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Introducing the issue of the three days and three nights of Jesus entombment. Discussing the problems with the traditional view and the goals to be attained by this writing.
Dealing with the literalness of the sign, the circumstances in which it was given, and to whom it was spoken.
The meal that Jesus and his disciples took on the night of his betrayal and arrest was the traditional Passover Seder, observed on the 14th day of the first Jewish month, Nisan. Also that John reports the same meal on the same night, but in a different manner.
Stating the fact that during the week of Passover, there were two Sabbaths. This is a key element to a proper understanding of the chronology of events.
The first day of the week must be understood from a Jewish background, and not Roman.
A time-frame based upon the evidence given, and taking into account the full three days and nights of Jesus entombment.
There are several possible ways to determine this date. We will triangulate the date using three different approaches, as being the three best and most likely from a historical and Biblical standpoint.
1. In John 2:20, a statement is made by the Jews during the first Passover mentioned in John, that the temple had been under construction for 46 years. Some may call into question the historical accuracy of this statement. However, it should only be doubted if there is sufficient reason. In my viewpoint and research, none is found.
We should understand this statement to mean, at the time it was made, that the temple had been in the process of building for 46 years. It is admitted by several sources, that the temple was not completely finished until A.D. 63. Here, the Greek term for 'temple' refers to the whole temple complex, and not just the sanctuary itself.
According to Josephus, Herod began actual work on the temple in the 18th year of his reign.1 Herod began his actual reign of Judea in 717 AUC (AUC = from the founding of Rome), or about 37 B.C. Edersheim states that the temple construction began in the month of Kislev, 734 AUC, which corresponds to Nov/Dec. of 19 B.C.2
By counting forward 46 years from December 19 B.C., we come to December, A.D. 27. Thus, by the Passover of A.D. 28, the temple had been in the process of building a full 46 years.
2. In Luke 3:1, we have the statement concerning the appearance of John the Baptizer in the 15th year of Tiberius' reign.
Edersheim says,
It was, according to St. Luke's exact statement, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar reckoning as provincials would do, from his co-regency with Augustus, which commenced two years before his sole reign. . .3
To calculate what year would be determined as the fifteenth year of his reign, we would need to begin counting from the first year of his co-regency with Augustus. Since Augustus died A.D. 14, we would count 15 years from A.D. 12, allowing for the two years of Tiberius' co-regency, and arrive at the year A.D. 27. If this is the year of John's appearance, this would make Jesus' public ministry beginning late A.D. 27 or early A.D.28.
Thus, the first Passover after Jesus' baptism would be the Passover of A.D. 28.
3. In Luke 3:23, Luke states that at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, '. . . He began to be about 30 years old.' The Greek word translated about, when used with numbers, means approximately.
According to Edersheim, Herod the Great died 750 AUC, or about 4 B.C. He states, "Indeed, there is scarcely any historical date on which competent writers are more agreed than that of Herod's death."4
Therefore, if the dates of 5 or 4 B.C. are accepted for Jesus' birth, then by adding 30 years, in A.D. 28, Jesus would be between the age of 30 and 32, depending upon the year and time of year of his birth.
Based upon the best evidence at hand, the year A.D. 28 seems to be the best calculated year for the beginning of Jesus' public ministry.
The gospel of John seems to give us the most complete chronology for Jesus' public ministry. The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) mention only one Passover, being the final one of his passion. If the chronology of John is accurate, and there is no reason to doubt it, then the following would best represent his ministry duration, using the seasonal feasts as our chronological markers.
John's gospel mentions three Passovers, one Tabernalces, one Chanukah, and one unnamed feast. Using A.D. 28 as the starting point of his public ministry, the duration of his ministry works like this.
1. First Passover of Jesus' ministry - John 2:13,22. This would be the Passover, Sunday, March 26 A.D. 285
2. The Unnamed Feast - John 5:1. Some have counted this feast as another Passover, but this is not likely for the following reason.
The Greek word here for 'feast', is used without the Greek definite article. In every other place when John specifically mentions a Passover, he always signifies it as 'the feast', using the definite article. It is quite unlikely that he would use the article with the mention of every Passover but one.
Edersheim states that this unknown feast was likely either the feast of Wood-offering, which took place in August, or it could be the Feast of Trumpets, occurring in September. Either way, this is the fall of A.D. 28.
3. Second Passover - John 6:4. During this Passover, the account of Jesus feeding the 5,000 is given. The synoptics report this event, but only John gives the timeframe. This would be Passover, Friday, April 13, A.D. 29.
4. Tabernacles - John 7:2 This would be Sukkot, Oct. 8-16, A.D. 29.
5. Chanukah - John 10:22 This occurring December 16-24, A.D. 29.
6. The Last Passover - John 13-19. Passover night, i.e., the night on which the Passover meal was observed, took place on Tuesday, April 2, A.D. 30.
I realize that this date for Passover will likely go against the grain of most traditionalists, and may ruffle the feathers on a few ole' birds. However, this date was arrived at using several means. One means used to arrive at this date, was a computer-based Jewish calendar. Also used, with the help of the director of the Kirkpatrick Planetarium in Oklahoma City, was the calculations of the phases of the moon, for the year A.D. 30.
Without going into great detail, the first day of Nisan , the first Jewish month, began on Wednesday, March 20. Then counting fourteen days, Passover would begin on Tuesday, April 2nd at sunset, the time of the full moon. All of these western dates are according to the Gregorian calendar, with the feasts beginning at sunset on that date.
Jesus would have began his ministry likely in the late fall of A.D. 27. The duration of his ministry would be two years and about four to six months.
What follows are the Western dates, according to our present Gregorian calendar, which correspond to the Jewish dates, used in the writing of Three Days and Nights. I realize that in the writing, I stated that the Western dates should not be taken into account, when trying to understand this Jewish event. This is true. However, when the Western dates are laid side by side with the Jewish dating, they match perfectly.
You will see what I mean.
