Good Wednesday - The Day Jesus was Crucified

Have you ever been puzzled how the Lord could have been crucified and buried on a Friday and then rose on a Sunday- if He was to have been in the heart of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights?

I believe that He was crucified and buried on a Wednesday. Below are Biblical reason to my belief. The notes are a dictated from my pastor's Sermon "Good Wednesday."

What day of a week was Jesus Crucified and put in the tomb?

Matt. 12:38-40 "Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous (adulterous implies unfaithfulness to God) generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 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."

These are words that are pertaining to the death, burial & resurrection. These 3 days and 3 nights were exactly what the Lord meant to say. Three full days and three full nights.

What was the length of the day? John 11:9 "Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?..." If there are 12 hours in a day, then there must be 12 hours in a night.

Any day of the week is a good day to worship the Lord. Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"

No where does the Bible say that Jesus was crucified and died on the cross on Fri.

Mark 15:42 "And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath," Because the Jewish weekly Sabbath was always observed on Saturday, the 7th day of the week. The conclusion is naturally drawn that because Jesus was crucified on the day before the Sabbath that He must have been crucified on Fri.

It's a well know fact that Israel had many other many Sabbathdays to observe. More than just the weekly sabbath that fell on the 7th day of the week.

For example, The Lord's passover - which occured yearly, was always a Sabbath day which was to be observed by the nation of Israel. It always to be observed an an exact time. The old testiment tells us that God gave them the specific instructions that they were to observe the passover on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar. The month of Nisan. No matter which day of the week it fell, it was to be a Sabbath day or a day of rest and worship to God. Like the weekly Sabbath, they were to stop all labor and physical activity on this day.

When Mark 15:42 tells us that Jesus was crucified on the day before the Sabbath, was it referring to the weekly Sabbath, Saturday, or could it have been referring to the yearly Passover Sabbath? The Bible doesn't leave us to speculate such a question.

(This is dealing with the events surrounding the crucifiction surrounding our Lord. He's standing before Pilate.)

In John 19:12-15
"And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.
When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar."

Notice that vs. 14 clearly tells us that our Lord's trial and crucifiction occured on the day of preparation before the Passover Sabbath. The preparation day was a day for the people of God to make preparations for that yearly and special day know as the Passover. There were a lot of activities involved in that. (The Passover Lamb and the meal they were to eat- all spiritual truth. To remind them of what God did for them during that special event known as Passover.) This was the day that always proceeded the Sabbath day known as the Passover. On the Passover Sabbath, all work had to cease. There could be no activity other than which was outline.

John 19:31 "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."

A High Day - was one of the annual Feasts Days or yearly Sabbath Days observed by the nation of Isreal. It was a special yearly observance. Also called Holy Convocation (Lev.23:2). Some would say that a solution to all of this is that the Passover Sabbath, in the year that our Lord died, occured on Saturday or that it fell on the same day as the weekly Sabbath. Therefore, they believed that being the order of events and the way that the calender fell that year, that Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday.

Look at Leviticus 23: 1-8
(Notice how God specifically gave instructions to the nation of Israel concerning there Sabbath day.)

"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover.
And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein."

If the Passover would have fallen on Saturday, or the 7th day of the week, in the year that our Lord was crucified, that it required that the next day being Sunday or the 1st day of the week would have also had to have been a Sabbath day. The Passover Sabbath Day, which always fell (even to this day) on the 14 day of the month of Nisan, but following that special Sabbath day, was another Sabbath Day called the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. It always occurs on the 15th day of Nisan. Every year, regardless of which days of the week they fell in the calendar, Israel observed the Passover Sabbath on the 14th day of the first month & the Feast of the Unleavened Bread on the 15th day of the first month. They were back to back Sabbath days. They were always required by God, of His people, to incorporate into their yearly observances.
We know that Sunday, the day the Lord arose, was not a Sabbath day.

(The ladies are now on their way to the tomb to prepare our Lord's body for burial)
Mark 16:1-2 "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him."

