As a boy attending a mainstream church with my family, I was always surprised to see people at services on Easter Sunday who didn't come 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.

Customs and symbols associated today with Easter observance can be directly traced back to Easter's pre-Christian origins.

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

However, these people likely didn't know or even wonder about Easter's real origins. They probably would've been surprised to know the truth of the matter!

Idolatrous beginnings of the holiday

Many people are amazed to find that the Bible does not mention Easter at all. Neither Jesus nor the apostles ever indicated or directed that it should be observed. The word Easter in Acts 12:4 Acts 12:4And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.
American King James Version×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 Testament.

Also not generally known is the fact 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 Bible, Ashtoreth.

All are connected to the spring season and springtime fertility festivals that 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 bunny, is called the modern replacement for "the hare, the symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt."

Another source reveals the origin of two other popular Easter customs. Regarding one it states, "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, "Easter").

And concerning the other, the egg, it explains: "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" ("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 Bible Dictionary, 1961, "Tammuz").

The Babylonians taught that Tammuz was mystically revived from death in the spring by the anguish and crying of Ishtar, who, as already noted, was the same as the pagan goddess Ashtoreth referred to in Scripture (Judges 2:13 Judges 2:13And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
American King James Version×; Judges 10:6 Judges 10:6And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
American King James Version×; 1 Kings 11:5 1 Kings 11:5For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
American King James Version×). This ancient custom of mourning for the return of a dead god is mentioned in Ezekiel 8:14 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.
American King James Version×, where we read of women "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 Heaven" (Harper's Bible Dictionary, "Asherah"). The Bible 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 Ezekiel 8:12-18 [12] Then said he to me, Son of man, have you 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 sees us not; the LORD has forsaken the earth. [13] He said also to me, Turn you yet again, and you shall 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 to me, Have you seen this, O son of man? turn you yet again, and you shall 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 to me, Have you 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, see, they put the branch to their nose. [18] Therefore will I also deal in fury: my eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
American King James Version×; Jeremiah 7:18 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 to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
American King James Version×; Jeremiah 44:17-23 Jeremiah 44:17-23 [17] But we will certainly do whatever thing goes forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. [18] But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. [19] And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her, without our men? [20] Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, [21] The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, you, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD remember them, and came it not into his mind? [22] So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which you have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. [23] Because you have burned incense, and because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened to you, as at this day.
American King James Version×).

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 Bible Dictionary, "Tammuz").

Subtle changes introduced

But how did such strange customs and practices become associated with true events recorded in the Bible—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 the Jews did. Later, as persecution against Jews increased in the wake of two Jewish revolts against Rome, many groups of professing Christians chose to dissociate themselves from beliefs and practices that were closely identified with 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 Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset), 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 the festivals of God, outlined in Leviticus 23 and practiced by both Judaism and the early Church (see Acts 13:14 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.
American King James Version×; Acts 13:42-44 Acts 13:42-44 [42] And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles sought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. [43] Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. [44] And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
American King James Version×; Acts 16:13 Acts 16:13And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke to the women which resorted thither.
American King James Version×; Acts 17:2 Acts 17:2And Paul, as his manner was, went in to them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
American King James Version×; Acts 18:4 Acts 18:4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
American King James Version×; Acts 18:21 Acts 18:21But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem: but I will return again to you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.
American King James Version×; Acts 20:6 Acts 20:6And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came to them to Troas in five days; where we stayed seven days.
American King James Version×; Acts 20:16 Acts 20:16For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hurried, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
American King James Version×; Acts 27:9 Acts 27:9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
American King James Version×), were supplanted by nonbiblical traditions and practices. The truth and purity of the early Church of God were corrupted.

Controversy over days of worship

As this early confusion advanced, further disagreement arose as to the days on which Jesus' crucifixion and subsequent resurrection occurred. The pagan festival honoring the goddess of spring (renamed Easter) began to supplant the Christian Passover. "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. The Christian Passover, instituted by Jesus to annually commemorate His death, was subtly changed to a celebration memorializing His resurrection. But there is no command in the Bible, by Jesus or His apostles, to solemnize His resurrection.

