Now keeping in mind that in the New Testament there is generally speaking no mention of days in the sense of 13th; 14th; 15th or 16th of Nissan, other than Acts 27:33.
Close analysis of the FOUR Gospels show that there is a story line break in them which is solved by adding in scriptures from another section of the Bible.
I think it also needs pointing out that Christ (Yahshua) had done so many miracles before his last supper that he had made the religious leaders of his day look incredibly stupid. They therefor wanted him dead at all costs.
I am going to use a scientific approach to this by using Biblical starting materials to solve the problem. And I am using the Authorised King James Version of the Bible ISBN 0-529-10225-0 in this process.
Midnight in scientific terms is a fixed point, so no one can change it.
Mid day is another fixed point. No one can alter this. Using Hebrew terminology mid day is also the sixth hour of the day or noon; see below.
It is these fixed points of Nissan 14 and the sixth hour or midday or noon that I am using as the major fixed points or starting materials to solve the problem.
It is also accepted that at the sixth hour or noon or mid day that Christ (Yahshua) was on the cross on the 14th day and it was dark; Mark 15:33. That Christ (Yahshua) died at the same time as the Passover lambs which was on the 14th day in the evening; Ex. 12:6. This was at about the ninth hour, Mark 15:33; which is about 3.00 PM in the afternoon BEFORE sunset. Mark 15:25 also points out that it was the third hour, 9 AM, and they crucified him. Christ (Yahshua) became our Passover Lamb, 1 Cor. 5:7.
It is using this sixth hour fixed point of ANY day, that we identify which day it was that Pilate says "Behold your King" John 19:13,14. This was "a" preparation of the passover and about the sixth hour. Then they say "crucify him" verse 15. So at that sixth hour Christ (Yahshua) was OFF the cross; bound and standing ON THE GROUND. And then Luke 23:23-26, after saying crucify him Pilate gives SENTENCE, verse 24.
NOW PLEASE NOTE: One cannot be sentenced at the sixth hour of the day and have Pilate say "behold your king", AND be on the cross AT THE SAME TIME. Normally one goes to court for a trial; then is sentenced; then prison and then the final action. So THIS 'sixth' hour, preparation day must have been the 4th preparation day as distinct from the 5th preparation day when Christ (Yahshua) WAS on the cross at the 'sixth' hour.
So when Pilate says "Behold your King" about the sixth hour, this was about 24 hours BEFORE the time Christ (Yahshua) WAS on the cross on the 14th day. Pilate said "Behold your King" on the 13th day at about mid day or the sixth hour Hebrew time.
That as the sentence was starting Barabbas was in a cell as a prisoner; Matt. 27:16; Luke 23:18,19; Mark 15:6,7. For murder; sedition and robbery; Luke 23:24,25; John 18:40. After the second request with the bound Barabbas in sight, because the multitude said "release him", Pilate released Barabbas; Matt.27:26. So Christ (Yahshua) was about to be put in the prison cell a few hours later, that Barabbas came from.
Now for the story line breaks. These are between Matt.27:31 and 32; Mark 15:20 and 21; Luke 23:25 and 26 and between John 19:16 and 17.
The FIRST story line break that is the most easy to identify is in John 19:16, where it says "and they took Jesus and led him away"--then in verse 17 it says "and he bearing his cross". There is a story line break between verse 16 and verse 17, but it only becomes clear when it is pointed out to people; that at one point he is being led away and the next moment he appears bearing his cross. As others have now found out.
The SECOND one is in Matt. 27:31--"and they led him away to crucify him"--in verse 32--"and they compel Simon--to bear his cross". Why did they compel Simon to bear his cross? It is because Christ (Yahshua) could not carry it, why?
The THIRD is Mark 15:20--"and they led him away to crucify him".--- verse 21 "they compel Simon to bear his cross". Christ (Yahshua) obviously could not carry it.
The FOURTH break is Luke 23:25---"but he delivered Jesus to their will". Verse 26-- "and on Simon they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus". Why what happened?
Now we come to the scriptures that fill in the story line breaks.
These are Is.52:14-- "his visage so marred"; and Is. 53.8 where it says that "He (Christ,Yahshua the lamb) was taken from Prison and cut off". This must have been the 14th night that he was in prison and taken from prison (cell which Barrabas had been in) on the 14th morning and put on the cross.
What PROOF do we have that Christ (Yahshua) was beaten up in prison cell on the 14th night?
It is because "they compel Simon to bear his cross" Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; And Luke 23:26--"and on Simon they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus". Why? Is.52:14 "As many were astonied that thee: his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men":
Christ (Yahshua) was beaten up so badly in the prison cell, that the people who knew him hardly recognised him as the man that had healed so many people. And his hell was not over yet.
Another reference point is when the cock crowed, Luke 22:60; "and it was DAY" verse 66. So, "they led him from the Priest's house" verse 54 "when it was day", and then verse 66, "into their council". This must have been the 13th day as he was not yet sentenced. He had just come out of the 1st (13th) ALL NIGHT TRIAL in the Priest's house (Palace, Matt.26:69; Mark 14:54). And in that 13th DAY "Pilate and Herod became friends". Luke 23:12.
The reference point of the SECOND fill in story line is also used "They compel Simon to bear his cross". Matt. 27:32. Leading Christ (Yahshua) from the Priest's house was on the 13th morning; Luke 22:54. Simon bearing his cross Matt. 25:32 was on the 14th morning, after coming from the prison cell.
So he had a supper, a Pre Passover meal not THE Passover meal; in the early part of the 13th night. Was arrested about midnight the 13th. Went through an all night trial in the Priest's house (Palace). In the 13th morning after the cock crowed, he was then led into the council. At 9 o'clock he was put through his next trial with Pilate, then sent to Herod for a further trial. Came back and was tried again by Pilate, this was his 4th trial.
