A Thursday crucifixion?
___By Val Borum
___With all respect to those who for centuries have marked Good Friday as the day of Jesus' crucifixion, I have a growing doubt that this longstanding tradition is a correct interpretation of Scripture. I am increasingly puzzled about an apparent chronological disparity between Jesus' words and the customary observance of Good Friday:
___ First, Mark's Gospel quotes Jesus as he predicts the "killing of the Son of Man." Twice Jesus announces he will "rise again three days later."
___The Bible gives to us one time certain: The resurrection on Sunday morning. In relation to that time, there is the time of crucifixion, which our Savior himself predicted would be a span of three days, before his rising again "three days later."
___From Friday afternoon until Sunday morning is only about 40 hours. That does not three days make! Sunday minus three days is Thursday, and that alone is sufficient evidence for me to consider the probability that the sacrifice of the Son of Man must have occurred on a Thursday.
___ Second, the lore of centuries past says our Lord was removed from the cross Friday afternoon, before the Saturday Sabbath began that evening. Then how could the crucifixion have occurred other than on a Friday?
___There is a sound and specific response to that question: The Jewish Day of Passover was always, and still is, observed exactly as a Sabbath, in every way, from the preceding sunset until the sunrise after. Passover can occur any day of the week, and if it occurs on a Friday, as it does periodically, it constitutes what Jews call a double Sabbath, beginning sunset Thursday and ending sunrise Sunday! My Orthodox Jewish friends confirm this upon my careful and repeated questioning. It is the only way one can satisfy Jesus' two announcements: "Three days later!"
___ Third, Jim Denison writes a very inspiring daily devotional "Word for Today" on Park Cities Baptist Church's web page. Once, he wrote a column titled, "What Happened to Wednesday?" He observed that whereas Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of Passion Week were chronicled almost to the very hour, the Scripture is strangely silent about Wednesday. He attributed that to being a day of prayer and meditation.
___May I suggest that if the crucifixion were Thursday, as I do believe, then Wednesday was a well-chronicled, very busy day as well, for it was the day of preparation of the Lamb, with the upper room, Last Supper, washing of feet, and Jesus' betrayal and trial.
___Therefore, might I suggest respectfully and firmly that it might be more proper and more scriptural if we were to observe Maundy Wednesday, Good Thursday and a Blessed, Happy Easter?

___Val Borum is a member of University Baptist Church in Fort Worth




Baptist Standard