Yahshua's Death, Burial, and Resurrection Part 2: Burial
Burial:
We have this thing when reading the scriptures of not inserting a time element. We have a tendency to read as though one event happened after another with no time in between. If I may I will insert a time element, something which the scriptures don’t specifically mention but nevertheless is there. So after Yahshua died which was as the evening approach for the beginning of Abib 16th. The time element here is that Yahshua didn’t get removed from the cross right after he died.
“Yahshua was on the cross for about six hours before he died, from about 9:AM to 3:PM. It isn't quite clear how long his dead body remained on the cross before being taken down (John 19:30-38) First, the soldiers came by after his death to break the legs of the three being crucified to hasten their death, but since Messiah was already dead, one of the soldiers pierced his side to puncture his heart. The Jews had requested that the bodies should not be present on the crosses when the sabbath (a high sabbath) began. After this, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to take away the body of Yahshua, since it was then known he had died.” (Ebible.com)
Let’s start by reading the 4 gospels on the burial of Yahshua:
John 19:31, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Yahshua, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Yahshua, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Yahshua: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Yahshua.
John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Yahshua by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
John 19:40 Then took they the body of Yahshua, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
John 19:42 There laid they Yahshua therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. “
Mat 27:57, “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Yahshua's disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Yahshua. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mat 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”
Mark 15:42, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Yahshua.
Mark 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mark 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
Mark 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mark 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.”
Luke 23:50, “And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Luke 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Yahshua.
Luke 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Luke 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luke 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”
Now let’s time line the stories. Each version is true. Some have more details or focus on particular events than others depending on whom the letter is being written to, all are inspired of the Holy Spirit. They tell one story.
Mark 15:34-37 says Yahshua died at the 9th hour of the day (about 3pm) and as we pick up the burial we see in John 19:31, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation,” and in
Mat 27:57, “When the even was come,” and in Mark 15:42, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,” and in Luke 23:54, “And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.”
From these scriptures we see that Yahshua was not taken down from the cross right away after he died. Because it was the preparation, when even had come, all meaning the next day, the 16th of Abib, preparation day before the Sabbath. Sunset at this time of year is around 6:00 pm. Some Jews (John 19:31) went to Pilate to ask that their legs (Yahshua and the 2 thieves) be broken on this day before the Sabbath to speed up their death so that the bodies could be taken down before the Sabbath arrived, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) - Because it was the preparation for the Sabbath, and that Sabbath day, because it fell in the passover-week, was a high day, that they might show a veneration for the Sabbath, they would not have the dead bodies to remain on the crosses on the Sabbath-day, but besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, which would be a certain, but cruel dispatch, and that then they might be buried out of sight (Matthew Henry’s commentary). This is the weekly Sabbath not the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread. Pilate says ok and soldiers go to brake their legs. John 19:32-33, “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Yahshua, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: “
As the story continues - John 19:38-39, “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Yahshua, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Yahshua: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Yahshua. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Yahshua by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”
Now we see Joseph asking Pilate for the body of Yahshua that they might bury him. The other gospels give some more detail on this.
Mark 15:43, “Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Yahshua.
Mark 15:44, “And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.”
We see some Jews went to Pilate to have their legs broken (they didn’t know Yahshua was dead already) and once Joseph knew Yahshua was dead he went to Pilate to ask for the body and Pilate is surprised that Yahshua is dead already and wants confirmation. (I believe this is when the soldier pierced him in his side.)
Mark 15:45,” And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.”
Okay – all this doesn’t happen in an hour – Now since the Romans crucified him, and crucifixion usually lasted up to 2 days before someone died, we see that “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation”, (Friday), asked to have their bones broken to speed up the process of death so that by the morning (daylight) of Friday they (the families of the men) would be able to take down the bodies and have them handled before sunset, before the Sabbath.
Even after Joseph gets permission to take the body he doesn’t run off and take down the body instantly - Mark 15:46, ”And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.” Since they, some Jews and Joseph, went to see Pilate once the next day had started it is evening. We have to remember there are no street lights, no cars, no telephones… some of this was not completed till in the morning… Yahshua being that tamid sacrifice which is a burnt offering and that offering had to stay on the altar all night till morning. Lev. 6:9, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. “ So early on Friday morning, Abib 16th Yahshua is taken down off the tree by Joseph and Nicodemus. Nicodemus brought the spices and Joseph the linen and then they buried him. John also tells us they buried him near where he was crucified - John 19:41-42, “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Yahshua therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. “ And we see the women were watching to see where they would lay his body.
