As we journey on in our chronology of the Bible, we find ourselves on the shores of the largest fresh-water sea in Israel.
Mark 4:35-41. The “Peace Be Still” boat trip from the shore across the Sea of Galilee (The Kinneret). Reaching the other side safely, later that same day Yeshua healed the Gerasene man, who was possessed by a “Legion” of demons. The harmonization of this incident is as follows: Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26b; Matt. 8:28-29; Mark 5, vs 3-20; Luke 8:27-39. Amazing how He crossed a violently heaving sea to rescue one man. (Well, Matthew says it was two...) This reminds me of the shepherd who would leave the 99 safe lambs to go rescue #100.
Then, after this, Yeshua crossed back over the Kinneret and on March 24th the incident of picking grain on the Shabbat occurs. Here is the harmonization for that incident: Matt. 12:1-3; Mark 2:25-26; Matt. 12:5-8; Mark 3:13-19, which is very similar to Luke 8:27-39.
The next day, March 25th, the Sermon on the Plain occurred. (Luke 6:17-49). Shortly after this teaching, the crowds steered Yeshua to the seaside, (Mark 3:7-12) where the Parable of the Sower was given, along with some other famous parables. Here is the synchronization of that event, where you can check those out.
Luke 5:13 cf. Mark 4:1;
Mark 4:2-9;
Mark 10:41 cf Matt. 13:1-13 and 18-52.
Yeshua’s boat pulled further out into the water, which naturally gave His voice more amplification. At this point, Luke 5:4-11 records that He once again called people to follow him.
John 6:4 and Mark 6 tell us that just before the Feeding of the 5000 Yeshua returned home to Nazareth, where on the Sabbath he teaches in the local synagogue again and is once again rejected. (Matthew 13:53-58; Mark 6:1-6).
Now, let’s pause and consider this a moment....the last time we hear of that He taught in the Nazareth synagogue, what was the result? Yes! They tried to mob-push Him to the edges of town and force Him off a cliff to His death! WHY did He do that - - return to such a hostile environment? Was it because Nazareth was an important city? No. In the first chapter of John, we find Nathanael making a derogatory comment about it, when he quipped, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Was it that He always went where He was not wanted? No. If you recall, when He sent the 12 out in pairs to do evangelism, He told them that if a town did not accept them they were to shake the dust of it off their feet. So, why DID He return? He certainly did have some relatives still living there, but I believe the bigger reason was that He loved His hometown. He wanted them to have their sins forgiven, wanted them to experience eternal life. His love for these hometown folks was amazing.
As He began to teach, they marveled at His wisdom, at least until He began to challenge their deeply-held, yet faulty beliefs. They knew He had not gone through the formal training to become a rabbi (John 7:15 tells us this). Their chief faulty belief was their unbelief. Because of their familiarity with His family, they refused to accept His identity as the Mashiach. In a very poignant verse, Mark 6:4, He expresses His sorrow that the townspeople, including members of His own family, did not believe His claims to be Mashiach. And, interestingly, specifically because of their unbelief, He was limited in the scope of His miracles among them.
A few days later, by April 6th, John the Baptist had been murdered by Herod Antipas, who thought that Yeshua might be the Baptizer raised from the dead.
Upon hearing the awful and devastating news, Yeshua retreated to the hills to pray in the late evening. The next day He finalized the selection of the 12 apostles, during the Feeding of the 5000. Here is the chronology of those events of April 6-10, 29 CE. This is almost exactly a year before He will die.
Matthew 14:1-12
(Cf. Mark 6:16 and Luke 9:9.)
Mark 6:21-28
Matt. 14:13a
Mark 6:30
Mark 6:31
Matt. 14:13b-14 cf. Mark 6:32-33
John 6: 3-4
Mark 6:34
Luke 9:11b
John 6:5b-7
Mark 6:35-36
Matt. 14:16
Mark 6:38
John 6:8-9
Luke 9:13b-14
Matthew 14:18
Luke 9:14b
Mark 6:39b
John 6:12-13 cf Luke 9:14-17 cf Mark 6:41-44 cf Matt. 14:19-23
Mark 6:45
John 6:14-15
After the Feeding of the 5000, Yeshua put the 12 into a boat and sent them on ahead of Him across the shore to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. Mark 6:46 records that He once again withdrew into the hills to pray.