(Let's don't skim over words & statements. They are not here to just fill up space. That 1st part is there for a reason. And when the sabbath was past)

"And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. "

The conclusion is: Sunday, which is the 1st day of the week, is the day that our Lord arose from the tomb. If the yearly Passover fell on Saturday of the same week that our Lord was crucified and buried, then Sunday had to also be a Sabbath day. Because the 14th day and the 15th day, the day following the Passover day, also had to be observed as a Sabbath day. Had Sunday been a Sabbath day, the Feast of the Unleavened Bread Sabbath, then these ladies would not have been permitted to go to the tomb to finish preparing our Lord's body for burial.

For the Lord to be in the heart of the earth for 3 days and 3 nights like He said He would when He gave the sign of Jonas, there isn't any other way other than to have a Wednesday crucifiction and burial. Some say that part of a day constitutes a whole day and a part of a night constitutes a whole night. The Lord said that a day has 12 hours in it. (John 11:9) So that dismisses that.

Let's say hypothetically that Jesus was crucified on Friday, has it ever crossed your mind and puzzled you how you still get 3 days and 3 nights out of that? Even if a portion of a day can be concluded as an entire day. If He was crucified on Friday, a couple of ours before 6 o'clock, which is the beginning of a new day for the Jews. The Passover began at 6 o'clock, that evening. If He was crucified on Friday, let's say we'll take a couple of hours there on Friday, to constitute a day. All day Saturday. Then if we want to say, hypothetically, that Jesus didn't arise till Sunday morning, daylight. That would constitute, hypothetically, the 3rd day. You still can't get 3 nights out of that. That's Friday & Saturday- only.

Thursday- was the Passover Sabbath
Friday- The Feast of Unleavened Bread Sabbath
Saturday- The 7th day of the week Sabbath

Then Sunday, the 1st day of the week, which began at sundown on Saturday evening. (remember that the Jewish day started at 6 o'clock in the evening - of the previous day.)

Great Day & Academic Presentation

Today has been great. Since we did school on Saturday, we took today off. (My kids don't know that all kids don't do school on Saturday here and there- so please don't tell them.:)

After karate, we visited with Nanny at the nursing home. She wasn't very talkative, but it was nice to sit and hold her hand. I shared with her what we've been doing during the week. The kids and I sat on her bed making up a "what -if" story. When she did speak, she said "when did y'all jump out of an airplane." I explained to her that we were making up a story. I don't think she understood, because when we left, she said "I don't think you need to be jumping out of airplanes anymore."

Afterwards, we went to Pizza Hut for our free pizza from the Book It reading program. If you homeschool, check out the link. If you don't, ask your school to join up.

Then we went to see, my friend, Ms. Sherry (and Kayla) to show me a way to put Faith's hair up for Easter. Faith has been asking me to fix her hair "fancy" for some time now. I told her that Ms. Sherry would have to help Mommy. Sherry is so talented in - well everything. We love her so much. We enjoyed fellowshipping with her as well as with Kayla.

When we got home, we headed outside for a fun afternoon in the sun. I love this spring weather.

I have been praying all day (as well as all month) about a certain matter that seems a little impossible to happen. God has never failed us & I know He never will. Every month, the money comes in - sometime on the very last day. We have 2 more days. If He chooses to not bring in the money, then I know it is His will. He may use it to teach us something. Why do I get so worried? Either way, He will meet our needs. He promises us in Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."


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Homeschool Academic Presentation

(A little late in posting)

Our Homeschool support group has an Academic Presentation day twice a year. There's one in the fall which is for History and Science. The one in the spring is for Art, Music and Literature. It is a great time for the kids to get practice giving oral presentations. Not only do they have to get up in front of children, but in front of adults as well.

Will did his report on a musician named John Cage. He has a lot of different interpretations of music.Cage wrote a piece called "Silence". The score is a little over 4 minutes of rests. Nothing else. He was trying to show the audience what true silence is. After Will's speech, he "played" an excerpt of it on the keyboard. What?, you may ask. He stood in front of the keyboard and "played" the rests. I told you that Cage was a little different. Will did a wonderful job on his presentation.

Children under 3rd grade are not required to give an oral presentation, just a project. Collin had a great time doing his art projects throughout the year.

Creativity: is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep. ~ Scott Adams, American Cartoonist.


You'll notice on the right of the table is his bag that he made that I posted earlier on my blog. On top of it, is his pillow that he made. He loves to create things.

