day reckoning is at twilight as it is getting dark, not first light in the morning. The Sabbath ended at sundown, and the two Marys came to look at the gravesite after the Sabbath ended. Yahu'shua/Jesus had already risen. Therefore, the Bible teaches He rose on the third day, on the Sabbath, regardless of what your tradition or any later creed states. Now let's show all the verses where Yahu'shua/Jesus said He would rise on the third day, or those afterwards that state He did rise on the third day.

Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Y'shua to show unto his disciples, how that  must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Matthew 17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Matthew 20:19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Matthew 27:64 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.

Mark 9:31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

Mark 10:34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Luke 9:22 saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and on the third day I shall be perfected.

Luke 18:33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.

Luke 24:7 Saying, the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Messiah to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.

Acts 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;

1st Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

All of the above verses state a prediction that He would be raised on the third day, or that some feared it coming true, or afterwards stated that it had come true. [Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 27:64; Mark 9:31; 10:34; Luke 9:22; 13:32; 18:33; 24:7; 24:46; Acts 10:40; and 1st Corinthians 15:4]. The scriptural facts show that Yahu'shua/Jesus rose from the grave late on the Sabbath, late on Saturday afternoon. This was 3 days and 3 nights AFTER He had been crucified, and it was also the third day. The first day being Thursday; the second day being Friday; and the third day being Saturday. Somehow we modern people have trouble juggling the concept of the biblical day running from evening to evening, with that of the civil day from midnight to midnight.

Actually, Luke 13:32 above is often translated differently, where instead of the word "perfected", they translate it as "reach my goal." The verse then tells the story of Jesus saying that He would cast out devils and heal the sick for the next two days, and then reach Jerusalem on the third day. That's what happened, and in context, the KJV translation is less satisfactory.

There are yet a few other verses that apply to the Wednesday crucifixion:

Matthew 24:63 …Saying, Sir, we remember that the deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days, I will rise again.

Matthew 26:61 ....able to destroy this temple of God, and build it in three days..

Mark 8:31 ....and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Mark 14:58 ...and in three days I will build another made without hands.

Mark 15:58 ...to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days.

John 2:19-21 …and in three days I will raise it up.

All these verses are answered the same way. Jesus did rise from the grave on the third day, late on the Sabbath. He did rise after three days; Thursday, Friday, then Saturday. It was 3 full days and 3 full nights AFTER He died. There are NO verses that cannot be reconciled to the Wednesday afternoon crucifixion. The verse Y'shua so often referred to from Jonah, was where Jonah was in the great fish 3 days and 3 nights.

Jonah 1:17 Now YHWH had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three night's in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be.

Pastors are also fond of using allegories and allusions to teach a concept or doctrine, and perhaps Luke 2:46 ought to be a direct allusion to the 12-year old Yahu'shua (Jesus) being found AFTER 3 days.

Luke 2:46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

Why should this story be a direct allusion to be used by pastors to teach the resurrection? Note that in Luke 2:41, that the feast they went to was the Passover. So Yahu'shua disappearing for 3 days was a direct showing of what would later occur in His life! And it was done at the same feast, and He did appear to His disciples who were to be the teachers. He had disappeared for 3 days and 3 nights from His parents as a 12-year old, and was found AFTER 3 days. In the same way, when crucified, disappeared for 3 days and 3 nights through death, and was hidden from friends, family, apostles, and numerous disciples, and then revealed to them after 3 days!

You will notice from the graphic below that Daniel 9:27 is accurately fulfilled as we see that precisely "in the midst of the week" Messiah was "cut off" and literally in the midst of Passover "Week" as well as in "the midst of" the prophetic 490 year period of 70 X 7 weeks of years.----- Wednesday Crucifixion Graphic by Michael J. Harris




























Why Does All of This Matter?

We've discussed every verse that touches on the subject. There is no problem and no verse that disproves the Wednesday crucifixion. Rather, they all work together to corroborate the whole scenario. I am 100% sure that Yahu'shua (Jesus) died on a Wednesday afternoon as the scriptures teach. Whether you have the courage to accept that and turn from believing in an erroneous scenario (Friday crucifixion) is up to you. It is hard to buck the crowd and much easier to just go along. Whether anyone else believes that is up to them. I cannot force people to believe God (through the written Bible).

Why is this all so important? The truth will win out, and the scriptures promised that all would be restored before His return. Even though the church wrongly taught error in the Friday crucifixion for centuries, the evidence will win out. The word of God will not return void, and it is time we believe the truth and not man-made fables.

There are many well-known Christians who are on television, and others who have written many books, who likewise don't believe the Friday crucifixion. Some haven't examined all the evidence in detail, and so guess that maybe it was on Thursday. However, others believe the Wednesday crucifixion. The point is that all of them are afraid or reluctant to teach it or bring it up openly. Why? Because they are afraid of losing a following, or losing donations, or losing book sales. It's OK with me, because why should a person make this knowledge a central point of contention in their life? People throughout the ages have wrongly believed in a Friday crucifixion and were genuinely saved. So I don't blame these well-known Christian leaders for just avoiding the subject.

More important is the corollary, that this removes any basis for honoring Sunday. The Sabbath is and has always been the 7th day. However, anyone can worship on Sunday and God our Father accepts them without reservation. Even the Roman Catholic Church has written extensively that they created Sunday as the day of worship and that there is no scriptural basis for it, it is by tradition only. Their writings point out that since Protestant Churches follow their traditional teachings of honoring Sunday, then Protestants are acknowledging that the Roman Catholic Church has precedence and authority over them. There is no reason to honor Sunday, since Yahu'shua rose as the Sabbath was ending, on the 7th day. The only point it brings up is the commandment, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. That's why I bring up the Sabbath and Sunday point.

* Roy Reinhold's article ends here.

* Maria Merola's comments begin again here:

In closing, we must see the bigger picture here. Yahu'shua commands us to “keep his commandments” if we want to enter into life:

Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him..... but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Was he speaking of the “Nine Commandments”? Or was he speaking of all 10 commandments?

Does he still expect us to keep the 4th commandment?

Let’s see what Yahu'shua said:

Matthew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

Luke 6:9 Then said Yahu'shua unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

God tells us that keeping his “Sabbaths” (Holy Days) are a “sign” between us and him throughout your generations. This means “forever”:

Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am YHWH that doth sanctify you.

Ezekiel 20:12 Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am YHWH that sanctify them.

Ezekiel 20:20 And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am YHWH your God.

You will note that the verses above state that by hallowing his “Sabbaths” (Feast Days) we may “know” that he is YHWH. In other words, we know him by the fact that we keep his appointed Holy Days! This is the ONLY thing that differentiates him from the other false pagan gods and imposters! It is by his Holy Days that we KNOW HIM!