The next big story, chronologically, was Yeshua walking on the waters of the Kinneret that night, as He journeyed in a most unconventional way to join the disciples at their mutual destination. Here is the harmonization of that event.
John 6:16-18
Mark 6:47-48b
John 6:19a
Mark 6:48b
Matt. 14:25-26 cf Mark 6:48c-50 cf John 6:19b
Matt. 14:27 cf Mark 6:50b cf John 6:20
Matt. 14:28-31
Mark 6:51b-52
Matt. 14:32-36
The next day is when the Bread of Life discourse took place. The crowds had followed Yeshua and the disciples, thinking He would feed them physical food as He did the day before.
This discourse is recorded in John 6:52-59. Ironically, Yeshua was teaching on the topic of bread just before the FULB! The Feast of Unleavened Bread that year was April 15-22nd.
Shavuot/Pentecost that year was June 3-10. It is unclear if Yeshua stayed around Jerusalem between FULB and Shavuot (50 days), but perhaps He lodged in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. However, sometime between mid-June and mid-September, the Pharisees from Jerusalem came to visit Yeshua, as recorded in both Matthew and Mark. Other events from this period are recorded in Mark 7 and 9 and include: the Feeding of the 4000, the healing of a deaf man, more Pharisees’ questions and Peter’s Confession, the famous “Who Do You Say That I Am?” passage.
The Peter’s Confession story and the next big event, “The Transfiguration” occurred within six or 8 days of each other. Matthew and Mark say it occurred six days after the Confession, and Luke says “eight.” This is not truly a contradiction as it would have taken six days to travel to Mt. Hermon. Luke was likely counting both the day on which the Confession occurred as well as the day it would have taken Yeshua to climb Mount Hermon. But, are there any clues as to the time of year these events occurred? Well, yes! Yes, there are!
Christians have, by and large, lost the Jewish context of the New Testament, as a general rule. We know this. So, when most Christians read Peter’s exclamation, recorded in all three accounts of The Transfiguration, they think he has either gone off his rocker or is having some kind of extreme reaction to this supernatural event. Here is the key detail for chronology, the Matthew version: (17:4)
“Peter said to Yeshua, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ “
If one looks at the scene with Jewish eyes, however, and given the probable time of year, it is conceivable that this event took place just before Sukkot, the Feast of Booths. Not far-fetched at all. Peter’s training as a Jew kicked in and melded with his exuberant spirit, causing him to offer to build the shelters, booths, tabernacles, sukkahs, ("sukkot", in the Hebrew).
After this event on Mt. Hermon, likely in mid-September, Yeshua returned to Galilee, His native area. His brothers are preparing to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles/Booths, and He has indicated that He will stay behind. After they have left, He, too, leaves for Jerusalem. John 7-10 details with great precision the events that take place during the Feast of Tabernacles that year - - religious maneuverings, politics and extensive teachings through around October 20th.
In early December, we find Yeshua back in Jerusalem again, to celebrate Hanukkah, the last major event of that year, 29 CE. John 10:31-39 records how the religious authorities threatened Him and tried to stone Him. John goes on to say how Yeshua then went back to Bethabarah, also called Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the headquarters of John the Baptist’s ministry. This is believed to have been on the other side, the east side, of the Jordan River, north of the Dead Sea. He probably stayed there through the first of the year. However, during the next month and a half, Yeshua would have had to return to Galilee, according to Matthew 17:24, which records an incident in Capernaum that concerned the annual Temple Tax. According to the Talmud and other sources, this annual two-drachma Temple tax, paid by all Jewish males age 20 and older, was always collected in the first week of Adar I (unless it was a leap year and then in Adar II). This timetable would bring Yeshua to the month of March, the 3rd-10th, of Adar 30, the last month of His life.
Just after the Temple Tax incident, the three Synoptic gospels record an incident where the disciples are arguing about which of them is the greatest. And, then, immediately after that Matthew and Luke agree that Yeshua made his final trip to Jerusalem before His last Passion Week, as it is often called. You can find those references as Matthew 19:1 and Luke 9:51. The events of that last March are detailed in Luke 9:46 to 19:28 and Matthew 19:1 through 20:29 and Mark 10:1-52. The corresponding time period in the book of John covers the events in Perea, the raising of Lazarus of Bethany and Yeshua’s brief return to Ephraim. During this time period, major events occur on sabbaths, which makes it much easier to ascribe time periods to the events.
