On What Day Was Jesus Crucified?

The question of what day Jesus was crucified

has been a topic of much discussion and study among theologians, historians, and scholars. The Bible provides several clues regarding the timeline of Jesus’ crucifixion, but the exact day of the week has been debated for centuries. In this article, we will explore the different theories and provide a detailed examination of what the Bible and historical sources suggest about the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.

1. The Biblical Account of Jesus’ Crucifixion

The Gospels provide a wealth of information about the events leading up to and surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus. The most important verses regarding the day of the crucifixion are found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each of these Gospels provides details about the Passover festival and the timing of Jesus’ death.

• Matthew 26:17:
  “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?'”
• Mark 14:12:
  “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?'”
• Luke 22:7:
  “Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.”
• John 19:14:
  “It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.”

These passages indicate that Jesus’ crucifixion occurred during the Passover Festival and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. However, the timeline of events, including when exactly Jesus was crucified, is where the confusion arises.

2. The ‘Day of Preparation’ and Its Meaning

The phrase “Day of Preparation” is significant when it comes to identifying the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Day of Preparation refers to the day before the Sabbath (a Saturday), during which Jews prepared for the Sabbath by completing necessary work, such as preparing food and gathering items. In the context of the Passover, this day was particularly important as Jews prepared for the Passover meal (Seder).

In the Gospel of John 19:14, it is stated that Jesus was sentenced to death “on the Day of Preparation of the Passover.” This is a critical clue because it suggests that Jesus’ crucifixion took place on Friday, the day before the Sabbath. The Sabbath would have begun at sunset on Friday evening and lasted until Saturday evening. The reference to the “Day of Preparation” aligns with the traditional Jewish observance of the Sabbath.

Additionally, the Gospel of Luke 23:54 confirms that Jesus was buried on the Day of Preparation, reinforcing the idea that Jesus was crucified on Friday, the day before the Sabbath.

3. The Timing of the Crucifixion: ‘The Sixth Hour’

In the Gospels, we also find a specific mention of the time of day during Jesus’ crucifixion. In Mark 15:25, it says, “It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.” The “sixth hour” (which is referred to in other Gospels) is noon in the Roman system of timekeeping, but in Jewish time, it would be 6:00 AM, which is different from our modern time system. Therefore, Jesus was crucified at about 9:00 AM, and He hung on the cross for several hours before His death at around 3:00 PM.

In Luke 23:44-46, it says:
“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.”

This passage clearly points to the fact that Jesus died at 3:00 PM, and that darkness covered the land from about noon to 3:00 PM.

4. What Does It Mean to Be Crucified on the ‘Day of Preparation’?

The Jewish calendar was organized around the Passover festival and the Sabbath, and these days had significant religious importance. The Day of Preparation was a day when the Jewish people prepared to celebrate the Passover meal.

Because Jesus was crucified on this day, it underscores the symbolic significance of His sacrifice. The Passover lamb was traditionally sacrificed at the temple on the 14th of Nisan (the first month of the Jewish calendar). Jesus, as the Lamb of God, was sacrificed on the very day that the Passover lambs were being slaughtered for the feast. This event carries deep theological meaning: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Passover sacrifice, taking on the sin of the world and offering Himself as the ultimate atonement for sin.

5. Why Friday and Not Thursday or Wednesday?

Some have suggested that Jesus could have been crucified on a Thursday or Wednesday to allow for a longer period between the crucifixion and the Sabbath. However, the overwhelming majority of scholars agree that the crucifixion happened on Friday, based on the biblical references to the “Day of Preparation” (the day before the Sabbath). The idea of a Good Friday crucifixion is well-supported by both scripture and tradition, and it has been accepted by the majority of Christian traditions.

6. The Passover and the Crucifixion: The Lamb of God

Jesus’ death on Friday has profound significance because it aligns with the Jewish Passover. The Passover commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt when God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and mark their doorposts with its blood so that the angel of death would “pass over” their homes.

• Exodus 12:6-7: “Take care of them (the lambs) until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.”
• John 1:29: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'”

Jesus is portrayed as the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice fulfills the Old Testament type and provides deliverance for humanity from sin and death. His death on Friday, the day of Passover preparation, connects His crucifixion to the Passover Lamb, and it highlights the theological depth of His sacrifice as the ultimate Lamb for the salvation of the world.

7. Conclusion: The Day of Jesus’ Crucifixion

In summary, Jesus was crucified on Friday, the Day of Preparation for the Passover, just before the Jewish Sabbath. This aligns with the scriptural account in the Gospels and fulfills the prophetic significance of Jesus as the Passover Lamb, offering His life for the salvation of humanity. His crucifixion, on Friday afternoon, at approximately 3:00 PM, marked the moment when He became the sacrificial lamb, whose blood would cover the sins of the world.

This event also teaches us about the fulfillment of God’s plan for redemption, as Jesus died on the same day the Passover lambs were being sacrificed, completing the ultimate act of salvation.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why is it significant that Jesus died on the Day of Preparation for the Passover?
2. How does Jesus’ role as the Passover Lamb deepen our understanding of His sacrifice?
3. What does it mean for Christians today that Jesus was crucified on Good Friday?
4. How does the timeline of Jesus’ death align with Old Testament prophecies?
5. What theological implications can we draw from the fact that Jesus died at the same time as the Passover lambs?

Meta Description:

Discover the deep significance of Jesus’ crucifixion on the Day of Preparation during the Passover festival. Learn why it was crucial for Jesus to die on Friday, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy and becoming the Lamb of God.