He is risen! He is risen, indeed! This was the typical greeting Christians after Jesus’ death and resurrection would greet each other with. And why? Because Jesus’ death and resurrection was questioned then, like it is today.
It is important to abide by Scripture when it comes to Jesus’ death and resurrection and not to what the Catholic or any other “church” teaches. The Bible indicates that Jesus had to be crucified on Wednesday and arose sometime in the Saturday evening hours before the end of the Sabbath, contrary to the popular belief that He was crucified on Friday. This is further supported by the fact that the Jewish day begins and ends at 6 P.M. (sunset), with the daytime hours beginning at the “First hour” from dawn until 8 A.M. and lasting through the “Twelfth hour” of 6 P.M. to sunset. Additionally, the six days of Passover were being observed, culminating (not an accident of time) with the yearly High Sabbath (Leviticus 23), a three-day feast beginning on Wednesday sunset. The Bible gives us enough information to determine a timeline of events that pertain to Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The Jewish dates are based on the Old Testament Scriptures that outline when the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread must take place (Exodus 12; Leviticus 23; Numbers 28; Deuteronomy 16). Remember, that each Jewish day starts at sunset.
Interesting Scriptures:
Fridayfolk believe that Jesus rose on the 1st day of the week. However, Wednesdayrians promptly point out that the Bible does not explicitly state that Jesus rose on Sunday. All it says, is that Mary came to the tomb on the 1st day of the week and found it empty (See Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20). Jesus could have risen any time before that. They believe that He must have been in the grave for exactly 72 hours, so that would put his resurrection around Saturday, 5 pm. The empty tomb was only discovered the following day.
There is however one scripture that directly states the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” (Mark 16:9) Now, when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Wednesdayrians point out that the Greek word for “He rose” “anastas” is in the perfect tense, meaning that it had already happened sometime earlier. So according to them, this Scripture should be translated “Now when He was already risen on the first day of the week …” It would be no different from saying, “Yesterday when Jesus was already risen, I watched a beautiful sunset.” Clearly, that part about Jesus being risen is redundant. If He is appearing to Mary, clearly He is risen. What is the point in saying it if Mark did not intend to communicate the day of his resurrection?
However, some will say that Mark 16:9 does not count, because it was part of the long ending of Mark that might not have been part of the original Gospel of Mark. Some believe that Mark 16:9-20 was added later on by scribes. If you have an NIV bible, there will be a footnote by these verses explaining that some ancient manuscripts do not contain those verses. So, I will make my case independently of Mark 16:9.
Another interesting scripture is John 20:17. “Jesus said to her, Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, I’ am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.” (John 20:17) This is after Jesus was risen and had appeared to Mary. He told her not to touch Him because He had not as yet ascended to the Father. Then He mentioned that He was going to the Father. But, later on, He had no problem with Thomas touching His sides (John 20:27). “Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27) Now, I know that this Scripture is subject to various interpretations, but it would seem, that Jesus had ascended to His Father some time prior to His final ascension 40 days later. Which He did. Maybe the source of another article. Here is a timeline that I hope will help us see Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday and rose early Sunday morning and a few verses, “These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations (or High Day Sabbath), which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD’S passover. 6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread” (Leviticus 23:4-6), as the Scriptures said. Jesus’ death to the day and month. No need guessing!
