Our world history and the Word of God are so much bigger than we’ve ever been taught. Putting together the mysteries of history and the bible are important so that we can understand where our beliefs originated from and why. Things get mixed and lost up over time. Jesus told us that he would be in the grave for three days and three nights but our traditions make him a liar. If he was crucified on Friday he would have still been in the grave on Sunday morning. Let’s count. Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, 1. Saturday sundown to Sunday sundown, 2. Sunday sundown to Monday sundown, 3. Well that’s not right. We obviously have a problem.
Matt 12:40 For as Jonas 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.KJV
Matt 27:62-63 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.KJV
Mark 8:31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.KJV
John 2:19-21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?21 But he spake of the temple of his body.KJV
So what happened to the three days and three nights Jesus spoke of? Once again the council of Nicaea changed our history. At the time of the first century church, first century believers in Christ celebrated the Lord’s Last Supper on the 14th of Nisan at sundown. These people later became known as the Quartodecimen’s because they recognized the last supper, the day of preparation on the 14th. Quarto is 4 in Latin, deci is 10. If you call people 14ers where I live people would understand that as those who climb 14,000 foot mountains, but in the first century they were known as celebrators of the 14th of Nisan. These believers were not concerned as to when Jesus arose, but on his last supper. This was the common practice of the Asian believers in the first century because they observed the command, “this do”. This is why they were conscious to keep the 14th of Nisan as their date for observance.
Luke 22:18-22 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! KJV
Paul then gave us this insight as to why we are to be observers of the 14th of Nisan. We are to be observant so that we show the Lord’s death until he comes. If we remember Jesus on this day, breaking bread and drinking wine, others will want to know the story how he was betrayed, crucified, buried and resurrected. This is what Jesus told us to do, and Paul expounds.
1 Cor 11:23-26 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.KJV
Now Paul gives us further direction. Jesus was our Passover Lamb, but also Jesus was our perfect heavenly sacrifice, unleavened. As the feast of unleavened bread, Jesus’ body did not see decay in the grave. He was the sinless unleavened bread of heaven. The feast of unleavened bread was a seven day feast. Leaven was a type of sin and leaven was to be removed from the dwelling for seven days, thereby cleaning sin from our bodies. This is why Paul says if you eat and drink unworthily you are bringing damnation upon yourself. Paul points out that that is why there are so many weak and sick among us. If we observe the 14th of Nisan as our day to clean sin from our lives and show the Lords death until he comes then we are doing what Jesus told us to do.
1 Cor 11:27-32 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.KJV
Moses says that if anyone eats something with leaven during that time should be cut off from the congregation. Israel had to observe this so that Jesus would observe this and be our Passover Lamb and our unleavened bread.
Ex 12:19-20 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.KJV
Paul, in this context, is pointing out sexual sin in the church at Corinth. He tells us that even a little sin or leaven infects everything. Paul says clean it out of the church at Corinth, keep the feast, and eat with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Now consider that we are the church, the ecclesia is you and me, individually. The church is not a building but individuals. There is a double meaning here.
1 Cor 5:6-8 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven,that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.KJV
So the Quartodecimens kept the observance of the 14th, the Lords Last Supper, the Passover feast of Unleavened Bread.
At some point, other believers from Egypt started celebrating Jesus’ overcoming the grave on the third day after the crucifixion. They were not partial to the day of the week, as Sunday, but rather were focused on the third day. There was really little contention between these two groups until we get to the council of Nicaea. At that time Eusebius preferred a celebration on a Sunday. Polycarp opposed but neither made the decision. Constantine delivered a scathing anti-Semitic discourse and refused to put a holiday on a day the Jews had a holiday. Therefore the decision was made to have a holiday, Easter, that combined the spring equinox and the Sunday holiday of Eusebius, and to put it after the Jewish Passover so as not to be contaminated by the Jews. The Quartodecimans were overridden by politics and a dislike for the Jews.
It would have been quite simple if that were all there was to it but there was such controversy over the day and season that some churches throughout the Roman Empire celebrated at different Sundays. Eventually when the new Gregorian calendar started being used, around 1582, Easter got a moveable date, the Sunday after Passover.
So looking back to the time before Jesus’ crucifixion we come up with another problem. In Matthew 28:1 there is a mistranslation from Sabbaths to Sabbath. There were two Sabbaths that week the regular weekly Sabbath and a High Holy Day, that was also a Sabbath. Young’s Literal Translation translates as follows:
Matt 28:1 And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre,YLT
NT:4521 sabbaton (sab'-bat-on); of Hebrew origin [OT:7676]; the Sabbath (i.e. Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension, a se'nnight, i.e. the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: KJV - sabbath (day), week. (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
On the Friday before the Passover, the 9th of Nisan, Jesus was in Bethany. At sundown the Sabbath started. On Saturday the 10th of Nisan, Jesus entered Jerusalem as the triumphal entry. Sunday the 11th of Nissan Jesus was in Jerusalem publicly teaching. On Monday, the 12th of Nisan Jesus was again in Bethany. Tuesday was the 13th of Nisan they returned from Bethany. Wednesday was the 14th of Nisan, the Last Supper (Tuesday night sundown to Wednesday evening sundown). Jesus was crucified. It was also the Passover and Jesus had to be buried before sundown when the Passover would begin. So in haste he was laid in a tomb by Joseph of Arimathea. This was Jesus’ first night in the tomb. Thursday the 15th of Nisan, (Wednesday sundown to Thursday sundown) was the passover. No one did anything on this day but observe Passover. This was Jesus’ first day in the tomb. Friday the 16th of Nisan (Thursday sundown to Friday sundown) was the day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath. On this day everyone had until sundown to get prepared. Also the women would have gone out to buy the spices to anoint Jesus’ body. The burial cloth was long strips of material soaked in scented oil. That would have all been prepared so that after the Sabbath they could properly anoint his body. This was Jesus’ second day in the tomb. Saturday the 17th of Nisan, (Friday sundown to Saturday sundown) the weekly Sabbath, day of rest, was observed and concluded at sundown. This was Jesus’ third day in the tomb. Sometime after sundown Saturday night Jesus arose. Sunday morning, the 18th of Nisan and the first day of the week, the women found the tomb empty.
Observing traditions without knowing how they started leave us unaware as to what the original observance was about. In this case our mixed up tradition has kept us from understanding what it was Jesus told us to do. How we observe, and why, got lost in politics. It would seem we are to observe the 14th of Nisan, but there is no reason why we shouldn’t observe the resurrection, whether on a Sunday or the third day after the crucifixion, the 18th of Nisan. Then some understanding of Jesus in his resurrected body also has gotten lost in history. Jesus was seen throughout Jerusalem for the next forty days. As Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, he may not have stayed only in Jerusalem. He may have witnessed to others in other countries. Jesus said he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. We have several accounts and repeated testimony written in the gospels about Jesus appearing in Jerusalem. Paul also attests to 500 people seeing him at one time. He spoke of the coming Holy Spirit before he ascended.
1 Cor 15:3-8 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.KJV
Matt 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.KJV
Mark 16:12-18 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 .They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.KJV
Luke 24:13-15 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.KJV
Luke 24:33-49 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.43 And he took it, and did eat before them.44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 And ye are witnesses of these things.49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.KJV
John 20:19-31 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.KJV
John 21:1-2 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.KJV
John 21:12-14 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.KJV
Acts 1:2-9 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.KJV
Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.KJV
Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.KJV
Acts 13:31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.KJV
After Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost. We have to get back to Noah, the Tower of Babel, underwater cities, and the approach of Elenin.
