The surprising story behind this religious holiday.

How do colored eggs connect with Christ's resurrection?

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As a boy attending a mainstream church with my family, I was always surprised to see people at services on Easter Sunday who did not come at any other time of the year, not even at Christmas.

Embarrassed and somewhat fearful, a few of them told us they hoped that God would forgive their sins and absences because they made the special effort to come to church on Easter Sunday, which to them was the most sacred time of the year.

Others felt that a special measure of sanctification, purification and holiness was imparted to them by their attendance at Easter services.

However, these people didn't realize that their faith was not based on fact and reality. None of them knew or even wondered about Easter's origins. They would have been surprised to know the truth of the matter.

Idolatrous beginnings

Many people are amazed to find that the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. does not mention Easter at all. Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever directed that it should be observed. The word Easter in Acts 12:4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
See All... in the King James Version is an incorrect translation of the Greek word pascha , which refers to Passover, not Easter. This mistake has been corrected in modern translations of the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation..

Also not generally known is that Easter did not originate with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Encyclopedias and dictionaries trace the term Easter variously back to Eostre, the name of the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring; to Eostur, the Norse word for the spring season; or to Ishtar , the ancient spring goddess of Near Eastern countries, also known as Astarte, or, in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., Ashtoreth.

All are connected to the spring season and springtime fertility festivals which represented rejuvenation, reproduction and the life-enriching qualities of the sun. Customs and symbols associated today with Easter observance can be directly traced back to Easter's pre-Christian origins.

The New Encyclopaedia Britannica , 15th edition, in its article on Easter, describes these customs and symbols as "hav[ing] been handed down from the ancient ceremonial and symbolism of European and Middle Eastern pagan spring festivals." One symbol, the Easter rabbit, is called the modern replacement for "the hare, the symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt."

Another source reveals the origin of two Easter customs: "Also popular among Europeans and Americans on Easter is ham, because the pig was considered a symbol of luck in pre-Christian European culture" ( The Encyclopedia of Religion , 1987, article, "Easter").

"In traditional folk religion the egg is a powerful symbol of fertility, purity, and rebirth. It is used in magical rituals to promote fertility and restore virility; to look into the future; to bring good weather; to encourage the growth of crops and protect both cattle and children against misfortune, especially the dreaded evil eye. All over the world it represents life and creation, fertility and resurrection...Later [customs concerning eggs] were linked with Easter. The church did not oppose this, though many egg customs were pre-Christian in origin, because the egg provided a fresh and powerful symbol of the Resurrection and the transformation of death into life" (article, "Egg").

Pre-Christian resurrection celebrations

Celebrating the resurrection of a deceased deity in a springtime festival also long predates Christianity. Chief among such celebrations were those in honor of Tammuz, the Babylonian "god of pasture and flocks...and of vegetation. He was husband and brother of Ishtar (Asherah), goddess of fertility. Babylonian epics preserve the saga of the annual dying of Tammuz in the autumn when vegetation withered; his departure to the underworld; his recovery by the mourning Ishtar; and his springtime return to the fertilized upper world" ( Harper's BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Dictionary , 1961, article, "Tammuz").

The Babylonians taught that Tammuz was mystically revived from death in the spring by the anguish and crying of Ishtar, who was the same as the pagan goddess Ashtoreth referred to in ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). (Judges 2:13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
See All...; 10:6; 1 Kings 11:5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
See All...). This ancient custom of mourning for the return of a dead god is mentioned in Ezekiel 8:14Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
See All..., where we read that women are "weeping for Tammuz." His supposed resurrection marked the end of winter and the beginning of spring, with its new life and vegetation.

Ishtar, wife of Tammuz, was also worshiped as the "Queen of HeavenThe Bible speaks of three heavens: (1) the atmosphere surrounding earth, that is, the sky (Acts 1:9-11); (2) space, including our solar system and the observable stars and galaxies (Genesis 1:14-18; Psalm 8:3); and (3) the location of God's throne, from where He governs the entire universe, called "the third heaven" (2 Corinthians 12:2). Solomon said: "God is in heaven and you are on earth" (Ecclesiastes 5:2). In the Bible , the context usually tells us which of the three "heavens" is being discussed." ( Harper's , 1961, article, "Asherah"). The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. shows that idolatry and sun worship connected with Ishtar and Tammuz became so widespread and influential that they were practiced even by people who had once known the true God but had fallen into wrong kinds of worship (Ezekiel 8:12-18 [12] Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
[13] He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
[14] Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
[15] Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
[16] And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
[17] Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
[18] Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

See All...; Jeremiah 7:18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
See All...; 44:17-23).

