14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast

Just before the festival of Pesach

Illumination from the Rylands Haggadah in the John Rylands Library in Manchester. The Preparation for the Seder (above) and The Celebration of the Seder (below). – Date 14th century – Source John Rylands Library – Author unknown

The disciples of the Messiah were wise, intelligent, capable men — specially chosen by the Messiah himself to be apostles, the leaders of his Church! It is inconceivable that they would wait till after sunset, after the 14th of Nisan began, to prepare for the Passover, if it was to occur that very night!
The New Testament verifies this fact. We read in the gospel of John, that the night Jeshua sat down with his disciples for a final dinner, which occurred at the beginning of Nisan 14, that this was “Before the Feast of the Passover” (John 13:1).

“1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, [the son] of Simon, to betray Him, 3 [Jesus,] knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, 4 *rose from supper, and *laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about.” (John 13:1-4 NAS)

This meal was not the “Passover,” but rather was called simply “supper” (John 13:2, 4). If this meal was such an important event as the Passover meal, then we have an incredible anomaly, because during a Passover meal nobody gets up to leave half-way through the celebration, and certainly nobody would even think of leaving the Passover meal to “go shopping” for groceries! In fact, during the Passover celebration, there would no stores be open of any kind, anywhere! Clearly the apostles thought Judas was going to make further preparations, like going to buy some things. Notice the account in John:

“26 Jesus therefore *answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He *took and *gave it to Judas, [the son] of Simon Iscariot. 27 And after the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Jesus therefore *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining [at the table] knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor.” (John 13:26-29 NAS)

Before the feast of the Passover, while they were at the supper

If this meal was the Passover, as many contend, then it is strikingly strange that the disciples would have assumed Judas was leaving the Passover celebration, before it was finished, in order to go shopping for groceries! The very idea is preposterous. No one in their right mind would have even considered leaving the Passover in order to go grocery shopping– certainly not.

Judas Iscariot (right), retiring from the Last Supper, painting by Carl Bloch, late 19th century

“1 Jesus having perceived, before the feast of the passover, that his time to remove out of this world to his Father, was come; and having loved his own, who were in the world, he loved them to the last. 2 Now while they were at the supper, (the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,) 3 Jesus, though he knew that the Father had subjected everything to him, and that he came from God, and was returning to God; 4 arose from supper, and laying aside his mantle, girt himself about with a towel.” (John 13:1-4 LO)
“13 You call me the Teacher and the Master; and you say right; for so I am. 14 If I, then, the Master and the Teacher, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor is the apostle greater than he who sends him. 17 Happy are you, who know these things, provided you practice them. 18  I speak not of you all. I know whom I have chosen: but the scripture must be fulfilled, “He that eats at my table, has lifted up his heel against me.” 19 I tell you this now, before it happen; that when it happens, you may believe that I am [the Messiah]. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he that receives whomsoever I send, receives me; and he that receives me, receives him who sent me. 21 After uttering these words, Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, saying, Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one upon another, doubting of whom he spoke. 23 Now one of his disciples, one whom Jesus loved, was lying close to his breast: 24 Simon Peter, therefore, made a sign to him, to inquire whom he meant. 25 He, then, reclining on Jesus’ bosom, said to him, Master, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, It is he to whom I shall give this morsel, after I have dipped it. And having dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 After receiving the morsel, Satan entered into him. And Jesus said to him, What you do, do quickly. 28 But none at the table knew, why he gave this order.
29 Some imagined, because Judas had the purse, that Jesus had signified to him to buy necessaries for the festival; or, to give something to the poor. 30 When Judas had taken the morsel, he immediately went out: and it was night. 31  When he was gone, Jesus said, the Son of Man is now glorified, and God is glorified by him.” (John 13:13-31 LO)

Observing the Law of God

The disciples of Jeshua were like Jesus observant Jews who obeyed Jehovah God’s Laws! This passage proves also that the disciples knew that this meal was not the “Passover” but that the Passover was still a day away! For they thought that Judas was being sent out to get groceries for preparation for the upcoming “Feast” — which had to refer to the “Feast of the Passover,” as verse one of this chapter so plainly says!

Passover plate with symbolic foods: maror, egg, haroset, karpas, zro’ah, dish of salt water (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is the reason why we do not call our Memorial the Passover, because it is not but it is well one of the memorial days of the Passover celebration or the Feast of Pascha.