Instead, Jesus highlighted what was to be accomplished by His death in instituting new symbols for the New Covenant meaning of the Passover (Matthew 26:26-28 Matthew 26:26-28 [26] And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke 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 you all of it; [28] For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
American King James Version×; Mark 14:22-24 Mark 14:22-24 [22] And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke 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 to them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
American King James Version×; Luke 22:17-20 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 to 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 broke it, and gave to 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.
American King James Version×). He was the Lamb of God who offered Himself as the true Passover sacrifice for the sins of the world (John 1:29 John 1:29The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
American King James Version×), and His death fulfilled what had long been foreshadowed by the slaying of the Passover lambs.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia 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" (1967, "Easter and Its Cycle").

Thus the Passover ceremony, observed by Jesus Christ and commanded by Him for His followers (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 [23] For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: [24] And when he had given thanks, he broke 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 you, as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. [26] For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come.
American King James Version×; Luke 22:19 Luke 22:19And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
American King James Version×; John 13:15 John 13:15For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
American King James Version×), was supplanted by Easter, a day neither He nor the early New Testament Church approved.

Inconsistent and incorrect dating

As part of the mixing of this ancient pagan festival with the death and resurrection of Christ, whether to keep Easter, and if so on what date, was heatedly debated during the second century. A group in Asia Minor known as the Quartodecimans (after the Latin word for 14) rigorously defended the original biblical truths. They insisted on an observance of the Christian Passover on the correct biblical date, the 14th day of the month Nisan on the Hebrew calendar. This was a movable date, meaning it did not fall on the same weekly or Roman calendar day each year.

"In the mid-second century, however, some Gentile Christians began to celebrate [Easter] 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 [actually the Passover] 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 Nicea 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 Bible Dictionary, 1985, "Easter").

We therefore see that the world's observance of Easter is a curious mixture of ancient mythological and idolatrous practices and arbitrary dating that 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.

Jesus' sign of the Messiah

Matthew 12:38 Matthew 12:38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from you.
American King James Version×shows some of the scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus for a sign to prove He was the 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" (Matthew 12:40 Matthew 12:40For 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.
American King James Version×).

Many people justify their belief in a Friday burial and Sunday resurrection by reasoning that this segment of time does not require a span of three 24-hour days, or 72 hours. They argue that a part of a day can be reckoned as a whole day. Hence, since Jesus was buried just before sunset, they feel the few remaining moments of the daylight part of Friday constituted the first day, Friday sunset to Saturday sunset was the second and Saturday night through Sunday morning was the third.

What they fail to take into consideration is that at most only two nights can be accounted for in this explanation, and really only one full daylight period (as a few moments of daylight at the end of Friday is not a day). So we are at least one day and one night short of Jesus' words even by this interpretation.

Something is obviously incorrect about this commonly calculated conclusion.

Jonah 1:17 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.
American King James Version×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 when He described the length of time He would be in the grave. Such rationalization undermines the integrity and clear meaning of Jesus' words.

Was Christ's sign fulfilled?

If Jesus were in the grave only from late Friday afternoon to sometime before dawn on Sunday morning, then the only sign He gave that He was the prophesied 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 biblical details of those fateful days. Each of the Gospel writers gives an account of the events, but each presents different aspects that we need to correctly synchronize and harmonize to produce a clear sequence and understanding of what happened.

The Bible does not contradict itself (Psalms 119:160 Psalms 119:160Your word is true from the beginning: and every one of your righteous judgments endures for ever.
American King James Version×; John 10:35 John 10:35If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
American King James Version×), and we will see that not one of the Gospel accounts contradicts what the other Gospels reveal.

John 19:31 John 19:31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) sought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
American King James Version×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 regular weekly Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset) but to the first day of Unleavened Bread, which is one of God's annual high days, or holy feast days (Exodus 12:16 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.
American King James Version×; Leviticus 23:6-7 Leviticus 23:6-7 [6] And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD: seven days you must eat unleavened bread. [7] In the first day you shall have an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein.
American King James Version×), 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 doubly a 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 Luke 23. Jesus' moment of death, as well as His hasty burial in the tomb 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" (Luke 23:46-53 Luke 23:46-53 [46] And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. [47] Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. [48] And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. [49] And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. [50] And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just: [51] (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. [52] This man went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. [53] And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
American King James Version×).

Two Sabbaths described

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

Such work could have been done only on Friday, since it would have been considered a violation of the law if it were done on the Holy 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 16:1 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.
American King James Version×, emphasis added throughout).

This conclusively proves that the Sabbath mentioned here and in the other narratives was the first Holy Day of the biblical Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:4-8 Leviticus 23:4-8 [4] These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their seasons. [5] In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD's passover. [6] And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD: seven days you must eat unleavened bread. [7] In the first day you shall have an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein. [8] But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: you shall do no servile work therein.
American King James Version×), which, in A.D. 31, fell on a Thursday. The women had to wait until this high-day 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 Sabbath (Luke 23:56 Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
American King James Version×).

