With the prophetic word last a year of “09 The Plumbline”, I have been challenged to seek and present the truth concerning issues of scripture and the importance to present those things to the Body at large. Often the findings seem controversial, but when studied under the close scrutiny of God’s Word, these findings are still the Truth.
While in study recently, I came across a passge in the New Living Translation of the Bible, that I KNEW to be unacurate. Here it is ;
The Burial of Jesus
Luke 23
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation,[l] as the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.
I had already studied out the events of the week of the Crucifixion and knew that according to John 19:31 there was actually two “Sabbaths” that week, beginging with the Passover on Nisan 14 Wednesday, going into Festival of Unleavened Bread on Nisan 15 Thursday. These were established by God The Father in Exodus when HE brought Israel out of Egypt and put into action or law in Leviticus 23 :5.
The KJV verse reads this way;
Luke 23:50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; 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.
52This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
55And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.
Notice that there is NO MENTION of Friday being the day of preparation in the KJV. Why is that ? Simply because Yahushua, Christ Jesus, was crucified on Wed. Nisan 14, placed in the tomb before sundown, which according to God’s established time table [ sunset to sunset is a day], and there remained until sometimes after sunset Sat. Nisan 17th. This is backed up by the verse in John 19:31 and by doing a Chronological study of the week before the Resurrection on Nisan 18th.
There is a very well done study of these events at;
http://www.centuryone.com/crucifixion.html
In conclusion, one might ask, “Why even bring this up?”.
We that have been given the awesome responsibilty to lead God’s Children and teach them in His Word, also have the awesome task to do it with the truth. Listen to the words of Christ in Matthew’s account of the Gospel;
Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
I can NOT stand before my Lord and have HIM ask me why I didn’t tell the truth and “Teach Men so”.
This idea that Christ was crucified and buried on Friday is improper teaching and shows how “the traditions of man” have once again over ridden the Word of God. After studying this matter out and comparing the events, there is no way logically NOR theoloigaclly to base a Friday to Sunday timeframe for this event.
What’s the big deal? Well, for those who will listen to the “traditions of man” and not search a matter out, their very eternity is at stake. The old saying “you have to stand for something or you will fall for anything” is definetly a Truth.
Don’t get upset, when you begin to question these things and your leaders tell you “not to go there” or “it isn’t important”. Either they know that you are finding the Truth or they don’t know the Truth themself. Given the “traditions of man” that have been passed down over the centuries, there is the chance they may not know the Truth them self.
That’s why the apostle Paul said to “Study to show yourself approved”. That verse is for ALL of us, who desire to know the Truth.
The prophet Hosea got these Word’s from God;
4: 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
It wasn’t “a lack” but the “Rejection of knowledge”that God was upset about. In this day and time, IT IS unexcsable for anyone to have a “lack of knowledge”. “Knowledge” is plentiful. The “Knowledge of God” may be in a “famine”, The Truth of God, BUT that’s why it is so important that the Truth come forth. “2009 The Plumbline”
