Crucifixion Day

Dear Editor,In 27 AD, the first day of Unleavened Bread fell on a Saturday. “For that sabbath day was a high day” (John 19:31). The day preceding was Passover on a Friday. “Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany (on Saturday)…On the next day (Sunday) much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna…” (John 12:1, 12-13). This thus proves that Passover fell on Friday that year.Jesus was crucified on the day of preparation for the Passover (John 19:31-37), so Jesus was crucified at noon on Thursday. The next day (Passover), the one after preparation day, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked for a guard to secure the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66). The women also went home “and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56).The preparation of the spices was done on Passover because these actions were not allowed on the Sabbath. Thus, Jesus was in the tomb three days and three nights—Thursday, Friday and Saturday—to fulfill Jesus’ own statement that he would be in the tomb three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). There is no supposed missing day in Holy Week, when Jesus rested, as many churches incorrectly state.After 2,000 years, why not get it correct? -G. Mellish, NC