Worshiped in other areas under the name Adonis, Tammuz was honored with an annual celebration by a cult that "mourned his death and rejoiced at his resurrection. The cult worked its way into the folkways of Christian peasants, who wept over the lost Adonis and participated in lewd festivities" ( Harper's, "Tammuz").

Subtle changes introduced

But how did such strange customs and practices become associated with biblically recorded true events such as the Passover and Jesus Christ's resurrection?

From the start, the Roman government regarded the early Christian Church as a branch of the Jewish religion, because the earliest Christians staunchly observed the same laws and religious celebrations as did Jews. Later, as persecution increased, many groups of professing Christians chose to disassociate themselves from what had become identified as Judaism.

During the reign of Emperor Hadrian (A.D. 117-135), Jews were harshly persecuted and practices of Judaism forbidden. These oppressive measures apparently influenced many early Christians in Rome to abandon the biblical Sabbath and festivals and turn to Sunday, historically observed by the Romans as a day of veneration of the Sun. Hence, the first day of the week (Sunday) took the place of the seventh day (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) Sabbath, and "some of the old heathen feasts became church festivals with change of name and of worship" (Jesse Lyman Hurlbut, The Story of the Christian Church , 1954, pp. 43, 45, 77, 79).

In other words, the Sabbath and festivals of God, outlined in Leviticus 23 and practiced by both Judaism and the early Church (Acts 13:14But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
See All..., 42, 44; 16:13; 17:2; 18:4, 21; 20:6, 16; 27:9), were supplanted by nonbiblical traditions and practices. The truth and purity of the early Church of God were corrupted.

Controversy over worship

Accompanying this transformation was early confusion and disagreement as to when the crucifixion occurred. "In Rome Easter was celebrated on the Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox, and was a memorial of the resurrection" ( The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity , 1990, p. 36).

Note that carefully. What was instituted by Jesus to annually commemorate His death was subtly changed to a celebration memorializing His resurrection. But there is no command in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., by Jesus or His apostles, to solemnize His resurrection.

Instead, Jesus highlighted what was to be accomplished by His death by instituting new symbols for the new covenant meaning of the Passover (Matthew 26:26-28 [26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
[27] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
[28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

See All...; Mark 14:22-24 [22] And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
[23] And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
[24] And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

See All...; Luke 22:17-20 [17] And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
[18] For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
[19] And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[20] Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

See All...). He was the Lamb of God who would offer Himself as the true Paschal sacrifice for the sins of the world (John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
See All...), and His death fulfilled what had been foreshadowed by the slaying of the Passover lambs.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967 edition, in the article "Easter and its cycle," adds: "Originally both observances [Passover and Easter] were allowed, but gradually it was felt incongruous that Christians should celebrate Easter on a Jewish feast, and unity in celebrating the principal Christian feast was called for."

The Passover ceremony, observed by Jesus Christ and commanded by Him for His followers (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 [23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
[24] And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
[25] After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
[26] For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

See All...; Luke 22:19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
See All...; John 13:15For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
See All...), was supplanted by Easter, a day neither He nor the early New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. Church approved.

Inconsistent and incorrect dating

The date of Easter, as part of the syncretizing of Easter with the death and resurrection of Christ, was heatedly debated during the 2nd century after Christ, especially by a group in Asia Minor known as the Quartodecimans (from the Latin for 14). They insisted on observing Easter on the 14th of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar, which was a movable date; that is, it did not fall on the same calendar day each year.

"In the mid-second century, however, some Gentile Christians began to celebrate it on the Sunday after 14 Nisan, with the preceding Friday observed as the day of Christ's crucifixion, regardless of the date on which it fell. The resulting controversy over the correct time for observing the Easter festival reached a head in A.D. 197, when Victor of Rome excommunicated those Christians who insisted on celebrating Easter on 14 Nisan. The dispute continued until the early fourth century, when the Quarto-decimans...were required by Emperor Constantine to conform to the empire-wide practice of observing Easter on the Sunday following 14 Nisan, rather than on the date itself.

"Currently celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox [the Council of Nicaea fixed this date in A.D. 325], Easter falls differently for [Eastern] Orthodox Christianity which, unlike Western Christianity, did not accept the Gregorian calendar reform in 1582" ( Harper's BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Dictionary , 1985, article "Easter").

We therefore see that the world's observance of Easter is a curious mixture of ancient mythological practices and arbitrary dating which actually obscure and discredit the proof of Jesus Christ's messiahship and resurrection. The Passover was discarded and replaced with Easter.

This gives some of the background on how Friday came to be observed as the time of Jesus' crucifixion, and the following Sunday as the date of His resurrection. However, another problem with all this is that these observances are refuted by the details of the biblical record.