However, there are few sections of Scripture or biblical doctrines more hotly contested than the order of events of Yeshua’s Passion Week. While many of the events are easily dated, others are not. This is primarily because the apostle John appears to be on a different timeline entirely. What I’m going to do here in this study is to present the two timelines I believe to hold the most probability. One of these holds to a Nisan 14 crucifixion and the other to a Nisan 15 crucifixion. I’m also in this section not going to take the time to give all of the scripture references for each event. That would be extremely laborious. Let me refer you to pages 445-456 of the book “Signs of the Cross: The Search for the Historical Jesus” by AGR, where he lists every available Scripture reference for each event.
The first timeline I present here is discussed in detail in my series of blog posts that begins with the post "10 Days That Changed the World". Please consult that series for more detail.
Friday, March 29/Nisan 8, 30 CE
Yeshua arrives in the Jerusalem area, to make His headquarters for the week the town of Bethany, and specifically the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Each day, Yeshua would walk into Jerusalem with His disciples and then each evening return to Mary, Martha and Lazarus’ home.
“Mary”, most likely the homeowner, Mary of Bethany, anoints Yeshua’s feet with costly ointment
Saturday, March 30, Nisan 9
This was a Shabbat - - no work or travel
Sunday, March 31, Nisan 10
“Palm Sunday” - - Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem - - Jesus presented Himself at the Temple - - Lamb Selection Day
Monday, April 1/Nisan 11
Day 2 of lamb with family
Yeshua curses the fig tree on the way into Jerusalem from Bethany.
Yeshua healed and taught in the Temple.
Yeshua cleanses the Temple for the 2nd time and has His authority questioned. Various nefarious plots ensue. That afternoon, Greek Jews visit Yeshua and His disciples to learn from Him (John 12:20-38)
Tuesday, April 2/Nisan 12
Day 3 of lamb with family
Jesus taught extensively in the Temple and also gave the Olivet Discourse to His disciples on the Mount of Olives.
Yeshua washed the disciples’ feet and predicted His betrayal (John 13).
Judas made contact with the Temple priests.
Wednesday, April 3/Nisan 13
Day 4 of lamb with family
The day kicks off with Yeshua and disciples dining with “Simon the Leper”.
Anonymous woman anointed Yeshua’s head with costly oil at that dinner.
Daylight hours - - disciples located and prepared a place for the upcoming feast days/leaven cleansing.
Judas sold out Yeshua for 30 pieces of silver.
Thursday, April 4/Nisan 14
After sunset, The Last Supper/The Lord’s Early Seder
Garden of Gethsemane and High Priestly Prayer
Yeshua’s arrest and illegal trials
Early morning - - Peter’s denials and Judas hanged himself after returning the 30 pieces of silver
Scourging and Crucifixion - - on cross by 9 a.m.
Day 5 of lamb with family, (sacrificed mid-afternoon); Yeshua said “It is finished” and died mid-afternoon.
Great earthquake and total solar eclipse - - Temple veil is torn in two pieces from top to bottom.
Yeshua’s lifeless body was taken by Joseph of Arimathea to a new tomb and preliminary anointing with burial spices/cloths was done hurriedly, before the sundown that signaled the start of Passover on Nisan 15.
Night #1 in the tomb
Friday, April 5/Nisan 15
High Sabbath of Passover - - as sun sets, the Passover meal is eaten.
First Day of FULB (Feast of Unleavened Bread)
Tomb is guarded.
