Christ Resurrection Was Not On Sunday

ABSOLUTE PROOFS FROM THE BIBLE

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Yes, the headline is correct! But you may ask, most churches are teaching that Jesus was crucified on Friday and rose from the dead on Sunday morning—why not Sunday resurrection? This topic is debated all the time, and there are several schools of thought concerning this. People are still discussing this subject today. Some have argued that the timeline for Jesus’ death and resurrection is not necessary—all we certainly know and care about is, He is alive.

The Sunday resurrection is used as an argument (basis) for Sunday worship. Many pastors all over the globe use the “supposed Sunday resurrection” as the basis for using Sunday as a day given to Christians for worship and prayer. Also, many people wrongly believe and teach that the Saturday Sabbath was instituted for the Israelites (of which the Jews are part).  Is this the truth? What does the Bible teach this?

Suppose the basis for Sunday worship largely hinges on the supposed Jesus’ resurrection on Sunday morning. In that case, it is essential to establish the timeline of events leading to the Sunday resurrection. If we cannot sufficiently prove the Sunday resurrection from Scriptures, then anything that comes with it is worthless and not from God. Any established timeline for Christ’s resurrection—Sunday or Saturday—must agree with prophecies and all parts of the Bible. As a rule of thumb, any Bible interpretation that does not agree with other parts of the Bible must be rejected or re-evaluated.

Before we can begin constructing the timeline for Christ’s resurrection, it is essentials to establish critical points from the Bible upon which we will build the timeline. Any timeline created must agree with these Bible points.

KEY FACTS

JESUS WILL BE IN THE GRAVE FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS:

MATTHEW 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.

JOHN 2:19-21

19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

MARK 8:31

And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

LUKE 24:46

And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

• John 2:19 [In 3 Days]
• Mark 8:31 [After Three Days]
• Luke 24:46 [The Third Day]

From the above passages, it is clear that Jesus was going to be in the grave for three days and three nights. But here comes a question that so many have debated over the years:  Did Jesus mean literal full three days or something less than three full days? Did Jesus know the length of a day? Let us find out from the Bible:

JOHN 11:9

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

According to Jesus’ word, there are 12 hours in the day, and three full days will be:

Three days and three nights (12 X 2 X 3 = 72 hours)

While it is clear from the above verses that Jesus was referring to three full days and three full nights, many have argued that the three days and three nights could refer to parts of the day and not necessarily three full days and three full nights. But is this the case? Let the Bible Speak!

The Greek texts left no room for time approximation, and it was clear Christ was referring to Jonah—three full days and three full nights. All the synoptic Gospels put it differently, but Mark was more precise about the length of time—AFTER THREE DAYS—meaning three must be complete—it can’t be more accurate than this! However, for argument’s sake, we will assume the three days and three nights could also mean something less than three full days.

The time system in the Bible is different from the Gregorian Calendar. According to the Bible, a day begins at sunset. When sunsets, a day has ended, and another has started—how do we know this?

GENESIS 1:8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

We can see that a day starts with evening; this is the time cycle that God created for days, years, and seasons to work. How do we know this? Read this:

GENESIS 1:14

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

Were people following this time cycle? Yes, people were using it—it is used throughout the Bible. How do we know this? Watch this:

NEHEMIAH 13:19

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

One can see from the above passage that the time system God gave, Nehemiah and Israel, used it. As the sun was setting, the Sabbath was approaching. This means that the Sabbath (and any other day) starts from sunset and ends at sunset.  Nehemiah and all the children of Israel were using.

The Gregorian Calendar is contrary to what God has established and goes against the word of God. A day does not start at midnight, and the new year does not begin in the Winter but in Spring.

We will be referring to the time system used at the time of Jesus and not the Gregorian calendar/time system.

TWO SABBATHS—THE PASSOVER AND THE UNLEAVENED BREAD

According to God’s calendar, Christ died AD 31; credible scholars widely accept this and, another article will be required to illustrate this. However, the debate on “which year Christ died” may have little or no effect on the timeline; why? Prophet Daniel prophesied that the Messiah will be cut off in the middle of the week (the later stage of this article explains it). The range given by many scholars is between AD30 and AD33. Whichever year one chooses, Daniel’s prophecy of ‘middle of the week’ must hold.

