p. 102 | O. A. JOHNSON by O. A. Johnson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 29, 1914

O. A. JOHNSON

By O. A. Johnson

Annual Feasts and Annual Sabbaths—No. 3

O. A. JOHNSON

THE whole sacrificial law of the Old Testament, including the new moons, annual feasts, and annual sabbaths, were but types and shadows of "Christ our Passover," who was "sacrificed for us." All these therefore ceased when Christ died on the cross. Heb. 9:9, 10; 10:1; Col. 2:14-17; 1 Cor. 5:7.

Now since there have been various opinions concerning the day and date of Christ's crucifixion, it will be in place to study this subject in the light of the New Testament, to find out when Christ was crucified and when he arose from the dead.

Six Days Before the Passover

"Then Jesus six days before the Passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead." John 12:1. Jesus was now on his way to Jerusalem to attend the Passover, which began six days after his arrival in Bethany. Previously, on the same day, he had dined with Zaccheus in Jericho. Luke 19:1-6. "It was the eve of the Sabbath, and that night and the next day were sacred." But Jesus must have arrived at Bethany before three o'clock on that Friday afternoon, "for it was the rule to have three hours' rest before the Sabbath began, at six."—Geikie's "Life of Christ," small edition, chap. 55, page 659, par. 1. Another authority says that Jesus "reached Bethany only six days before the Passover," and that "he would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany."—"Desire of Ages," large edition, chap. 62, page 557, par. 3. Another well-informed and reliable writer speaks as follows: "Jesus had arrived at Bethany six days before the Passover; that is, on a Friday. The day after was the Sabbath."—"The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah," by Edersheim, Vol. II, page 357. From the above it is evident that Christ came to Bethany on

Friday, the Sixth Day

before the Passover.

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus stopped at the house of Lazarus in Bethany. . . . Crowds of people passed on to the city, bearing the tidings that Jesus was on his way to the feast, and that he would rest over the Sabbath at Bethany."—"Spirit of Prophecy," Vol. II, page 372. No other conclusion can be drawn from this statement than that the day on which Jesus rested at the home of Lazarus in Bethany was

The Sabbath, the Fifth Day before the Passover.

"On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord." John 12:12, 13. The people who went out to meet Jesus, must have learned from the disciples whom Jesus had sent into Jerusalem for the colt on which he proposed to ride into the city, that he intended to enter Jerusalem on that day; hence their procession of welcome. Luke 19:30-38. Thus "on the first day of the week, Jesus resumed his journey to Jerusalem to join in the feast of the Passover."—"Spirit of Prophecy," Vol. II, page 383. Hence "it was on the first day of the week that Christ made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem."—"Desire of Ages," chap. 63, page 569, par. 3. This day on which Christ made his royal entry into Jerusalem is called "Palm Sunday." See Edersheim's "Life of Christ," Vol. II, page 363.

"Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve." Mark 11:11.

From the facts stated above there can be no question that the day on which Christ rode into Jerusalem was the first day of the week, or

Sunday, the Fourth Day before the Passover.

"On the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: and seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever." Mark 11:12-14. "And presently the fig tree withered away." Matt. 21:19. "It was very early on the morning of the second day in Passion Week (Monday), when Jesus, with his disciples, left Bethany."—Edersheim's "Life of Christ," Vol. II, page 374. This last week of Christ's ministry on earth, including his crucifixion, is called the "Passion Week."

Jesus entered the temple, and cleansed it by driving out the buyers, sellers, and money changers, after which he healed many who came to him in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes were grieved because of his wonderful works, and because the children praised him. "And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there." Matt. 21:17. "In the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives." Luke 21:37.

From the evidence thus far considered, it is apparent that

Monday Must Be the Third Day

before the Passover,—the day on which he cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple.

The next day, Tuesday, he entered the city again. "And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots." "And they come again to Jerusalem." Mark 11:20, 27. During this day he taught in the temple, answered various questions propounded to him, and also denounced the Jews for their hypocrisy. See Matt. 21:20-46 and chapters 22, 23. See also parallel chapters in the other Gospels. "It was the last day of Christ's teaching in the temple." "Slowly and regretfully Christ left forever the precincts of the temple."—"Desire of Ages," pages 610, 626.

As he was leaving the temple, the disciples called his attention to this building, to its great stones, etc. But he told them that it would be utterly destroyed. He then went out with them to the mount of Olives, and there sat down to view the city once more in the glory of the setting sun. He then and there answered the question of the disciples as to when the city would be destroyed, and what signs would indicate his coming and the end of the world. See Matthew 24.

It was "two days before the Passover, when Christ had for the last time departed from the temple," and gone out "with his disciples to the mount of Olives, and seated himself with them upon a grassy slope overlooking the city."—"Great Controversy," edition 1888, page 23. Both Matthew and Mark state definitely that these things took place "two days" before the "Passover," or "unleavened bread." Matt. 26:1, 2; Mark 14:1. All this agrees with John, for according to his Gospel, as we have already seen, this day must be

Tuesday, the Second Day before the feast of the Passover.

"We are not told how Jesus spent Wednesday." "He apparently stayed in privacy, awaiting the coming day."—Geikie's "Life of Christ," page 707. "He would refresh himself, gather himself up for the terrible conflict before him;" hence "he passed that day of rest and preparation in quiet retirement with his disciples."—Edersheim's "Life of Christ," pages 468, 469.

We have already seen that according to John 12:1, the first of the six days occurred on Friday; the last of the six would therefore fall on the following Wednesday. We have also seen that, according to Matt. 26:2 and Mark 14:1, Tuesday was the second day before the Passover; hence, according to these three Gospels

Wednesday Must Have Been the First Day before the feast of the Passover.

Now since Wednesday was the first day before this feast, according to Matthew, Mark, and John, it incontrovertibly follows, according to these same authorities, that Thursday must be "that day of unleavened bread, when the Passover must be killed." Luke 22:7. Further evidence will be given in the next article to prove that this day of unleavened bread was Thursday, the fourteenth day of Abib, and that Christ was crucified on the following Friday, the fifteenth day of Abib.