Many believers today find themselves perplexed by the events of Crucifixion Week, largely due to the existence of two contrasting calendars influencing the timeline. Yeshua and his disciples adhered to the Zadok Priestly Calendar (ZPC), while other Jewish groups followed the lunar calendar that had been reintroduced from Babylon.
Through our studies, we have concluded that the day begins at daybreak rather than in the evening, as believed by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Crucifixion Week serves as a significant witness to this conclusion, as the Zadok Priestly Calendar aligns seamlessly with the three days and three nights that occurred.
According to the Zadok Priestly Calendar, Pesach (Passover) takes place on Month 1, Day 14, which falls on the evening of the third day of the week (Tuesday) each year. After finishing their meal, Yeshua and his disciples went to a nearby garden, where Yeshua was arrested. Later that night, the rooster crowed three times, signaling that dawn was approaching on Month 1, Day 15 (the fourth day of the week, Wednesday), which is the ZPC High Sabbath for Unleavened Bread.
Yeshua took his final breath on the cross around 3:00 PM on the afternoon of Month 1, Day 15. John 19 provides an account of his burial later that night.
After these things, Yosef of Ramatayim, being a talmid of Yeshua, but secretly for fear of the Yehudim, asked of Pilate that he might take away Yeshua’s body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body. Nakdimon, who at first came to Yeshua by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. So they took Yeshua’s body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Yehudim is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden a new tomb in which no man had ever yet been laid. Then because of the Yehudim’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand) they laid Yeshua there. John 19:38-42 HNV
That night Yeshua went down to Sheol (H7585) for three days and three nights:
- Day 1 (WeekDay 4 Wed night, Month 1 Day 15 – Weekday 5, Thurs night Month 1 Day 16)
- Day 2 (WeekDay 5 Thurs night Month 1 Day 16 – Weekday 6, Fri night Month 1 Day 17)
- DAY 3 (WeekDay Fri night Month 1 Day 17 – Shabbat Weekday 7, Sat night Month 1 Day 18.
- Yeshua rose from Sheol H7585 and was back up on earth during Weekday 1, Sun Month 1 Day 19 in time to speak with Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre and the others that evening.
Now on the first day of the week, Miryam from Magdala went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb… John 20:1 HNV
But Miryam was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Yeshua had lain. They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Yeshua standing, and didn’t know that it was Yeshua. Yeshua said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Yeshua said to her, “Miryam.” She turned and said to him, “Rhabbouni!” which is to say, “Teacher!” Yeshua said to her, “Don’t touch me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Miryam from Magdala came and told the talmidim that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the talmidim were assembled, for fear of the Yehudim, Yeshua came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Shalom be to you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. Yeshua therefore said to them again, “Shalom be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! Whoever’s sins you forgive, they are forgiven them. Whoever’s sins you retain, they have been retained.” But T’oma, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Yeshua came. The other talmidim therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not Believe.” John 20:10-25 HNV
The Pharisees and Sadducees’s Pesach/Passover observance was the evening of Yeshua’s crucifixion and their first day of Unleavened bread High Sabbath starts at Sundown. This was the same day of which Yeshua and his disciples should have observed the 1st day of Unleavened bread High Sabbath on the Zadok Priestly calendar starting earlier at sunrise, however, it was far from a restful day.
They led Yeshua therefore from Kayafa into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Pesach. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.” Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Yehudim said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the word of Yeshua might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die. John 18:28-32 HNV
But you have a custom, that I should release someone to you at the Pesach. Therefore do you want me to release to you the King of the Yehudim?” Then they all shouted again, saying, “Not this man, but Bar-Abba!” Now Bar-Abba was a robber. John 18:39-40 HNV
When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Yeshua out, and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called “The Pavement,” but in Hebrew, “Gabta.” Now it was the Preparation Day of the Pesach, at about the sixth hour. He said to the Yehudim, “Behold, your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate said tothem, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief Kohanim answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” So then he delivered him to them to be crucified. So they took Yeshua and led him away. He went out, bearing his cross, to the place called “The Place of a Skull,” which is called in Hebrew, “Gulgolta.” John 19:13-16 HNV
At Prophecy Vine, we firmly believe that Yeshua is the first fruits of the resurrection. However, the incident in John 20:26-31 occurs eight days later, on First Fruits/Sheaf Wave Barley, which falls on Weekday 1 (Sunday), Month 1, Day 26—the Sunday following the weekly Shabbat after Unleavened Bread.
During this visit, Yeshua came to forgive Thomas for his doubt, as the earlier passage does not mention anyone touching him. Yeshua had instructed Mary not to touch him that first Sunday, Month 1, Day 19, at the sepulchre, stating that he had not yet ascended to his Father. (There is more to discuss regarding Yeshua’s actions during those seven days, but that will be addressed in another article.)
After eight days again his talmidim were inside, and T’oma was with them. Yeshua came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Shalom be to you.” Then he said to T’oma, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Yeshua said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” Therefore Yeshua did many other signs in the presence of his talmidim, which are not written in this book; but these are written,that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. Amein John 20:26-31 HNV
Praise Yah for Yeshua, our compassionate High Priest forever.