The 14th of Nisan was the day when preparations were made for the actual Passover Feast which was celebrated on the 15th of Nisan. This makes why there is a difference of one day in our celebration and that of the Jewish community. We do start our main commemoration one day earlier, because Nisan the 14th became the remembrance day of the instalment of the New Covenant, the “Blood of the New Testament” and the remembrance of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

“Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.” (Luke 22:1 ASV)
“And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed.” (Luke 22:7 ASV)

“17 And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: 18 for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, [even] that which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:17-20 ASV)
“28 But ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations; 29 and I appoint unto you a kingdom, even as my Father appointed unto me, 30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom; and ye shall sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Luke 22:28-30 ASV)
“35 And he said unto them, When I sent you forth without purse, and wallet, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing. 36 And he said unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a wallet; and he that hath none, let him sell his cloak, and buy a sword. 37 For I say unto you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with transgressors: for that which concerneth me hath fulfilment.” (Luke 22:35-37 ASV)

“26  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it; and he gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took a cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many unto remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I shall not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom. 30 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.” (Matthew 26:26-30 ASV)

John clearly says so! So do Matthew and Mark. Luke also corroborates this fact (Luke 22:1, 7). Neither Jeshua nor his disciples would have waited till the very last moment to begin preparation for Passover. Therefore, it could not have been at the beginning of Nisan 14. If it were, then Nisan 14 could not be called the “preparation day,” or “preparation of the Passover.” That would be ridiculous. How could Nisan 14 be the “preparation” of the Passover, if the Passover occurred just after the day began, after sunset? The whole rest of the day, then, and all the daylight hours, morning and afternoon, of Nisan 14, would then be after the Passover, because the sprinkling had to be done before the night or the beginning of the day!

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Preceding articles: 14 Nisan a day to remember #1 Inception

14 Nisan a day to remember #2 Time of Jesus

Next: 14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie: 14 Nisan een dag om te herinneren #3 Voor het Overgangsfeest

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Find also

1. Pesach
   Pesach, or Passover, is a major holiday in Jewish tradition, and is one of the three pilgrimage holidays, along with Sukkot and Shavuot.
2. Jesus memorial
3. Observance of a day to Remember
4. The high calling of God in Christ Jesus
5. Around the feast of Unleavened Bread
6. Observance of a day to Remember
7. Day of remembrance coming near
8. Manifests for believers #4 Eucharist
9. A new exodus and offering of a Lamb
10. 1 -15 Nisan
11. Slave for people and God
12. Servant of his Father
13. A Great Gift commemorated
14. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites

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Of interest concerning the preparation days and Christ his death:

Preparation day: Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold, your King!” King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) a.o. compared

Be careful, we do not agree with all dates or ideas given in those articles.

1. Solving the Three Day Three Night Mystery
   There isn’t any way you can put three days and three nights between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning.
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   The special Sabbath John referred to is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and it’s a date specific holy day; always observed on the 15th of the month they call Nisan, which corresponds to March/April on our calendar. So the first thing we learn is that the special Sabbath mentioned in John 19:31 wasn’t a Saturday.
2. Yet Another Three Day Three Night Question
   So if He died on a Thursday how did we start to celebrate His death on Friday?
3. The Week With Two Sabbaths
   There were two consecutive Sabbaths that week that prohibited any work. Luke is talking about the special Sabbath that began at sundown Thursday called the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
4. Three Days Three Nights Follow Up
   If Jesus died on Thursday (Passover), and if at sundown immediately the feast of Unleavened Bread began, and if at sundown Friday the regular Sabbath started (Saturday), what day did the women buy and prepare the spices to anoint the body of Jesus?
5. Passover Confusion?
   Why does it sound like Jesus and the disciples are celebrating Passover on the first day of the Feast of Unleaven which begins the day after passover?
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   “The next day, the one after Preparation Day …” Preparation day is the name they gave to Passover, the 14th, because it was the day they got everything ready for the big Feast of Unleavened Bread, celebrated on the 15th, when no work could be done. This tells us that Jesus was crucified on Passover. {Our remak: Preparation day is not the same as Passover}
6.  The Festival Sabbaths and Preparation day

   On the Temple calendar, which began the day at sunrise, the Sabbath rest was not interchangeable with the calendar day. Sabbaths are reckoned evening to evening, thus overlapping two days. Also, the Sabbath is not necessarily synonymous with Saturday, but with an ordained rest, and that rest might not fall on Saturday.
   What does Scripture say about there being Sabbath days that are tied to festivals, but not necessarily to the seventh day of the week, Saturday? The laws of these religious festivals are found in the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus. There it states, “on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation.” (Lev. 23:3) Here, Sabbath equals holy convocation. There are also seven fast and festival days that are described as holy convocations. Jewish dates are here given according to the sunrise calendar.
   On Nisan 14/15, “on the first day (of Passover week) you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.” (Lev. 23:7)
   On Nisan 20/21, “on the seventh day (of Passover week) is a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.” (Lev. 23:8)

7. Preparation day of Passover
   The title ‘Preparation Day’ is referred to 6 times in the New Testament. (Matt 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14,31,42.)
8. Passover, A seven-day festival
   What most call ‘the day of Passover’ isn’t really a day at all; it’s a seven-day festival. For notice the first instructions from God on this, as found at Exodus 12:2, 3, 5-8 (LXX), ‘This will be your first month. It is to be the first one [in your] year.
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   The Seven Days of PassoverSo from the above, we can see that the seven days of Passover started after sundown on Nisan 14. That evening (the first full moon nearest the spring equinox) is when the Israelites were to begin a week of eating meals with fermentation-free bread. Then, on the following afternoon (which was the same day), the lamb was to be led to the Temple as a sacrifice; and the portions that were not offered to God and the Priest were taken home for the feast. So, the lamb was slaughtered at the end of the first day, then it was roasted and eaten after sunset that evening, which was the start of the second day.

