What month and year was Jesus death according to the Bible?

Answer 1

Perhaps contrary to popular belief, the anniversary of Jesus death and resurrection is pretty close to the date of modern day Easter. It flits from March to April because it follows the Jewish Holy Day of Pesach (Passover), which begins on the 15th of Nisan, the first Jewish calendar month, and the first of every month, in turn, is when there is a new moon.

I count 25 references in the four gospels to this, with Jesus being crucified on the day the passover begins, which is why Joseph sought to have Jesus body removed from the cross by sundown, and why the accusing Jews would not enter Pilate's palace on the Thursday night when seeking Jesus' execution.

I'm going a little on a limb here, but if the Pesach was on the Saturday, as I understand the Gospels to be saying, then, according to one site*, it took place in 33AD on what would have been Saturday, April 2nd, and thus the crucifixion of Jesus took place on Friday April 1st (no joke, erh'm), 33AD. And, therefore, the Resurrection took place on April 3rd, 33AD.

That is, insomuch as we rely on that* site's accurate calculation of a Gregorian 33AD calendar (which has only existed since the mid-16th century). Remember, the months, and thus the Holy Days, rely on the moon and I'm not certain either way whether that site is using astronomical data to determine dates so far back in time. Could it be a day out? If so, that would mean we're looking for year in which the Passover occurred on a Friday or Sunday, which might be several years before or after 33AD.

27AD = Passover was on a Thursday

28AD = Passover was on a Tuesday

29AD = Passover was on a Sunday

30AD = Passover was on a Thursday

31AD = Passover was on a Tuesday

32AD = Passover was on a Tuesday

33AD = Passover was on a Saturday

34AD = Passover was on a Tuesday

35AD = Passover was on a Tuesday

36AD = Passover was on a Saturday

37AD = Passover was on a Thursday

38AD = Passover was on a Tuesday

. . .

2006 = Passover was on a Thursday

2007 = Passover was on a Tuesday

2008 = Passover was on a Sunday

2009 = Passover was on a Thursday

2010 = Passover was on a Tuesday

The Synoptic Gospels say that the Passover meal was on Thursday, a date which fits 30 CE, but John's Gospel says that the Passover meal was on a Friday. Although the above calendar list does not show Passover occurring on a Friday within the relevant range, it must be remembered that there remains uncertainty about its accuracy. Those who date the crucifixion of Jesus on John's Gospel generally assume the year 33 CE.

Answer:

Logic should dictate that since Paul tells us: "...Christ our PASSOVER is sacrificed for us..." (I Cor.5:7) - that the PASSOVER is the day to remember Christ's death.

Logic should also dictate that if Christ was buried just before sundown that Passover [14th of Nisan] with the onset of the "preparation of the Feast" day [on the 15th -see Lev.23:5-6]... then, we should be able to count backwards three days and three nights from the day "He rose from the dead" to find what day of the week He was murdered.

Logic should also dictate that Jesus could not have been resurrected on "Sunday morning" because He was buried in the late afternoon. Therefore... He rose from the dead the previous "Saturday" '[Sabbath] evening at the exact same time of day He was buried... and was already "RISEN" by the time the women got to the tomb on Sunday morning. They never saw Jesus "rising"... they were told "He is risen."

So, logic should dictate that counting backwards from Saturday to Friday to Thursday - then, WEDNESDAY was the day of the Passover that week [the 14th of Nisan]... in the middle of the week... as Daniel prophesys.

"...after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off... in the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease..." (Dan.9:26-27).

So, to find the calendar "month and year" that Jesus died that particular day... if we accept the astronomical data provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department... only two possible years, out of the general range of years through which the scholars look, fit the criteria of the Passover falling on WEDNESDAY:

28 A.D.; Wed. Apr. 28 -- and 31 A.D.; Wed. Apr. 25.

But since the Passover falls on different days from year to year... the best way to remember it is to check to see when it falls this year as it comes to us. The Bible nowhere commands anyone to observe Jesus' "birthday"... nor "the day of His resurrection."

Only, the "day of His death" till He comes back.

"A good name is better than precious ointment; and THE DAY OF DEATH than the day of one's birth." (Eccle.7:1)

The better day to remember is the Passover. "...Christ our Passover [the 14th of Nisan] is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast [the 15th of Nisan, the day after Jesus' death, according to the commandment]..." (I Cor.5:7-8), as it comes to us from year to year. The Passover, which changes annually, is the only significant and biblically commanded day to remember Jesus' death.