Christ's Death on Passover Friday

 

After much consideration, I have determined that Christ died on the Passover Friday which occurred on April 7, 30 AD in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.  It has since been called Good Friday by Christians.

Christ celebrated the Passover, His Last Supper, with His Apostles on the Jewish calendar’s 14^th day of Nisan.  The Passover was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread which was celebrated between the 14^th and 21^st days of Nisan.  Because the Jewish day runs from sunset to sunset, the Passover in 30 AD began on the Thursday evening before Friday, April 7^th.  Christ’s Passover celebration with His Apostles in the evening before His death was recorded in Mark 14:12-26.  That very next morning He was delivered to Pontius Pilate.  He was hung on a cross at 9 AM.  About noon, darkness cast its pall over the land until 3 PM when He ultimately yielded His spirit.

There is a difference of opinion as to whether the Passover lamb was originally sacrificed at twilight at the beginning of Passover or in the afternoon at the end of Passover.  If at the beginning, then Passover was eaten in the evening on the 14^th day of Nisan.  If at the end, then Passover was eaten in the evening on the 15^th day of Nisan.  The Passover in 30 AD ran from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Friday.  There is no doubt that Christ ate the Passover on Thursday evening because He died at 3 PM on Friday.  About three hours later, when the sun had set, the Jewish day changed from Nisan 14 to Nisan 15.

Therefore, the Passover lamb was originally sacrificed at twilight at the beginning of Passover.  The ritual meal was then prepared and eaten in the evening on the 14^th day of Nisan.