Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on November 06, 1999 at 09:32:50 {p8g/8h8r5QMRXA6xmpscslyACFuF8c}:
In Reply to: ****QUESTION FOR MR. B posted by DaJahVeu on November 06, 1999 at 05:19:32:
Hi Da,
ALMOST.
Remember, only SABBATH days have two evenings, so Nisan 14th is not a sabbath day so it began at nightfall like all the other usual secular days.
But yes, that is basically the issue. The "evening" is the end of the day, never the beginning, except on sabbath days. So unless it was a sabbath day, the "evening" would always be the last hours of that day.
Since Nisan 14th was not a sabbath day, though, there were not two evenigns involved. But... if it were, then you are correct. What I am saying is that it was not at the beginning of Nisan 14th but the end that Passover was held. The evening leading into Nisan 15th. The evening, which no matter what calendar date you date it, by Midnight it was the 15th.
That's why Luke 22:7 is so special. It specifically states this was the day the lambs were sacrificed which was Nisan 14th. No matter what, Jesus ate the meal the DAY AFTER he sent his disciples out because he ate it after sundown. So the day he sends them out and the day he eats the meal are always going to be two different days.
So if he sent them out on the day the lambs were sacrificed, normally at 3:00 p.m., then he ate the meal after sunset on the FOLLOWING DAY. If the lambs were sacrificed in the afternoon of Nisan 14th then that day was almost over anyway. So there is no choice but Jesus eating that meal on an evening that eventually turned into Nisan 15th by Midnight.
Also, what I don't think we discussed is this. That by the time of Jesus, the Jews called the entire festival from Nisan 14th through the 21st as either "Passover" or the "Days of Unfermented Cakes" and back then the FIRST DAY of unfermented cakes was Nisan 14th, not the official "first day of unfermented cakes" as in olden days.
That's why, even for the Jews it was confusing and so to make sure we understood exactly what day was being talked about, they gave us extra information.
Thus the "first day of unfermented cakes" could be either the first day of the festival of unfermented cakes which included the slaughtering of the lambs on Nisan 14th, or the official "first day of unfermented cakes" which is the sabbath day of Nisan 14/15. So to make sure we understood this was not Nisan 14/15, Luke tells us this was the day the lambs were sacrificed. Thus we know that while this is the first day of the "festival of unfermented cakes," as it was called, it was not the sabbath day of Nisan 14/15 but the day before. The lambs were sacrificed on the day of preparation around 3:00 p.m. before the official "first day of unfermented cakes" occurred.
That's why I always make sure I say the "sabbath day of Nisan 14/15" so it's not confused with the first day of the festival which includes Nisan 14th.
Tbat's why, if you just realize that Passover is eaten with UNFERMENTED CAKES on Nisan 15th or Nisan 14/15th, it should be clear that Jesus was addressed on Nisan 15th. And from there there is no alternative but to realize he must have died that following Thursday.
Or you can just become convinced that the current tradition of the Jews for Passover is completely Biblical and the way it has always been celebrated. They remove the leaven on the 14th, and celebrate the Sedar on the 15th.
It's good your getting this down. Once you do, you'll see the scriptures completely harmonize with this chain of events.
Cheers,
Bibleman