Sign"The rendering of several Hebrew and Greek words, which usually denote a miraculous, or, at least, divine or extraordinary token of some (generally) future event" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, "Sign"). of the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah").

Matthew 12:38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
See All... shows some of the scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus for a sign to prove He was the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah").. But Jesus told them that the only sign He would give was that of the prophet Jonah: "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" (verse 40).

Many people justify their belief in a Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection by the notion that this segment of time does not require a span of 72 hours. They reason that a part of a day can be reckoned as a whole day. Hence, since Jesus died around 3 p.m. (Matthew 27:46And 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?
See All...), they feel the remainder of Friday constituted the first day, Saturday the second and part of Sunday the third.

What they fail to take into consideration is that only two nights are accounted for in this explanation and that Jesus had already risen before the daylight portion of Sunday (John 20:1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
See All...).

Something is obviously incorrect about this commonly calculated conclusion.

Jonah 1:17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
See All... states specifically that "Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." There is no reason to think that these days and nights were fractional. Nor is there any basis for thinking that Jesus meant only two nights and one day, plus parts of two days, when He described the length of time He would be in the grave. Such rationalization undermines the integrity of Jesus' words.

Was Christ's sign fulfilled?

If Jesus were in the grave only from late Friday afternoon to sometime very early Sunday morning, then the only sign He gave that He was the prophesied MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah"). was not fulfilled. The claim of His messiahship rests on the fulfillment of His words; it's that serious a matter.

Let us carefully examine the details of those fateful days. Each of the GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . writers gives an account of the events, but each presents different aspects that need to be correctly synchronized and harmonized to produce a clear sequence and understanding of what happened (see acompanying chart). The BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. does not contradict itself (Psalm 119:160Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
See All...), and we will see that not one of the GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . accounts contradicts what the other Gospels teach.

For instance, John 19:31The 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.
See All... preserves a crucial point that provides insight into the other narratives. The preparation day on which Jesus was crucified is described as the day before the Sabbath. But John clarifies it by stating that this approaching Sabbath "was a high day." This does not refer to the weekly Sabbath (Friday evening to Saturday evening) but to the first day of Unleavened Bread, which is one of God's annual high, or feast, days (Exodus 12:16And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
See All...; Leviticus 23:6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
See All..., 7), which could fall on any day of the week.

Some have argued that this high day fell that year on the seventh day of the week, making it a double Sabbath, with the preparation day being on Friday. But Luke's account shows that this was not the case. Notice the sequence of events outlined in chapter 23. Jesus' moment of death, as well as His hasty burial because of the oncoming Sabbath, is narrated in verses 46-53. Verse 54 then states, "That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near."

Two Sabbaths described

Many have assumed that it is the weekly Sabbath mentioned here. But this is not the case. Instead, it was a Sabbath that occurred on Thursday, since verse 56 shows that the women, after seeing Christ's body having been laid in the tomb, "returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils" for the final preparation of the body.

In this sequence, such work could have been done only on Friday, since it would have been considered a violation of the Sabbath if it was done on that day, and that would not have been allowed. This is further verified by Mark's account, which states, "Now when the Sabbath was past , Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices [which would not have been purchased on a Sabbath] that they might come and anoint Him" (Mark 16:1And 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.
See All..., emphasis ours).

This conclusively proves that the Sabbath mentioned here and in the other narratives was the first Holy Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which, in A.D. 31, fell on a Thursday. The women had to wait until this Sabbath was over before they could buy and prepare the spices, on Friday, to be used for anointing Jesus' body. Then, after these activities, "they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment," which would have been the regular weekly Saturday Sabbath (Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
See All...).

Sign"The rendering of several Hebrew and Greek words, which usually denote a miraculous, or, at least, divine or extraordinary token of some (generally) future event" (Unger's Bible Dictionary, "Sign"). of the MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah").

After this rest, the women then went to Jesus' tomb early on the first day of the week (Sunday), while it was still dark (John 20:1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
See All...), and found that He had already been resurrected (Matthew 28:1-6 [1] 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.
[3] His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
[4] And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
[5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
[6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

See All...; Mark 16:2-6 [2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
[3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
[4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
[5] And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
[6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

See All...; Luke 24:1-3 [1] 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.

See All...; John 20:1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
See All...). Therefore, if we allow the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). to interpret themselves, an accurate harmonization of all four GospelThe good news of God's everlasting kingdom to be established on earth after Christ's return and how we may be a part of that kingdom. This message was central to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the apostles. The term is used about 100 times in the New Testament . accounts attests to the validity of Jesus' statements.