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 20:1 John 20:1The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
American King James Version×), and found that He had already been resurrected (Matthew 28:1-6 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 sepulcher. [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 on 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 to the women, Fear not you: for I know that you 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.
American King James Version×; Mark 16:2-6 Mark 16:2-6 [2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. [3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? [4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. [5] And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. [6] And he said to them, Be not affrighted: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
American King James Version×; Luke 24:1-3 Luke 24:1-3 [1] Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. [2] And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. [3] And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
American King James Version×; John 20:1 John 20:1The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
American King James Version×).

Therefore, if we allow the Scriptures to interpret themselves, an accurate harmonization of all four Gospel accounts demonstrates the accuracy and validity of Jesus' statements.

Further proof of the accuracy of this sequence and explanation is found in Matthew 28:1 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 sepulcher.
American King James Version×. 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 plural. Some Bible versions, including Alfred Marshall's Parallel New Testament 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 16:1-2 Mark 16:1-2 [1] 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. [2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun.
American King James Version×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 23:56 Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
American King James Version×, 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 did.

Some also stumble over Mark 16:9 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.
American King James Version×, 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 full days and 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 not Sunday at sunrise, but instead late Saturday afternoon around sunset—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—before sunrise—on Sunday morning.

We should be grateful that God has preserved the genuine, incontrovertible proof of Jesus' resurrection so we can have the absolute confidence and certainty that Jesus is indeed the prophesied Messiah and Savior of the world. Christ has paid the full penalty of human sin by His sacrifice and death, and He rose from the dead and now lives in heaven as our Helper, High Priest and Intercessor.

Let's no longer cling to fables such as Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Instead, as Jesus instructs us in John 4:23-24 John 4:23-24 [23] But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
American King James Version×, let us worship God "in spirit and truth."

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Chronology of Events of Jesus Christ's Death and Resurrection

Wednesday

Jesus eats with disciples early Tuesday evening (days began at sunset, Exodus 12:18 Exodus 12:18In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
American King James Version×; Leviticus 23:32 Leviticus 23:32It shall be to you a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even to even, shall you celebrate your sabbath.
American King James Version×), 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 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 have you forsaken me? [47] Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calls for Elias. [48] And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, 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.
American King James Version×).

This was the "Preparation Day," the day before the Sabbath (Luke 23:54 Luke 23:54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
American King James Version×; Mark 15:42 Mark 15:42And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
American King James Version×). But this was an annual, not weekly, Sabbath (John 19:31 John 19:31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) sought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
American King James Version×).

Joseph or Arimathea entombs Jesus' body at sunset (Matthew 27:57-60 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 sepulcher, and departed.
American King James Version×).

Thursday

A High Day Sabbath, the first day of Unleavened Bread (John 19:31 John 19:31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) sought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
American King James Version×).

This was the day which followed the Day of Preparation (Matthew 27:62 Matthew 27:62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate,
American King James Version×).

Friday

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

Saturday

The women rested on the weekly Sabbath, according to the Fourth Commandment (Luke 23:56 Luke 23:56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
American King James Version×).

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 24:1 Luke 24:1Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
American King James Version×; John 20:1 John 20:1The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher.
American King James Version×).

Jesus had already risen; the tomb was empty (Matthew 28:1-6 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 sepulcher. [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 on 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 to the women, Fear not you: for I know that you 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.
American King James Version×; Mark 16:2-6 Mark 16:2-6 [2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came to the sepulcher at the rising of the sun. [3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? [4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. [5] And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. [6] And he said to them, Be not affrighted: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
American King James Version×; Luke 24:1-3 Luke 24:1-3 [1] Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. [2] And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. [3] And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
American King James Version×; John 20:1-18 John 20:1-18 [1] The first day of the week comes Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, to the sepulcher, and sees the stone taken away from the sepulcher. [2] Then she runs, and comes to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him. [3] Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher. [4] So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher. [5] And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. [6] Then comes Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and sees 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 sepulcher, 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 to their own home. [11] But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, [12] And sees 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 to her, Woman, why weep you? She said to 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 said to her, Woman, why weep you? whom seek you? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, Sir, if you have borne him hence, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. [16] Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned herself, and said to him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. [17] Jesus said to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to 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 to her.
American King James Version×).