Day and Date of Christ's Crucifixion by O. A. Johnson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 19, 1914

Day and Date of Christ's Crucifixion

By O. A. Johnson

Annual Feasts and Annual Sabbaths—No. 6

Day and Date of Christ's Crucifixion

O. A. JOHNSON

For greater perspicuity and for convenient reference, a summary of the articles on "Annual Feasts and Annual Sabbaths" will here be presented.

Three Annual Feasts

At the time of the exodus, God instituted three annual festivals for Israel to observe, as follows:—

The first was the feast of the Passover, from the fifteenth to the twenty-first in the month Abib, or Nisan. Ex. 12:13-15; 13:4, 6, 7; 23:14, 15.

The second was the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. This feast came seven weeks and one day, or fifty days, after the first Passover sabbath, and it fell on the sixth day of the third month, or on the sixth day of Sivan. Ex. 23:16; Lev. 23:15, 16; Deut. 16:16.

The third was the Feast of Tabernacles; it continued seven days, closing, however, on the eighth day. This feast came in the seventh month, Tisri, from the fifteenth to the twenty-second day of this month. Ex. 23:16, 17; Lev. 23:34-39.

Seven Annual Sabbaths

The first day of the paschal feast, or the fifteenth of Abib, was an annual sabbath. Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:6, 7.

The last day of this paschal feast was the second annual sabbath, and it fell on the twenty-first day of Abib. Ex. 12:16; Lev. 23:8.

The third annual sabbath corresponded to the day of Pentecost, on the sixth day of Sivan. Lev. 23:15, 16, 21; Acts 2:1.

The fourth annual sabbath was the first day of the old civil year, and came on the first day of the seventh month of the ecclesiastical year; this month was called Tisri. Lev. 23:23-25.

The fifth annual sabbath was the most important of all the annual sabbaths; for it was the Day of Atonement, and it came on the tenth day of the seventh month. Lev. 23:27-32.

The sixth annual sabbath corresponded to the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and it came on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. Lev. 23:34, 39.

The seventh and last annual sabbath corresponded to the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and it fell on the twenty-second day of the seventh month, or Tisri. Lev. 23:39.

These three annual feasts and seven annual sabbaths were separate from the weekly Sabbath; for they were "beside the Sabbaths of the Lord." Lev. 23:37, 38.

All these yearly feasts and sabbaths were especially set apart for various kinds of offerings and sacrifices, hence they ceased to be obligatory when the sacrificial system ceased at the cross: Lev. 23:37; Num. 29:39; Heb. 9:1, 9, 10; 10:1, 2; Col. 2:14-17.

Six Days Before the Passover. John 12:1

The sixth day before the Passover was Friday, Abib 8, 31 A. D.

The fifth day before the Passover was Sabbath, Abib 9, 31 A. D.

The fourth day before the Passover was Sunday, Abib 10, 31 A. D.

The third day before the Passover was Monday, Abib 11, 31 A. D.

The second day before the Passover was Tuesday, Abib 12, 31 A. D.

The first day before the Passover was Wednesday, Abib 13, 31 A. D.

The paschal lamb was killed on Thursday, Abib 14, 31 A. D.

Christ was crucified on Friday, Abib 15, 31 A. D.

Christ lay in the grave on Sabbath, Abib 16, 31 A. D.

Christ arose on Sunday, Abib 17, 31 A. D.

The day of Pentecost fell on Saturday, Sivan 6, 31 A. D.

The Jewish year consisted of twelve months with alternating 30 and 29 days, making 354 days instead of 365. "But as the Jewish festivals were held not only on certain fixed days of the month, but also at certain seasons of the year, consequently great confusion would, in process of time, arise by this method of calculating; the spring month sometimes falling in the middle of winter, it became necessary to accommodate the lunar to the solar year, in order that their months, and consequently their festivals, might always fall at the same season. For this purpose, the Jews added a whole month to the year as often as it was necessary; which occurred commonly once in three years, and sometimes once in two years."—Horne's "Introduction," Vol. II, part 2, chap. 4, sec. 5, par. 4.