Birthday Surprises

Will's cake.
This is the 1st time that I did the FBCT (Frozen Butter Cream Transfer)
There is a tutorial on Youtube. It looked easy & it was.
{For some reason, I am not able to flip this picture, sorry}

Will loves music. He said that he wanted a music quilt. He was so surprised because
he never saw or heard me sewing. I waited until they were asleep to work on it or if there were
not home. This is my second finished quilt. I'm still trying to work out some
problems that I've been having.

9 Years Old

"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there." 1Samuel 1:27-28

This was my prayer when we were wanting to have children, when I was expecting & now as we are raising them. What a wonderful blessing to be used of God to raise His children. To know that He entrusts me with such a job -despite that fact that He knows me so well.
My first born turned 9 years old, yesterday. 9! 9? How could he? He was just born.

The first 6 months of his life, he was never put down. I held him from the time I awoke til I went to bed. I was mesmerized by this little bundle of joy.

I jokingly tell him that he can only grow up if he will still let me hold him in my lap. (He has agreed - for now.) As he is getting bigger, I'm realizing that it may not be long before I am the one who can't hold up to that deal.


Will loves playing the piano. I'm so glad that I don't have to "force" him to practice. (I took for 8 years & dreaded it. I wish now that I would have practiced more.) He is following in his daddy's footsteps, (love of music & talent) and an ear for music, like his grandmother. I enjoy listening to him play.He is excelling in school, he loves to read. He loves Mystery books - Jigsaw Jones, Nate the Great, A-Z Mysteries. He wrote Ron Roy, author of A-Z Mysteries telling him that he loved his books. Yesterday, Mr. Roy wrote him back. What a surprise.
He enjoys playing with his brother & sister (for the most part). I love watching & hear them playing with each other. Their imagination builds off one another. When I hear them encourage each one another, my heart soars.

Will is a great encourager. He loves making and writing letters -just to lift some one up.


Most importantly, he loves His Lord. He has a heart for others to get saved. He prays for Collin & Faith's salvation every day. We enjoy passing out tracks. If he hears of a need, he prays for it right then.

I am blessed with a young man who still loves to hug, kiss and give compliments to his mama.

I know that the Lord has something wonderful planned for his life. Thank you, again Lord, for giving Will to us. We love him more than words can express.

A Simple Woman's Daybook

The view from where I sit: The kitchen to my left- with the table needing to be cleared off. The family room to my right - which is all picked up. Flylady would be proud.

Outside my window: Beautiful sunshine. The outdoors is calling for us to enjoy it today.

I'm thinking: I really need to be doing the laundry. I will- as soon as I post this. This week is going to be so busy. It is filled with lots of fun adventures for us. I love going, but I also love to be home.

I am thankful for: Monday mornings. After a full day of church on Sunday, the kids sleep in on Mon. & I can get a lot of work done. Usually, it is my best quit time day.

From the Kitchen: Lemon rotisserie chicken from the crockpot, lemon rice and beans. That's what's for dinner.

I am wearing: a pink t-shirt that says American Mom that was a present from the 'lilbucks & gray pj bottoms.

I'm creating: Will's birthday piano quilt. Hoping to surprise him for his birthday in 1 1/2 weeks. I've got a lot more to do. Praying it'll get done in time.

I'm going: to take the kids to karate and art class. Then off to see my Nanny at the nursing home.

I am reading: the Bible & 4 books on prayer. I'm working on a devotion for our ladies fellowship at church for next week. Yikes! I'm a little nervous.

For homeschool: Will & I are reading A-Z Mystery book, Collin & I are reading Oliver Twist and Faith & I are reading whatever books she picks for the day. We love to read.

I am hoping: That the health care bill doesn't pass. I am praying that God will intervene. Praying for wisdom for our leaders. Tony & I are calling our representatives. We urge you to do the same.

I am hearing: Will feeding our dog Leia. She loves to jump when you are feeding her. He is telling her to stop jumping & then singing to her.

Around the house: Faith & Collin are still sleeping. I haven't turned on any of the lights yet. Just letting the sun shine in through the windows.

One of my favorite things: my new shirt that I got on sale for $4. It is very sassy looking.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Piano, AWANA/Church, a new homeschool crochet class, our homeschool support group's Academic Presentation & a picnic. Hopefully, I'll get to start painting our bedroom.

Hope you enjoy your week. I'm off to do the laundry.