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New Testament History |
The
two weeks before Passover
On 9 Nisan = Sunday 29 March (the vision of Sunday 25 March 1821), Christ went to Lazarus’s house in Bethany.[5] It was six (inclusive) days before Passover (John 12:1), Sunday 29 March-Friday 3 April.[6] On 11 Nisan = Tuesday 31 March (the vision of Tuesday 27 March 1821), the Pharisees were assembling.[7] On 12 Nisan = Wednesday 1 April (the vision of Wednesday 28 March 1821), Mary Magdalen anointed the feet of Christ (Matt 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:3-8).[8] Christ was teaching His Apostles and disciples before that meal (Matt 26:1).[9] It was two days before Passover (Matt 26:2), 12-14 Nisan.[10] On that day of 12 Nisan (Mark 14:1), the Jewish aristocracy was still assembled (Matt 26:3-5; Mark 14:1-2).[11] On the following night of Wednesday/Thursday 1/2 April = at the start of 13 Nisan (the vision of Wednesday/Thursday 28/29 March 1821), Judas made an agreement with the priests and Pharisees (Matt 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 22:3-6).[12] In Esther’s days, a Persian decree to kill the Jews was issued on 13 Nisan (Esth 3:12). John reports the events of Sunday 9 Nisan and Wednesday 12 Nisan (John 12:1-8) before the entrance of Thursday 28 Adar (John 12:12-19).[13] He apparently depicts the Passion as a new week of Creation, beginning the Passion narrative on the Sunday that preceded the Friday of the crucifixion, in analogy with the Creation week beginning on a Sunday and with the Creation of men on a Friday. God rested on the 7th day (Gen 2:2-3), on which day “heaven and earth were completed with all their array” (Gen 2:1, trans. NJB); similarly, Christ rested on Holy Saturday, on which day “it was fulfilled” (cf. John 19:30).[14]
[1] A.C.E., Life, 4:13-19. [2] A.C.E., Life, 4:11. [3] A.C.E., Life, 4:20. [4] A.C.E., Life, 4:29. [5] A.C.E., Life, 4:35. [6] Passover takes place at the close of 14 Nisan (Lev 23:5; Num 28:16; 33:3; Ezek 45:21). In the year 33 AD the date of 14 Nisan fell on Friday 3 April. [7] A.C.E., Life, 4:40: “It was very quiet in Jerusalem all this day. The Pharisees did not go to the Temple, but assembled in council. [8] A.C.E., Life, 4:45-46. [9] A.C.E., Life, 4:41-42. [10] The two days of Matt 26:2 are not an inclusive reckoning for one day since Matthew uses the Greek word epaurion for a “next day” (Matt 27:62). [11] A.C.E., Life, 4:43: “Magdalen had heard from Veronica that the Pharisees had resolved to arrest Jesus and put Him to death, but not yet, on account of the crowds of strangers and especially the numerous pagans that followed Him.” [12] A.C.E., Life, 4:47. [13] Similarly, the events of John 11:7-16 preceded the event of John 11:6, and the two days mentioned in John 11:6 took place immediately before John 11:17-37: A.C.E., Vie, 5:349 (the vision of Tuesday 3 October 1820): “Des envoyés des deux sœurs sont venus l’engager à aller à Béthanie, il leur a fait dire par les disciples qu’il irait dans deux jours [John 11:6]. Saint Jean résume très-brièvement l’histoire de la maladie et de la mort de Lazare. Il y a bien trois semaines qu’on a informé le Sauveur de la maladie dangereuse de son ami [see the vision of Thursday 21 September 1820] ; il a reçu la nouvelle de sa mort dans la localité voisine de Samarie où il se trouvait avec les saintes femmes [see the vision of Wednesday 27 September 1820], et c’est là qu’il a dit qu’il dormait [John 11:7-13]. A la métairie, il a fait connaître la circonstance de sa mort [John 11:14-16; see the vision of Saturday 30 September 1820].” The two days (John 11:6, the vision of 3 October 1820) were pronounced after John 11:14-16 (the vision of 30 September 1820). Christ arrived in Bethany on Friday 6 October 1820 (John 11:17-37). The two days were Wednesday-Thursday 4-5 October 1820. [14] Keener 2003: 2:1148. |