The week that Jesus died, the Passover (which was on Wednesday) and Feast of Unleavened Bread (the day after Passover) fall in the same week. So, there were two Sabbaths for that week. How do we know this?

JOHN 19:29-32

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. 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. 32 Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

From the above passage, Jesus was buried before the Sabbath; this Sabbath was a high day Sabbath, not the weekly sabbath. It was the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread.

• The high day Sabbath, which is different from the weekly Saturday Sabbath, comes immediately after the Passover. It is the feast of the Unleavened Bread. Work is not done on this day.
• The weekly Saturday Sabbath: No work is must be done on this day.

People should realise that the Israelites (Jews are part of) were strict in obeying the Sabbaths. How do we know this?

LUKE 13:10-17

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

JOHN 19:42

There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

As many erroneously believe, the preparation mentioned in the above passage referred to the high-day Sabbath and not the weekly Sabbath.

NO EXACT TIME STATED FOR CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

MARK 16:9

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.

JOHN 20:1

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

LUKE 24:1-3

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

MATTHEW 28:1-2

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

In all these verses, it is evident that there is no exact time mentioned when Jesus rose from the dead.

However, Mark 16:9 appears to suggest Jesus rose on Sunday—but is this the case? Let us break it down:

• Now when Jesus was risen.
• Early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene

Mark 16:9 was saying that when He has risen, he appeared to them on the first day. The first day refers to when he appeared and not when He rose from the dead.

DANIEL’S PROPHECY

DANIEL 9:26-27

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

The above passage, contrary to the popular belief that it is referring to the antichrist, refers to the Messiah (Jesus Christ). Jesus will confirm a covenant with many and bring an end to animal sacrifice in the middle of the week.  The one week referred to in the above passage has dual prophecy meaning:

One week means seven-week years, but it also means a literal week.

1. Christ’s ministry was intended to last for seven years, but in the middle of His ministry (3 and half years), He was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of many.
2. Also, in the middle of the week is taking about when Jesus will die; He will die in the middle of the literal week.

So, according to Daniel, Christ will die in the middle of the week; we will soon find out if what Daniel wrote agrees with other parts of the Bible.

JESUS OUR PASSOVER LAMB

The title “Jesus our Passover Lamb” is not random. For the title to be valid, the crucifixion of Jesus has to be during the Passover period. If crucifixion is after the Passover, then the title is invalid.

With the above facts established, let us begin to construct the timeline for the resurrection based on what we have learnt. We will consider different scenarios.

A TIMELINE FOR SUNDAY RESURRECTION: FRIDAY CRUCIFIXION AND SUNDAY RESURRECTION

PROBLEMS WITH THE FRIDAY CRUCIFIXION AND SUNDAY RESURRECTION

• While some scholars argue that the Greek text “three days and three nights” can refer to parts of three days and three nights, even if we use this logic, there is still no third night, this presents a problem!
• Jesus has to be crucified in the Passover period to be our Passover Lamb; the above timeline does not satisfy this. The Passover for AD 31 was not Friday and does not agree with Daniel’s “middle of the week2 prophecy.
• The only sign that Jesus gave—three days and three nights—can not be illustrated.

A TIMELINE FOR SUNDAY RESURRECTION: THURSDAY CRUCIFIXION AND SUNDAY RESURRECTION

PROBLEMS WITH THE THURSDAY CRUCIFIXION AND SUNDAY RESURRECTION

• AD 31, Thursday was a High Sabbath, and no work was to be done on that day. This model also disagrees with Daniel’s prophecy.
• This model would mean He was crucified not on the actual Passover period itself; the title “Jesus Our Passover Lamb” is invalid. Just as lambs were killed for the Passover, Jesus was to die in a similar period for him to be the Passover Lamb. The Thursday scenario does not satisfy that.
• Jesus was buried just before a high day Sabbath begins; this model does not satisfy that.
• The only sign that Jesus gave—three days and three nights—can not be illustrated.

