Did Christ Die on Good Friday?

Did Christ Die on Good Friday?

Pastor Mark Fontecchio

The answer from the Word of God is absolutely no! This is a day that has been handed down, from the Roman Catholic Church, as the day that Christ died on the cross. The Word of God teaches us that Christ did not die on a Friday afternoon.

When we think of the timing of the Lord's death and resurrection, it is important to remember that the Jewish day began at sunset, so the night preceded the day. The night was considered part of the following day. For example, sunset to sunrise on what we consider our Friday night, would all be considered part of Saturday.

We know from Matthew 12:40 that Christ said,

"For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Even a casual reading of this verse teaches us that the Roman Catholic dating of Friday as the day of Christ's crucifixion does not match up with the Word of God.   How does it make sense that Jesus died on Friday afternoon and rose from the grave on Sunday morning, and yet still fulfill this passage just as the Lord Himself said He would? It doesn't make any sense, and is complete foolishness.

The context of Matthew 12 teaches that the scribes and Pharisees wanted a sign. In verse 39 Jesus rebuked them and told them that no sign would be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Jesus gave the 3 days and 3 nights as proof of His identity as the Messiah. So it only makes sense, that the false Church of Rome and those that follow her seek to undermine the very words of Christ by teaching that He died on a Friday afternoon.

We also need to understand that during the week of the death of Jesus there were actually two days that were considered to be a Sabbath. On Thursday, the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread began which was considered a special Sabbath.

Therefore, the week went as follows:

(Note: The Word of God is in bold, and notes for clarification that have been added are not in bold. It is not the intention of the author to add to the Word of God, but rather to teach clearly the timeline of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.)

Tuesday - preparation for the Passover (which was Tuesday night based on Exodus Chapter 12)

Wednesday - the crucifixion and preparation for the Feast of Unleavened Bread

Mark 15:42 "Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath" (the special Sabbath - the high day)

Luke 23:54-55 "That day was the Preparation (Wednesday), and the Sabbath (Thursday - the special Sabbath ) drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid."

John 19:31 "Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath (Thursday) was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away."

John 19:42   "So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby."

Thursday - the Passover Feasts - first night and day in the grave

Matthew 27:62 "On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate"

Friday - Mary and others buy spices - second night and day in the grave

Mark 16:1 "Now when the Sabbath was past (the special Sabbath or high day, which was Thursday), Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him."

Luke 23:56a "Then they returned (on Friday) and prepared spices and fragrant oils."

Saturday - weekly Sabbath - third night and day in the grave

Luke 23:56b "And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment."

Sunday - first day of the week - the resurrection was discovered

Matthew 28:1 "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week (Sunday) began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. (the original text conveys that the sun had not risen, but was drawing near)

Mark 16:2 "Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week (Sunday), they came to the tomb when the sun had risen." (this is an unfortunate translation of this verse, because the original text once again indicates the sun was just beginning to rise)

Luke 24:1 "Now on the first day of the week (Sunday), very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared."

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."

When did Christ rise from the grave? According to the Word of God we can only conclude that Christ was resurrected any time after sunset on Saturday!

(All scripture is taken from the New King James Version)