Most Christians believe that Jesus died on a Friday, but there are some who argue that Jesus must have been crucified on a Wednesday or Thursday to fulfill the 72-hour period He mentioned. To find out what the Bible actually says about this topic, let’s examine the four Gospels.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the exact day of Jesus’ crucifixion is not explicitly mentioned. However, Matthew 27:62 provides a clue: “Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered together with Pilate.” In Jewish culture, the preparation day typically refers to Friday, the day before the weekly Sabbath. Matthew 28:1 further supports this by stating, “Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb.”
Mark’s Gospel provides a similar timeline. In Mark 15:42, it says, “When evening had already come, because it was the preparation day, that is, the day before the Sabbath.” Then, in Mark 16:1-2, we read, “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.”
Luke’s account aligns with this as well. Luke 23:54-56 states, “It was the preparation day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. Now the women who had come with Him out of Galilee followed, and saw the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and perfumes. And on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” Luke 24:1 continues, “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.”
The Gospel of John also indicates a Friday crucifixion. John 19:31 says, “Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.” John 20:1 follows with, “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.”
All four Gospels agree that Jesus died on what is referred to as the preparation day, which is traditionally understood to be Friday. He was in the tomb on Saturday, the Sabbath, and by Sunday morning, the tomb was found empty.
While some argue that Jesus must have been crucified earlier in the week to fulfill a 72-hour period, the Gospel narratives collectively suggest a Friday crucifixion. If you’re still curious and want to explore this topic further, this month’s Patreon exclusive Bible study dives deeper into the specifics of when Jesus died, both the day of the week and the day of the month. You can access this study at patreon.com/variologies by signing up for the truth seeker tier or above.
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