On what day of the week was Jesus crucified?

The Nuggets:

Luk 24:21  But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. (KJV)

Mat 12:40  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.  (KJV)

My Comment:

We have all been taught, and the Christian church as a whole have long recognized, that the crucifixion of Jesus took place on Friday.

Some few have argued that Wednesday must have been the actual day of the crucifixion.

From the clear statement of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as they spoke to the stranger that began to accompany them as they returned home from Jerusalem, we learn just what day Jesus must have been crucified.

“And beside all this, today is the third day since these things were done.” That rather settles the matter. Since this was spoken on the third day, which was the first day of the week, our Sunday, it is simple to count back three days:

One day back would be Saturday, the Seventh Day of the week.

Two days back would be Friday.

Three days back must be Thursday.

There really is no honest way around this fact. A careful study of all the associated events given in the New Testament fully confirms this view.

Did you learn something new?

I did.

So I have changed my mind in terms of what I previously believed or assumed.

Will you?

Does it matter?

Indeed it does matter in principle. It is important to be faithful to what we learn the Bible teaches. It is necessary that we learn not to be so attached to our prior learning and assumptions and traditions that we become unable to respond to new insight as we study the Bible.

Does this mean we need to start yet another church that will conform its practice to this newly realized truth?

Of course not.

Just realize that time-honored institutional or cultural practices do not always conform accurately to the historical evidence recorded in the Bible.

Think I am mistaken? Please leave your comment below!

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2 Responses to On what day of the week was Jesus crucified?

  1. David Stull says:

    Brother Jerry,
    Thank you for the clarification and identification the two disciples on the Road To Emmaus. This means Jesus would have been placed in the grave on Thursday evening. So he would have been in the Garden on Wednesday evening / night when he was taken.
    We were in a church were they celebrated / remembered the beginning of his sorrows on Wednesday night. I did not connect with this enough at the time, but I believe they saw this as well.

  2. Jerry says:

    Dear Brother Dave,

    Thank you for your kind response!

    There is much more evidence that supports the Thursday position. It involves many connected details.

    Perhaps I should post more about this as I learn more about it through further study.

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