Night #2 in the tomb
Saturday, April 6/Nisan 16
Regular Sabbath {There were two back-to-back Shabbats that year.}
Night #3 in the tomb
Sunday, April 7/Nisan 17
Resurrection Sunday - - before dawn, Yeshua rises from the dead on the Feast of First Fruits (that year)
{First Fruits is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the regular Sabbath Saturday that falls within the FULB, the first Sunday after Nisan 15, according to the Sadducees. Acc to the Pharisees, it should ALWAYS be celebrated on Nisan 16. The Sadducees were right, in this matter.}
Now, before I continue, you will recall that I said that I would present two different views, the two most provable, in this teaching on the chronology of the Passion Week. So, at this point, let me present the second viewpoint. For the greatest part of the 10-day Passion “Week” timeline, these two interpretations agree, until we reach Wednesday evening. In essence, this 2nd viewpoint holds that the Last Supper was held on the evening that began Nisan 15, that it was actually a Passover Seder held at the beginning of Nisan 15, and that Yeshua was crucified on Nisan 15. It would take too long for me to detail out every point of this defense. I’m going to give you the broad strokes and then recommend you go to AGR’s website and look for the teaching called “2024 Pesach Special”. In order to access this teaching you do NOT have to subscribe to Andrew’s website, but it is a very nominal annual subscription and well worth the investment. At any rate, on pages 1-4 of the teaching notes which accompany that video presentation, Andrew details out why Yeshua had to have died on the 15th of Nisan. His interpretation is consistent with a clear understanding of the Torah and the Oral Law, which were in effect in Yeshua’s day.
Point 1 - - there was a supper in the upper room on the evening that began Nisan 14 (Wed night/Thursday). This was not the Last Supper/Passover Seder. It was a regular meal. Prior to the meal, Yeshua washed the disciples’ feet. During the meal, Judas left to complete his betrayal of Yeshua.
Point 2 - - One of the strongest arguments used for the first timeline presented is that THE Passover Lamb was offered on the afternoon of Nisan 14. Well, problem is - - there was no ONE Passover Lamb offered on any afternoon that was of any greater importance than the other Passover Lambs offered that week. There were 51 Pesach lamb offered during the FULB, and that total does not include the ongoing daily offerings done in addition to those 51 Pesach lambs. So, Yeshua was not limited to having to die on Nisan 14.
Point 3 has to do with a seeming inconsistency in John 18:28, concerning when the Pharisees of Yeshua’s Passion Week ate their Passover lamb, versus when Yeshua and His disciples did. It has to do with the chagigah (thanksgiving) offering.
Point 4 has to do with the Tebul Yom rules of uncleanness, generated by entering the house of a Gentile, and how that was a relevant factor on Thursday and Friday.
AGR mentions the excellent work of Alfred Edersheim, a very gifted Talmudic scholar of the 19th century. Edersheim converted to Christianity and afterwards authored books on how the Oral Law (codified later in the Talmud) impacted first century events and the spread of the gospel. His books are free online. AGR has studied his work and is comfortable recommending it as an excellent resource on this topic.
This second timeline, like the first, has Yeshua rising from the dead during the early morning hours of Nisan 17, which was a Sunday that year and also the Feast of Firstfruits.
Now, let’s go on with the chronology.
Sunday, April 7/Nisan 17, 30 CE
Dawn - - the women go to the tomb to finish the anointing of Jesus’ body.
First Appearance - - to Mary Magdalene
Peter and John run to the empty tomb and are astonished; the women’s account was true!
Second Appearance - - to Peter
Third Appearance - - disciples on the road to Emmaus
Fourth Appearance - - evening of that first day of the week, as the day is winding down, Yeshua appeared among the 10 disciples (Thomas was not present), after which He was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:50-51) just before sunset. {Ascension #1}
Sunday, April 14/Nisan 24
The Scriptures in John 20 say “one week later” all 11 disciples were gathered together in the house, with doors locked, and Yeshua appeared to them again. Thomas was present.
Late April into May Appearances
By the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee/Kinneret - - Fishers of Men incident; Peter restored/reinstated - - John 21:1-14
Matthew 28:16-20 records one or two appearances, depending on how you read these verses
1 Corinthians 15:6 records an appearance of Yeshua to 500 of His followers at the same time
1 Corinthians 15:7 says that He appeared to James and then to all of the apostles - - could possibly count the appearance to James as a separate appearance
Second Ascension (from Mt. Hermon) - - Mark 16:20, Matthew 28:16-20 - - 40 days after His resurrection
Selection of Matthias to replace Judas - - Acts 1:12-26
Pentecost/Shavuot/Feast of Weeks - - on the 50th day after the Passover sabbath, May 26th - - Acts 2:1-4
- - - - -
This seems like a great place to stop with our chronology, although we will continue in the next session. But, before we end our time together today, let’s consider how the life and ministry of our Messiah Yeshua fulfilled the mo’edim of God.
