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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.
Now when he was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
The translation and interpretation of this verse is solely based upon one factor, the translation of the phrase, 'early on the first day of the week'. The proper understanding of this verse lies in the Greek phrase, prote sabbatou, translated here as 'first day of the week'. Mark is the only writer to use this phrase and only here. It is different from the typical phrase used, mia sabbaton.
Prote (from protos ) is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word, Rosh. Both have the same basic meaning, which is; head, beginning, or that which is first, chief, and principal. Most have heard of the term, Rosh HaShannah, which is the Jewish New Year. It literally means, 'head of the year'.
Prote, when used in connection with time, takes the meaning; head or beginning. Mark also uses protos at 14:12, to denote the beginning day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Matthew, in his account of the same time (26:17), uses the same construction as Mark, except he omits the Greek word for 'day'. Matthew's text would read, On [or 'at'] the beginning [protos] of the [feast] of the Unleavened [bread].
This phrase used by Mark denotes the head or beginning of the week. As already shown, the technical beginning of the week occurred at the close of the Sabbath at sunset. In regard to this, Robertson admits,"It is probable that this note of time goes with 'risen' (anastas), though it makes good sense with 'appeared' (ephane)." 1
The Greek for 'early' is proi (prwi, pronounced pro-ee), which normally is used to denote the early portion of the day, such as morning. However, as an adverb, its basic function is to mark the earliest portion of the time it is connected with. So in our context, it denotes the earliest portion of the week, which is the ending of the Sabbath at sunset.
With this understanding, Mark 16:9 tells us that Jesus rose from the dead at the head of the week, that is, at sunset just as the Sabbath was closing. A more literal and accurate translation of the verse would be,"And having already risen early at the beginning of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene from whom he had cast out seven demons." The phrase "early at the head of the week" points to his rising from the dead, not his appearing to Mary.
[see Appendix A concerning the validity of the ending of Mark's gospel]