Still in the 13th day or 4th preparation day Pilate said "behold your king", they said "crucify him", so at noon or the sixth hour, he was sentenced. In the "evening" from noon or the sixth hour, he was handed over to the soldiers who scourged him and put on a crown of thorns and BEAT HIM UP in Prison. Stuck in a prison cell (where Barabbas came from) overnight (14th midnight). In this 14th night he felt half dead so that in the morning Simon had to carry his cross. He was taken from prison in this 14th DAY and by 9 o'clock that morning; or the third hour Hebrew time; was then stuck on the cross.
John 11:9 "Are there not 12 hours in a day?" A Hebrew day being counted from 6.00 AM to 6.00 PM, that is daylight hours sunrise to sunset at the spring equinox so that:
Mark 15:25; Matt. 20:3; and Acts 2:15, is Hebrew time, or the Third Hour of the day for the Roman time of 9:AM.
John 19:14; Matt. 20:5; Matt. 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44; John 4:6 and Acts 10:9. Hebrew time for the Sixth Hour, or Roman time of noon or Mid day or 12 o'clock.
Matt. 20:5; Matt 27:45-46; Mark 15:33-34; Luke 23:44; Act 3:1, 10:3, 10:30. Hebrew time, the Ninth Hour or Roman time of 3 PM
John 1:39 Hebrew time the Tenth Hour or Roman time of 4 PM
Midnight 12.00 would be the sixth hour of darkness; midday 12.00 or NOON would be the sixth hour of daylight.
In the 13th night Christ (Yahshua) had sent Judas off. They left the supper after a song and went into Gethsemane and Christ (Yahshua) prayed that "This cup would pass from me". Then in Matt 26:47 Judas brings on the scene a great multitude. There was blood lust in the air.
Someone in the crowd struck off a servants ear. Matt 26:51. This turns out to be Simon Peter, John 18:10. Christ (Yahshua) tells him to put up his sword. John 18:11 and Matt 26:52.
Christ (Yahshua) was then physically bound by rope or something else and was then led away to Annas. John 18:12-13 for he was father in law to Caiaphas. This was about midnight of the 13th night.
From Annas, Christ (Yahshua) was sent to Caiaphas, John 18:24. Now Annas had sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest. Matt 26:57.
As Matt 26:57-73 shows this was the very long night of false witnesses. Mark 14:53-67. Luke 22:54-59. Keep in mind that Simon Peter was terrified of the blood lust of the crowd. He denied Christ (Yahshua).
With this, Luke 22:60,61. John 18:27 and Mark 14:68,72, the cock crew.
In the morning of that new 13th day Matt 27:1 Chief priests condemn Christ (Yahshua) to death Mark 15:1 and Luke 22:66-71.
From Caiaphas, Christ (Yahshua) was taken to hall of judgement John 18:28 early that 13th day.
Then John 18: 29, Pilate enters the scene and questions Jesus. Luke 23:1-6. Mark 15:1, last part.
Pilate can't find anything wrong and passes Christ (Yahshua) onto Herod, Luke 23:7. Who wanted to see a miracle and gets nowhere so smartly passes Christ (Yahshua) back to Pilate, Luke 23:11. (Herod and Pilate now become friends. Luke 23:12)
That as the sentence was starting Barabbas was in a cell as a prisoner; he was brought in and the people say release Barrabbas.
Pilate gives sentence; Luke 23:23-26 and John 19:13,14 at the sixth hour, 12 noon, verse 16.
NOTE: It does not say that there was darkness upon the whole land, at this sixth hour. At the sentence there must have been bright sunshine outside or we would have been told.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, "and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers" Matt 27:27; Mark 15:15-20.
The soldiers had total control of Christ (Yahshua) from about 1.o'clock in the afternoon of the 13 day to about 8 o'clock the following 14th morning. Isaiah 53:8 points out that he was put in prison. This was where Barabbas had been. It was during this time that Christ (Yahshua) went through hell. As Isaiah 52:14; 53:3-12 shows; "he was 'beaten' to within an inch of his life" and was unrecognisable as he was dragged out to the stake.
There was one attempt to get Christ (Yahshua) to carry his cross which failed as he was too weak and then Simon carried it for him, after him.
As Mark 15:25 shows, at 9.00 in the morning (our time), or the third hour of the 14th day Jerusalem time they crucified him. "And it was the third hour, and they crucified him."
We then come to the part where it says in Mark 15:33 "And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour." so darkness was from noon to 3.00 PM in the afternoon and then in verse 37 he died. It is recognised that Christ (Yahshua) died in the afternoon of the 14th Nissan.
When Pilate gives sentence there is no mention of darkness. There is 24 hours later when Christ (Yahshua) had been on the cross three hours.
It also needs highlighting that once this darkness was over at the ninth hour; possibly from an eclipse of the sun, that Christ (Yahshua) was taken down from the cross in brilliant sunshine; this is because there was about another 3 hours of sunshine left in the EVENING of that day.
Conclusions.
That God ( Yahweh) did not want us to keep the night of the last supper as a memorial forever as he would have told us to. He DOES want us to keep the routines of the Last supper. He also wants us to keep the Passover on the 15th night. He certainly did NOT want us to keep a memorial of the 14th night as Christ (Yahshua) was going through hell at that point.
Contacts for this material are from:
Search the Scriptures Ministry, PO Box 32, Clarksville, AR.72830 USA.
Email, efbrown@cei.net ,
Web site, www.search-the-scriptures.org.
A Cain
P.O. Box 53
Farnborough
Hants
GU14 0HJ
UK
I would like to thank all of those that helped in the production of this article. Alex Cain
Mr Cain is a Polymer Scientist retired, now researching into energetics.