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   Nisan 14 – The Day of Preparation
   Thereafter, God’s people gave names to each of these days. Nisan 14 was referred to as ‘Preparation,’ because that’s when the people were to prepare the lamb for the Passover feast. These lambs were traditionally kept inside the home and tied to a bedpost for four days prior to the Passover festival. It was then sacrificed late in the afternoon of Nisan 14. So, Nisan 15 was called Passover, because it was the day when the actual Feast was to be held, according to God’s Law (see Numbers 28:17).

   Unfortunately, many Christians don’t understand God’s Laws concerning the Passover, or His Laws about the offering of sacrifices in general. For, many believe that Jesus and his Apostles ate the Passover Feast on the 14th day, and many also believe that Passover was just one day. However, notice that when Jesus sent his Apostles off to ‘prepare’ for the Passover, he didn’t say anything about a lamb. All he told them was to prepare a room (see Mark 14:12-16). No, the Jews couldn’t just go to a local market to buy a pound of lamb for the Passover. Rather, what Jews call the ‘Paschal Lamb’ had to be offered by each family or group personally at the Temple, where it was sacrificed by a Priest, who then offered up its fat and its blood to God, and who also received his portion of the meat (the breast and right shoulder). And no, Jesus would not have sent someone else to present his sacrificial lamb to God.

   So, it was the on day before the Passover Feast, Nisan 14th, that Jesus instituted his ‘evening meal.’ As the account tells us; they just ate unfermented bread, a ‘sop,’ and bitter herbs (no lamb). This was appropriate, because it was the day that he (Jesus) as ‘God’s Lamb’ was to be slaughtered… at about the same time that IsraEl’s Passover lambs were being slaughtered at the Temple.

9. Proof Jesus Died Just Before the Passover Feast in 33 AD
   The high days in the Passover feast week, are the first and last days of the 7 Passover feast days of eating unleavened bread. The first high day could start any day of the week, due to the fact that the month of Nissan would start on the day that two witnesses would see the new moon show up, and that day of the week varied each year. They would kill the Passover lamb on the 14th day of Nissan, and the unleavened bread would be eaten from the 15th on for 7 days. The 2nd high day, was the 7th day or last day of the 7 day Passover feast. For that Passover the year Jesus died, the first high day was said by John to have been the same day as the Sabbath.
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   It is possible to find all years where the first high day fell on
   the Sabbath to verify which years are possible candidates for the
   year of Jesus’s death. As it turns out, between the years 27AD
   and 38AD, there are only 2 years where the high day fell on a Sabbath
   and those two years are 33AD and 36AD. So given this, during the
   period of 32AD to 36AD (after John started preaching plus Jesus’s
   preaching, yet before Pilate’s rule ended), the only years possible
   for Jesus to have died in, are 33 AD and 36 AD.
10. 10 proofs passover is a memorial
    Throughout history a debate has raged concerning the proper timing of Yahweh’s Passover. Many observe the Passover on the 14th of the first month (Abib) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the 15th. Others believe that both the Passover and the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread are on the 14th. Still others observe the Passover and first day of the Feast on the 15th of Abib. Why so much confusion? It need not be.
    This study will harmonize both Old and New testaments to show that the two observances are clearly separate and distinct.
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    Scriptures proclaim that the 14th of Abib marks the Passover memorial, while the 15th of Abib starts the Feast of Unleavened Bread. But two particular deviations from this truth exist. One is that the Passover is the first high Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and falls on the 14th of Abib. The second is also that the Passover is the first high day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but occurs on the 15th of Abib.
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    The Passover symbolizes a day of suffering and pain, while the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a time of joy.
11. The Day of Crucifixion and time of resurrection
    Is the Wednesday Crucifixion a fact or a fable? Wednesday Crucifixionists firmly believe that it is a Biblical fact. To support it, they appeal not only to the sign of Jonah examined in the previous chapter, but also to a second key text, namely, John 19:14, where the day of Christ’s Crucifixion is designated as “the day of Preparation of the Passover.”
    The conclusion drawn from John 19:14 is that Christ was crucified, not on a Friday—the Preparation day for the Sabbath—but on a Wednesday—the Preparation day for the annual ceremonial Passover Sabbath, which that year supposedly fell on a Thursday. Thus, all the references to the “Preparation day” of Christ’s Crucifixion (Matt 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31, 42) are interpreted in the light of John 19:14 as meaning Wednesday—the day preceding the Passover Sabbath (Thursday)—rather than Friday—the day preceding the regular seventh-day Sabbath.

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