Further proof of the accuracy of this sequence and explanation is found in Matthew 28:1In 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.
See All.... Most translations render "Now after the Sabbath" as if the word Sabbath were singular. This is not correct. Sabbath here is sabbaton in the Greek text, which is genitive plural. Some BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. versions, including Alfred Marshall's Parallel New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. in Greek and English and Ferrar Fenton's translation, translate it properly as "after the Sabbaths," which again demonstrates that there was more than one Sabbath that week.

The wording of Mark 16:1And 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.
See All..., 2 is also confusing to some because it seems to suggest that the spices were purchased after the weekly Sabbath rather than before it, on Friday. However, this is explained by Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
See All..., which clearly shows that the women bought the spices before, and not after, the weekly Sabbath, "and they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment." Mark did not mention this weekly Sabbath rest in his account, but Luke, who wrote later, did.

Some also stumble over Mark 16:9Now 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.
See All..., not taking into account that there is no punctuation indicated in the original Greek. Therefore, to be in harmony with the material presented in the other Gospels, a better translation would be: "Now having risen, early the first day of the week He appeared first to Mary Magdalene..." These verses are not saying that Jesus rose early on Sunday morning, but that He appeared on Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene, having risen some time earlier.

Three days and three nights in the tomb

Be assured that the precise fulfillment of Jonah's sign of three days and three nights, which Jesus gave as verification of His authenticity and messiahship, did happen. Jesus rose late Saturday afternoon around sunset—not Sunday at sunrise—which was precisely three days and three nights after He was placed in the tomb just before sunset on Wednesday. He had already risen hours before the women came to the tomb, while it was still dark, Sunday morning.

We should be grateful that God has preserved the genuine, incontrovertible proof of Jesus' resurrection so we can have the confidence and certainty that Jesus is indeed the prophesied MessiahA Hebrew word meaning literally "anointed one," synonymous with the Greek word christos, translated Christ. "In ancient Israel both persons and things consecrated to sacred purposes were anointed by having oil poured over them ... The Israelites did not think of crowning a king but of anointing him when he was enthroned ... [The future Messiah] is to destroy the world powers in an act of judgment, deliver Israel from her enemies, and restore her as a nation. The Messiah is the King of this future kingdom to whose political and religious domination the other nations will yield. His mission is the redemption of Israel and His dominion is universal. This is the clear picture of the Messiah in practically all of the OT passages which refer to Him" (The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, "Messiah"). and Savior of the world, who has paid the full penalty of human sin by His sacrifice and death, and that He rose from the dead and lives in heaven as our Helper, High Priest and Intercessor. GN

Chronology of Events

Wednesday

• Jesus eats with disciples early Tuesday evening (days began at sunset, Exodus 12:18In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
  See All..., Leviticus 23:32It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
  See All...), institutes symbols of bread and wine.
• Jesus is betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified during the remainder of evening and daylight on Wednesday.
• Jesus dies about 3 p.m. (Matthew 27:46-50 [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?
  [47] Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
  [48] And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
  [49] The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
  [50] Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
  
  See All...).
• This was the "Preparation Day," the day before the Sabbath (Luke 23:54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
  See All...; Mark 15:42And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
  See All...). But this was an annual, not weekly, Sabbath (John 19:31The 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.
  See All...).
• Joseph or Arimathea entombs Jesus' body at sunset (Matthew 27:57-60 [57] When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple:
  [58] He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
  [59] And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
  [60] And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
  
  See All...).

Thursday

• A High Day Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread (John 19:31The 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.
  See All...).
• This was the day which followed the Day of Preparation (Matthew 27:62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
  See All...).

Friday

• When the High Day Sabbath was past, the women brought and prepared spices for annointing Jesus' body (Mark 16:1And 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.
  See All...; Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
  See All...a).

Saturday

• The women rested on the weekly Sabbath, according to the Fourth Commandment (Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
  See All...b).
• Jesus rose around sunset, three days and three nights (72 hours) after burial, fulfilling the sign of Jonah.

Sunday

• The women brought the spices they had prepared to the tomb early in the morning while it was still dark (Luke 24:1Now 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.
  See All...; John 20:1The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
  See All...).
• Jesus had already risen; the tomb was empty (Matthew 28:1-6 [1] 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.
  [3] His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
  [4] And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
  [5] And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
  [6] He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
  
  See All...; Mark 16:2-6 [2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
  [3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
  [4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
  [5] And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
  [6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
  
  See All...; Luke 24:1-3 [1] 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.
  
  See All...; John 20:1-18 [1] The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
  [2] Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
  [3] Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
  [4] So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
  [5] And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
  [6] Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
  [7] And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
  [8] Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
  [9] For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
  [10] Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
  [11] But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
  [12] And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
  [13] And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
  [14] And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
  [15] Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
  [16] Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
  [17] Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
  [18] Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
  
  See All...).