Luke 23:55, “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.”
Mark 15:47, “And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.”
Mat 27:61, “And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”
Now since it is the preparation day the women want to make sure Yahshua is buried properly and go to prepare spices also.
Luke 23:55-56, “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” I believe it is now late morning – it does take time to take the body down and take it to the tomb and prepare it as they do and roll the stone in front of it. Now the scripture says after the women saw where his body was laid they returned, returned where? Most likely Bethany, which is about 2 miles away, because of its close proximity to Jerusalem. There they prepared spices but now it is too late to go to the tomb because the Sabbath is approaching.
Before we can go any further we have to look at length of time in the tomb. This is another hot issue – 3 days and 3 nights. The scripture being referenced in this is Matthew 12:38-40, “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.“
**(From bible topic exposition, April 30,2015 – Three days and Three nights, Mt.12:40):
To begin, let’s see from scripture the inclusive manner by which the ancients counted days:
Acts 10 has the account of Peter’s journey from his house in Joppa to Cornelius’ house in Caesarea, approx 40 miles distant. v.3 Cornelius saw an angel, “About 3pm he saw an angel in a vision.” To make the journey sequence more relevant, I’ll assign Sunday 3pm as when the vision occurred. Then Cornelius dispatched men to send for Peter. v.9 “About noon the next day the messengers were on their way, approaching the city.” They’re nearing Joppa at noon Monday. v.23 “Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. And the next day he arose and went away with them.” Peter lodged them Monday night, and Tuesday morning he left with them for Caesarea. v.24 “The following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them.” On Wednesday they came to Cornelius’ house.
Ac.10:25-29 Peter goes inside, explains why he agreed to accompany those gentiles, and asks Cornelius why he sent for him. Cornelius’ reply is key to our understanding the inclusive manner by which the ancients counted days! v.30 “Four days ago to this same hour, 3pm, I was praying in my house and a man stood before me in shining apparel!” Four days ago?! But from Sunday at 3pm until Wednesday at 3pm is 72 hours…that’s only three days ago according to how we count days. (Some translations such as the NIV and Weymouth changed v.30 to read “three days ago”, to help readers understand the actual number of elapsed days.) But to the ancients, there were parts of four days counted: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (or whatever four successive days they actually were)…even though the elapsed time was only 72 hours. Understanding this ancient scriptural manner of counting is essential!
Another Bible incident where John counted days inclusively is Jn.11:17: “When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days.” We saw in Acts 10…the total elapsed time of “four days ago” was actually 72 hours, more like our three days. JFB Commentary Jn.11:17 “Four days…the first and last being incomplete.” Meyer’s NT Commentary “Two full days and parts of two other days (the first and the fourth).” To aid understanding, the Weymouth translation changed v.17 to read “three days”.
Jews customarily buried the dead on the day of death (Jn.19:41-42, Ac.5:5-6, 10). Notice a few verses later in Jn.11:39, “Yahshua said, ‘Take the stone away.’ But Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, ‘By this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” In that climate, women wouldn’t have opened the tomb of a corpse which had decayed for 72 hours (our three days)!
But after Yahshua was crucified, the women willingly went to Yahshua’s tomb (in the spring)! Lk.24:1 “On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.” Ac.13:35-37 “The One whom God raised didn’t undergo decay.” Yahshua’s corpse experienced no decay. Yahshua wasn’t in the tomb anywhere near 72 hours! Let’s see approx how long Jesus was in the tomb.
In Ac.10:30, Cornelius told Peter that he’d seen the angel “four days ago.” That elapsed time was 72 hours. Peter then witnessed of Yahshua in v.39-40, “God raised Him from the dead on the 3rd day.” Paul said the same in 1Co.15:4, “He was buried and raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures.” Yahshua said of Himself in Mk.9:31, “They shall kill Him, and the 3rd day He shall rise again.” Several verses witness Yahshua would be raised on the 3rd day or “after 3 days”, depending on your translation.