According to the timeline given in these lessons, Yeshua fulfilled Hanukkah in two ways:
By His conception during that Festival of Lights and also by His celebration of it, as mentioned in John 10 as the Feast of Dedication, 29 CE.
Yeshua was born on the first night of Sukkot, and circumcised on the 8th day of that festival, Simchat Torah, thereby fulfilling that festival.
Passover, FULB and First Fruits - - Yeshua’s Passion “Week”, which fulfilled Lamb Selection Day and the four-day inspection process, Passover (our Passover Lamb), FULB (Yeshua lived a sinless life {leaven-free} and was in the grave 3 days/nights {as a kernel of wheat planted and waiting to burst forth in glorious victory - - our Bread of Life} and First Fruits, which that year, 30 CE, coincided with His Resurrection.
Shavuot/Weeks - - Shavuot is a week-long feast that begins on the 50th day after the First Fruits of the Barley Harvest. “50 days to the day after the 7th sabbath” is what Leviticus 23:15-16 prescribes. In Christian tradition, this is called Pentecost and is celebrated on the 7th Sunday after Easter Sunday. Regardless, the Divine Majestic Mystery, the one true Elohim, sent the Ruach HaKodesh on the first day of Shavuot, thereby fulfilling that mo’ed as well.
What mo’edim are remaining, then, that are not specifically tied to events of Yeshua’s first coming, as Messiah Ben Yosef? What might be the timetable of His return, as Messiah Ben David? There are two or three, depending on whether you count the 3rd as a dual-fulfillment. I am merely going to “touch on” these as each one could encompass several sessions.
First up is the Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, in Hebrew) or Rosh HaShanah. This is a one-day celebration on Tishri 1, that marks the head of the year, in Judaism, the new year of the civil year. Leviticus 23:23 calls it “a day of blowing of trumpets to you”. Due to the apostle Paul’s reference to “the last trump”, 1 Cor. 15:52, which is a reference to the trumpet blasts performed by Levitical priests on Yom Teruah, it is believed by many followers of Yeshua that the Rapture will occur on a Yom Teruah in the future. Consequently, this will “awaken” the sleeping bodies of the dead and there will be a resurrection of the righteous dead at that moment, when the “last trump” sounds. Immediately thereafter, the wedding of Messiah to His Bride (those clothed in His righteous) will commence in Heaven, there will be a rewards judgment, a marriage supper, and this event will also herald the beginning of the Messianic Kingdom of 1000 years.
Next up is Yom Kippur, aka The Day of Atonement. It is also called The Day of the Lord over 300 times in Scripture. That fact will surprise many, because often the smaller books of the Tanakh are glossed over. This day, Tishri 15 on the Hebrew calendar, is believed to prophetically picture what Christians commonly call The Second Coming of the Lord. It will be a day of judgment, a bloody day. But, afterward, King Yeshua will reign on the earth for the remaining 1993 years of the Millennial Kingdom.
This last mo’ed, Sukkot, or Feast of Tabernacles, is the one I alluded to as having a dual fulfillment by Yeshua. As mentioned, He fulfilled this mo’ed by being born during Sukkot. However, many believe that what Jews and Messianics call the Olam Haba (the world to come) is prophetically pictured by this holy convocation (which is what mo’ed means). At the end of the 1000 years, there will be one last feeble squeal of the enemy, HaSatan. He will be released from the pit briefly, to lead a group of unbelieving people born during the Millennial Reign, in one last rebellion against the Mashiach. He will quickly be defeated and then thrown into the Lake of Fire. The unbelieving dead will be raised at that time, and the last judgment will commence. Although the Lake of Fire was created for the devil and his angels, the unbelieving dead from all the 7000 years since the creation of Adam will find their eternal residence there as well. After this, the New Heavens and the New Earth will descend from the abode of Father Yahweh, where Paul calls “the third heaven”. He will “tabernacle” among us in that “world to come” along with His Son, the fullness of the Divine Majestic Mystery. And, this olam haba will have no end.
In our next session, we will look at the chronology of the remaining books of the Newer Covenant Scriptures.
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