The Divine Foundation of Easter

by | Posted April 21st at 2:44pm

Based on Biblical prophecy, the Jewish festival calendar, and insights into the “Hebrew roots” of the New Testament, the term “10th of Nisan” means the 10th day of the first month of the year,  ¹

In the traditional “Passion Week” view, here is the breakdown of the days and specific times Jesus was arrested, crucified, and died:

1. The Arrest: Late Thursday Night / Early Friday Morning

According to the Gospels, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper on Thursday evening.

Time: Roughly between Midnight and 3:00 AM.

• The Scene: After praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed by Judas and arrested by a mob. He was then taken through a series of “night trials” before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin while it was still dark.

2. The Crucifixion: Friday Morning

As the sun rose on what we now call Good Friday, Jesus was moved from the Jewish leaders to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate.

• The Sentence: After being scourged and mocked, He was led to Golgotha.

• The Time: Mark 15:25 explicitly states He was crucified at the “third hour,” which in modern times is 9:00 AM.

3. The Darkness and Death: Friday Afternoon

While Jesus was on the cross, a supernatural darkness covered the land for three hours.

The Darkness: From the “sixth hour” to the “ninth hour” (12:00 PM to 3:00 PM).

• The Death: Jesus died at the “ninth hour,” which is 3:00 PM.

• The Significance: This is the exact time in the Jewish Temple when the afternoon Passover lambs were being sacrificed.

Summary Timeline (Modern Time)

The Historic Link to the Passover

1. The Egyptian Passover: 10th of Nisan

In Exodus 12:3, God commanded through Moses that the Passover lamb be chosen on the 10th day of the first month. It was to live with the family for four days to be inspected for flaws.

• The Fulfillment as the true Lamb: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey (Palm Sunday) on the 10th of Nisan. Just as the lambs were being led into the city of Jerusalem for the Passover inspection, the “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) entered to be scrutinized by the Pharisees and Sadducees.
• Prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion… behold, thy King cometh unto thee… riding upon an ass” (Zechariah 9:9).

2. The Preparation: 14th of Nisan (Passover)

On the 14th of Nisan, at the “twilight” (literally between the evenings), the Passover lambs were slaughtered.

• The Fulfillment: Jesus celebrated the Last Supper (a Jewish Seder) and was arrested in Gethsemane. His trial and crucifixion occurred on the same day the lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple.
• Prophecy: “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
• The Timing: Jesus was nailed to the cross at the third hour (9:00 AM), the same time the morning sacrifice began in Jerusalem. He died at the ninth hour (3:00 PM), the exact moment the High Priest would slay the corporate Passover lamb for the nation.

3. The Burial: Feast of Unleavened Bread

Immediately following Passover is the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15). Leaven represents sin; bread without leaven represents purity.

• The Fulfillment: Jesus, the “Bread of Life” born in Bethlehem (House of Bread), was placed in the tomb. He was the sinless (unleavened) sacrifice.
• Prophecy: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10).

4. The Resurrection: Feast of Firstfruits

The Torah mandates the Feast of Firstfruits on the “morrow after the Sabbath” following Passover (Leviticus 23:11).

• The Fulfillment: Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week—the Feast of Firstfruits. He is the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).
• Prophecy: “After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up” (Hosea 6:2).

5. The Ascension: 40 Days Later

Jesus remained on earth for 40 days, appearing to many, before ascending from the Mount of Olives.

• The Fulfillment: His ascension marked his return to the Father to act as the High Priest in the heavenly Tabernacle.
• Prophecy: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates… and the King of glory shall come in” (Psalm 24:7-10) and the vision of the Son of Man coming to the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13).

The Future Advent: The Lion and the Lamb

While Jesus came first as the Lamb to take away sin, he returns as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah to execute judgment.

• The Second Coming: Prophecy states He will return to the same location from which He left—the Mount of Olives.
• Prophecy: “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives…” (Zechariah 14:4).
• The Marriage Supper: Revelation 19 describes the “Marriage Supper of the Lamb,” where the sacrifice of the 14th of Nisan reaches its ultimate prophetic conclusion.

The “mystery of the Lamb” is not just a past event but a divine universal reality that rings throughout history. The Lamb is the only one worthy to open the seals of the final judgment (Revelation 5). This suggests that the same mercy found in the Passover blood is the only protection available during the coming “Day of the Lord.”

^{1 Johnathan Cahn}

Article posted by Glen R. Jackman, founder of GraceProclaimed.org

Glen has optimized his eldership role to teach the full scope of the New Covenant of Jesus Christ without boundaries.
You can read his testimony.