A TIMELINE FOR SUNDAY RESURRECTION: THREE FULL DAYS AND THREE FULL NIGHTS

MARK 15:42-43

42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Around noon, while Jesus was on the cross, total darkness surrounded the area, until about 3 p.m. (see Matthew 27:45) when He cried out, “It is finished” and died (John 19:30).

MATTHEW 27:45, 50

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNDAY RESURRECTION: THREE FULL DAYS AND THREE FULL NIGHTS

1. The Scriptures record that Jesus died at 3 p.m. the day He was crucified and was laid in the tomb towards sunset. This model would mean he resurrected on Sunday towards evening—something the Bible does not teach—it is not in the Bible!
2. The above timeline would mean Jesus was crucified on high Sabbath day—Children of God must not work on this day.
3. It would mean the Romans did not crucify Him when animals were killed for the Passover—the title “Jesus the lamb of God” is invalid if one considers this model.
4. This model disagrees with Daniel’s prophecy.

One can see that there are multiple problems with the Sunday resurrection—whichever angle you look at it. It does not agree with several parts of the Bible. The Sunday resurrection model is false did not come from God; the Sunday resurrection model fails every test.

THE CORRECT TIMELINE FOR THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS

According to the Bible, can we prove when Jesus rose from the dead? Yes, it is possible to establish when Jesus was buried and when He rose from the dead. Let us use the events in the Bible to construct an accurate timeline for Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. However, people should note that the early Christians were not keeping the pagan holiday called Easter; they kept the Passover and the days of Unleavened Bread as commanded by God in Leviticus 23:5-7.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE CORRECT TIMELINE—WEDNESDAY CRUCIFIXION AND SABBATH RESSURECTION JUST BEFORE SUNSET

• Jesus was in the grave precisely three days and three nights—72 hours.
• The Israelites did no work on either of the Sabbaths—the high day and weekly Sabbaths.
• The Romans crucified Jesus when animals were killed for Passover, thus fulfilling the Lamb of God titleor Our Passover Lamb.
• All happened as Jesus Said.
• This timeline agrees with Daniel’s prophecy: in the middle of the week (Wednesday).

ARGUMENTS FOR SUNDAY AS A DAY OF WORSHIP DESTROYED

We can see that using the supposed Sunday resurrection as a basis for Sunday worship is crumbling—it is in tatters; it is riddled with problems and disagrees with parts of the Bible. There is nowhere in the Bible where God says I have sanctified and hallowed Sunday—nowhere.

God’s Instruction concerning which day people should use for holy convocation is explicit.

EXODUS 31:14-17:

14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath THROUGHOUT THEIR GENERATIONS, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOR EVER: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

ISAIAH 56:4

For this is what the Lord says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant

ISAIAH 56:6

And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant

ISAIAH 58:13

“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

It can be seen that God is consistent and very clear about which day (holy convocation) man should worship him. Why Sabbath? Because He has sanctified and hallowed it and tied it to creation. Man has sought to change the day in rebellion against God. Keeping Sunday is not a command from God and goes against the will of God. There is nowhere in the Bible that says: Jesus rose from the dead on Sunday, and therefore Sunday is the new day of worship (holy convocation) for Christians—nowhere—it is not in the Bible—it is a command of man! You can see that the Sunday resurrection argument does not add up. Then, why are pastors and many Christians pedalling the Sunday resurrection as a basis for Sunday worship? Because people are in deception. Anyone willing to obey the Bible will not find it hard.

Early Christians (almost all Israelites—of which Jews form part) never kept Sunday—they never did! Where did we get the Sunday worship? This topic will require another article, but in summary, Emperor Constantine and the Council Nicaea changed the day from Saturday to Sunday. So many prominent religious leaders have openly admitted this. Any person using the Sunday resurrection chip as a basis for Sunday worship is not honest with history in the Bible and other sources.

The moment I discovered the problems with Sunday resurrection and Sunday worship, I humbly asked God for forgiveness for profaning the Sabbath and started keeping it. It will require deep humility to stop finding explanations for the Sunday worship—trying to make the Bible say what it doesn’t! Whichever angle you turn to, the Sunday worship doesn’t add up. Why not be humble and change? Holiness and sanctification is all doing what the Most High God has outlined in His word. Where is the righteousness in disregarding the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment is not done away.