The scriptures also define what was meant by “the 3rd day” in elapsed time. In Lk.13:32, Yahshua referred to “Today and tomorrow, and the 3rd day.” Luke shows Yahshua Himself using inclusive timing! It’s the same method of counting the Lord used back in Ex.19:10-11, “Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Consecrate the people today and tomorrow, and be ready for the 3rd day. For on the 3rd day Yahweh will come down on Mt. Sinai.” Gill Commentary “Not the third day of the month, but the third day from hence.”
What was the “3 days and 3 nights” idiom? The rabbinic view was, “A complete or incomplete day.” Jewish Encyclopedia, v.4, p. 475 “In Jewish communal life part of a day is at times reckoned as one day; e.g., the day of the funeral, even when it takes place late in the afternoon, is counted as the 1st of the 7 days of mourning; a short time in the morning of the 7th day is counted as the 7th day; circumcision takes place on the 8th day, even though on the 1st day only a few minutes remained after the birth of the child, these being counted as one day.” The boy was circumcised when he was more like 7 days old.
Jerusalem Talmud Shabbath ix.3 “A day and night are as portions of time and the portion as the whole of it.” JFB Commentary Mt.12:40 “The period He was to lie in the grave is here expressed in round numbers, according to the Jewish way of speaking, which was to regard any part of a day, however small, included within a period of days, as a full day. (ref 1Sm.30:12, 13; Est 4:16; 5:1; Mt 27:63, 64.)” 3 days and 3 nights wasn’t literally 72 hours.
So what is our conclusion: Yahshua died about 3pm on the afternoon of the 15th (Thursday), but wasn’t taken down from the cross until early morning, prepped by Joseph and Nicodemus, buried in a tomb nearby with the women watching, they go to prepare spices (it is Friday 16th of Abib) but now it’s too late to go to the tomb because the weekly Sabbath was approaching.
**remember all days start in evening
We have this thing when reading the scriptures of not inserting a time element. We have a tendency to read as though one event happened after another with no time in between. If I may I will insert a time element, something which the scriptures don’t specifically mention but nevertheless is there. So after Yahshua died which was as the evening approach for the beginning of Abib 16th. The time element here is that Yahshua didn’t get removed from the cross right after he died.
“Yahshua was on the cross for about six hours before he died, from about 9:AM to 3:PM. It isn't quite clear how long his dead body remained on the cross before being taken down (John 19:30-38) First, the soldiers came by after his death to break the legs of the three being crucified to hasten their death, but since Messiah was already dead, one of the soldiers pierced his side to puncture his heart. The Jews had requested that the bodies should not be present on the crosses when the sabbath (a high sabbath) began. After this, Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate to take away the body of Yahshua, since it was then known he had died.” (Ebible.com)
Let’s start by reading the 4 gospels on the burial of Yahshua:
John 19:31, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
John 19:32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
John 19:33 But when they came to Yahshua, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
John 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
John 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
John 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Yahshua, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Yahshua: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Yahshua.
John 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Yahshua by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
John 19:40 Then took they the body of Yahshua, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
John 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
John 19:42 There laid they Yahshua therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. “
Mat 27:57, “When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Yahshua's disciple:
Mat 27:58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Yahshua. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
Mat 27:59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
Mat 27:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Mat 27:61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”
Mark 15:42, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Yahshua.
Mark 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mark 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
Mark 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mark 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.”
Luke 23:50, “And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
Luke 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Luke 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Yahshua.
Luke 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Luke 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luke 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”
Now let’s time line the stories. Each version is true. Some have more details or focus on particular events than others depending on whom the letter is being written to, all are inspired of the Holy Spirit. They tell one story.
Mark 15:34-37 says Yahshua died at the 9th hour of the day (about 3pm) and as we pick up the burial we see in John 19:31, “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation,” and in
Mat 27:57, “When the even was come,” and in Mark 15:42, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,” and in Luke 23:54, “And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.”
