Published: 04/19/2025
To understand the crucifixion/resurrection timeline one must be familiar with God’s annual holy days as given to us in Leviticus 23. One must also be familiar with the Hebrew Calendar and the fact that it is different from the Gregorian Calendar commonly used today. One notable difference is that the biblical day (Hebrew Calendar) starts and ends at sunset as opposed to midnight (Gregorian Calendar).
Note: People are often thrown off by the Gospel’s reference to the “day of preparation” because they do not know about God’s annual holy days and do not realize there were two days of preparation and two Sabbaths that week.
There should be no surprise that there is confusion around this timeline, we were warned in the Book of Daniel that this would happen. “He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws…” (NIV, Daniel 7:25)
Abib/Nisan 14
Tuesday evening after sunset (beginning of Abib 14) – the beginning of the Day of Passover, Last Supper
Wednesday (still Abib/Nisan 14 until sunset) – Passover Day, day of preparation for the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (annual Sabbath), Christ was crucified at 9 AM and died as the Paschal Lamb at 3 PM Jerusalem time, Christ placed in the tomb
Abib/Nisan 15
Thursday – the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (annual Sabbath), no work to be done
Abib/Nisan 16
Friday – day of preparation for the weekly Saturday Sabbath, spices purchased and prepared for Christ’s body
Abib/Nisan 17
Saturday – weekly Sabbath, no work to be done, Christ (Lord of the Sabbath) is risen around 3 PM, Sign of Jonah fulfilled (Matthew 12:38-42), Christ was in the grave three full days and three full nights
Abib/Nisan 18
Sunday – ladies go to tomb to apply burial spices, arrival at empty tomb, Christ already risen prior to their arrival