2,000 years ago, just outside the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, 3 crosses were placed on a hill called Golgotha. On the center cross hung the Son of God. As the life blood flowed from His body, salvation for all mankind was purchased that day.
The Savior of men cried out "Teteleseli!" or "It is finished!" The rocks were rent, graves were opened and the veil of the temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom.
That evening, the soldiers took the body of Jesus down from the cross and gave it to 2 men, Joseph and Nicodemus, they and the women standing by, took His dead, lifeless body and prepared it and then they placed it in a new tomb.
For three days, the world, back in full motion, not knowing that in the heart of the earth, the Son of God was preaching and suffering.
On the third day, early Sunday morning, the angel rolled away stone and the Son of God arose from the grave and took His blood that had been shed and carried it to heaven and place it at the mercy seat in heaven and to this very day it is still washing away the sins of confessing sinners who place their faith and trust in that finished work of calvary!
Now the question arises.
Is it good friday or good wednesday?
to answer the question, we have to answer the verse found in Matthew 12:40. Jesus said that he would be in the earth for as many days as Jonah was in the whale. 3 to be exact.
To answer this with finality, we have to count backwards.
Let's start with the day and time of the ressurection. Early Sunday morning. see Matt. 28:1. Now, if we count back 3, 24 hour periods, we come to early thursday morning. NOT friday!
So, Jesus died on a Wednesday, His body was taken from the cross in the evening, prepared for burial and then buried either late, late Wednesday eve. or early thursday a.m.
AMEN for the cross and the empty tomb. I had the awesome priveldge to be at the tomb 2 years ago with my cousin who lives in Eliat, Israel. My mother as you may know is a full-blooded Jew and many in her family live in Israel.
We are praying and expecting a great day tomorrow at RBC. We had 1 baptized Wednesday night and we have already 6-10 entire families signed up, ready to come!
PLease join me in prayer for this and for every gospel preaching church all over to see a harvest of souls!
Jesus had to be in the tomb BEFORE 6pm on Wednesday! Mark 15:41 indicates that Christ was taken from the cross early in preparation of the Sabbath. John 19:31 indicates that no one could remain on the crosses during the Sabbath (Thursday was a high day, with the same rules as a Saturday Sabbath). Jesus had to be off of the cross and in the tomb before 6pm. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea would not have broken any of the Sabbath laws. This is also the same reason that the Marys couldn't properly prepare His body for burial on Wednesday. There just wasn't time. I believe it is very likely that Jesus resurrected at 6pm Saturday night. To the Jews, the Sabbath would have been over and Sunday would be beginning. The stone could have been rolled away anytime after.
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