From these scriptures we see that Yahshua was not taken down from the cross right away after he died. Because it was the preparation, when even had come, all meaning the next day, the 16th of Abib, preparation day before the Sabbath. Sunset at this time of year is around 6:00 pm. Some Jews (John 19:31) went to Pilate to ask that their legs (Yahshua and the 2 thieves) be broken on this day before the Sabbath to speed up their death so that the bodies could be taken down before the Sabbath arrived, (for that Sabbath day was an high day,) - Because it was the preparation for the Sabbath, and that Sabbath day, because it fell in the passover-week, was a high day, that they might show a veneration for the Sabbath, they would not have the dead bodies to remain on the crosses on the Sabbath-day, but besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, which would be a certain, but cruel dispatch, and that then they might be buried out of sight (Matthew Henry’s commentary). This is the weekly Sabbath not the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread. Pilate says ok and soldiers go to brake their legs. John 19:32-33, “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Yahshua, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: “
As the story continues - John 19:38-39, “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Yahshua, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Yahshua: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Yahshua. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Yahshua by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.”
Now we see Joseph asking Pilate for the body of Yahshua that they might bury him. The other gospels give some more detail on this.
Mark 15:43, “Joseph of Arimathaea, an honorable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Yahshua.
Mark 15:44, “And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.”
We see some Jews went to Pilate to have their legs broken (they didn’t know Yahshua was dead already) and once Joseph knew Yahshua was dead he went to Pilate to ask for the body and Pilate is surprised that Yahshua is dead already and wants confirmation. (I believe this is when the soldier pierced him in his side.)
Mark 15:45,” And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.”
Okay – all this doesn’t happen in an hour – Now since the Romans crucified him, and crucifixion usually lasted up to 2 days before someone died, we see that “The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation”, (Friday), asked to have their bones broken to speed up the process of death so that by the morning (daylight) of Friday they (the families of the men) would be able to take down the bodies and have them handled before sunset, before the Sabbath.
Even after Joseph gets permission to take the body he doesn’t run off and take down the body instantly - Mark 15:46, ”And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.” Since they, some Jews and Joseph, went to see Pilate once the next day had started it is evening. We have to remember there are no street lights, no cars, no telephones… some of this was not completed till in the morning… Yahshua being that tamid sacrifice which is a burnt offering and that offering had to stay on the altar all night till morning. Lev. 6:9, “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. “ So early on Friday morning, Abib 16th Yahshua is taken down off the tree by Joseph and Nicodemus. Nicodemus brought the spices and Joseph the linen and then they buried him. John also tells us they buried him near where he was crucified - John 19:41-42, “Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Yahshua therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. “ And we see the women were watching to see where they would lay his body.
Luke 23:55, “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.”
Mark 15:47, “And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.”
Mat 27:61, “And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”
Now since it is the preparation day the women want to make sure Yahshua is buried properly and go to prepare spices also.
Luke 23:55-56, “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” I believe it is now late morning – it does take time to take the body down and take it to the tomb and prepare it as they do and roll the stone in front of it. Now the scripture says after the women saw where his body was laid they returned, returned where? Most likely Bethany, which is about 2 miles away, because of its close proximity to Jerusalem. There they prepared spices but now it is too late to go to the tomb because the Sabbath is approaching.
Before we can go any further we have to look at length of time in the tomb. This is another hot issue – 3 days and 3 nights. The scripture being referenced in this is Matthew 12:38-40, “Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.“
**(From bible topic exposition, April 30,2015 – Three days and Three nights, Mt.12:40):
To begin, let’s see from scripture the inclusive manner by which the ancients counted days:
Acts 10 has the account of Peter’s journey from his house in Joppa to Cornelius’ house in Caesarea, approx 40 miles distant. v.3 Cornelius saw an angel, “About 3pm he saw an angel in a vision.” To make the journey sequence more relevant, I’ll assign Sunday 3pm as when the vision occurred. Then Cornelius dispatched men to send for Peter. v.9 “About noon the next day the messengers were on their way, approaching the city.” They’re nearing Joppa at noon Monday. v.23 “Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. And the next day he arose and went away with them.” Peter lodged them Monday night, and Tuesday morning he left with them for Caesarea. v.24 “The following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them.” On Wednesday they came to Cornelius’ house.
Ac.10:25-29 Peter goes inside, explains why he agreed to accompany those gentiles, and asks Cornelius why he sent for him. Cornelius’ reply is key to our understanding the inclusive manner by which the ancients counted days! v.30 “Four days ago to this same hour, 3pm, I was praying in my house and a man stood before me in shining apparel!” Four days ago?! But from Sunday at 3pm until Wednesday at 3pm is 72 hours…that’s only three days ago according to how we count days. (Some translations such as the NIV and Weymouth changed v.30 to read “three days ago”, to help readers understand the actual number of elapsed days.) But to the ancients, there were parts of four days counted: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (or whatever four successive days they actually were)…even though the elapsed time was only 72 hours. Understanding this ancient scriptural manner of counting is essential!
