Author’s Note: My recent article The 14th Sacrifice looked at the gospel accounts pertaining to Yeshua’s Passover supper. That article concluded that Yeshua was not crucified on the 14th of Nisan but instead the most plain reading of the New Testament record shows he was crucified on the feast day proper. (i.e. 15th Nisan, the 1st day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread) My next few articles will look at Yeshua’s Passover week chronology in light of some of the objections which are often raised by those who believe Yeshua was crucified on the 14th of Nisan.
The Feast Day: Judas’ Betrayal
One of the first objections often raised against the position taken in my article The 14th Sacrifice is found in John 13:26-29. This passage shows that after the “supper” Yeshua washed his disciples’ feet, he then dipped a sop and gave it to Judas Iscariot indicating that he was the one to betray Him. Yeshua then tells Judas to “That thou doest, do quickly”. Judas gets up and leaves to betray Yeshua but the disciples are under the impression that Judas has gone to buy supplies for the “Feast”.
John 13:26-29 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. {sop: or, morsel} 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
The argument goes that the “last supper” eaten by Yeshua and his disciples could not have been the Passover supper proper because that would have made it the 15th of Nisan a feasts day and a Sabbath during which Judas would not have been able to buy provisions. Further this makes the “feast” of John 13:29 the real Passover supper.
When I first checked out the Biblical evidence for this position I was surprised to find that the Feast of Unleavened Bread is never called a Sabbath in the Old Testament. I know Exodus 12, Lev. 23, and Num. 28 all state that no servile work is to be done but the day is never called a Sabbath. Contrast this with the feasts of the seventh month where the feast days are specifically called a Sabbath (shabbathown). I believe the reason the Feast of Unleavened Bread is never called a Sabbath is because Exodus 12:16 makes a very big exception to the no-work policy. Here take a look:
Exodus 12:16 16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
By this criteria, work related to the preparation of food was allowed on the 15th of Nisan. This means that if Yeshua and his disciples ate the true Passover supper on the 15th of Nisan, like a plain reading of the gospels indicate, then it would indeed have been reasonable for the disciples to assume that Judas had gone to buy provisions for the coming “feast” day. (Remember the 15th of Nisan was a joyous celebration of Israel’s departure from their servitude in Egypt.) So by this criteria, the events immediately following the “last supper” in no way disqualify it from being the real Passover supper eaten the night of the 15th of Nisan.
Exodus 12:17 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
Authors Note: This chart shows the chronology described above. For those looking to search this out for yourself you will find Scriptural references provided for each event. I know this is a little different format than most are use to but it helped me organize the events in a way which allows me to take the New Testament events at face value in their most natural and plain reading.
Click on the Image to enlarge:
* The 14th Sacrifice
* “The Feast Day”: Judas’ Betrayal
* Defiled on the “Passover”
* The “Preparation” Day
* The “3rd Day”