Another Bible incident where John counted days inclusively is Jn.11:17: “When Jesus arrived, He found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days.” We saw in Acts 10…the total elapsed time of “four days ago” was actually 72 hours, more like our three days. JFB Commentary Jn.11:17 “Four days…the first and last being incomplete.” Meyer’s NT Commentary “Two full days and parts of two other days (the first and the fourth).” To aid understanding, the Weymouth translation changed v.17 to read “three days”.
Jews customarily buried the dead on the day of death (Jn.19:41-42, Ac.5:5-6, 10). Notice a few verses later in Jn.11:39, “Yahshua said, ‘Take the stone away.’ But Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, ‘By this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” In that climate, women wouldn’t have opened the tomb of a corpse which had decayed for 72 hours (our three days)!
But after Yahshua was crucified, the women willingly went to Yahshua’s tomb (in the spring)! Lk.24:1 “On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared.” Ac.13:35-37 “The One whom God raised didn’t undergo decay.” Yahshua’s corpse experienced no decay. Yahshua wasn’t in the tomb anywhere near 72 hours! Let’s see approx how long Jesus was in the tomb.
In Ac.10:30, Cornelius told Peter that he’d seen the angel “four days ago.” That elapsed time was 72 hours. Peter then witnessed of Yahshua in v.39-40, “God raised Him from the dead on the 3rd day.” Paul said the same in 1Co.15:4, “He was buried and raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures.” Yahshua said of Himself in Mk.9:31, “They shall kill Him, and the 3rd day He shall rise again.” Several verses witness Yahshua would be raised on the 3rd day or “after 3 days”, depending on your translation.
The scriptures also define what was meant by “the 3rd day” in elapsed time. In Lk.13:32, Yahshua referred to “Today and tomorrow, and the 3rd day.” Luke shows Yahshua Himself using inclusive timing! It’s the same method of counting the Lord used back in Ex.19:10-11, “Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Consecrate the people today and tomorrow, and be ready for the 3rd day. For on the 3rd day Yahweh will come down on Mt. Sinai.” Gill Commentary “Not the third day of the month, but the third day from hence.”
What was the “3 days and 3 nights” idiom? The rabbinic view was, “A complete or incomplete day.” Jewish Encyclopedia, v.4, p. 475 “In Jewish communal life part of a day is at times reckoned as one day; e.g., the day of the funeral, even when it takes place late in the afternoon, is counted as the 1st of the 7 days of mourning; a short time in the morning of the 7th day is counted as the 7th day; circumcision takes place on the 8th day, even though on the 1st day only a few minutes remained after the birth of the child, these being counted as one day.” The boy was circumcised when he was more like 7 days old.
Jerusalem Talmud Shabbath ix.3 “A day and night are as portions of time and the portion as the whole of it.” JFB Commentary Mt.12:40 “The period He was to lie in the grave is here expressed in round numbers, according to the Jewish way of speaking, which was to regard any part of a day, however small, included within a period of days, as a full day. (ref 1Sm.30:12, 13; Est 4:16; 5:1; Mt 27:63, 64.)” 3 days and 3 nights wasn’t literally 72 hours.
So what is our conclusion: Yahshua died about 3pm on the afternoon of the 15th (Thursday), but wasn’t taken down from the cross until early morning, prepped by Joseph and Nicodemus, buried in a tomb nearby with the women watching, they go to prepare spices (it is Friday 16th of Abib) but now it’s too late to go to the tomb because the weekly Sabbath was approaching.
| Abib 14th | Abib 15th | Abib 16th | Abib 17th | Abib 18th |
| Passover sacrifice late afternoon | 1st day of feast of unleavened bread – Yahshua ate meal – arrested and tried over night and crucified in morning aprox. 9am – dies aprox 3pm | Remains on cross over night – taken down and buried in morning – women prepare spices – it is the preparation day for the sabbath | Sabbath | Women go to tomb – Yahshua already risen |