Timing of Jesus’ Death

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20

There is an abundant amount of evidence both in Scripture and in the religious practices of the Jews that God carefully planned the timing of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The following are just a few examples of God’s planning:

Prophecies
Prophecies given hundreds of years before Jesus was even born were precisely fulfilled when Jesus died.

Passover Lamb
The high priest’s practice of killing the Passover Lamb had been in force for hundreds, perhaps a thousand years.

On Thursday of the year Jesus died, the Jews celebrated Passover and killed a lamb for the temple sacrifice. Jesus, the Lamb of God, died at that same time in order to take our sins upon himself.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread
The day that Jesus died – the Jewish Sabbath – was also the day on which the Jews celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast reminded the Jews of the bread that God provided for the Israelites when they left Egypt. Consider the significant parallels between this feast and Jesus’ death:

First, wheat seeds must die in order to bring forth crop. Similarly, Jesus had to die and be buried in order to accomplish his ministry and be raised to a new life.

Second, unleavened bread was made without yeast because yeast represented sin (1 Corinthians 5:7–8). In the same way, Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sinless.

Feast of the First fruits
On the day following Jesus’ death, the Israelites celebrated the Feast of First fruits, which, in this case, celebrated the beginning of the barley harvest.

The Israelites returned to God the “first part” of everything they had been given to indicate their thankfulness for the harvest, their acknowledgment that God had given them the gifts, and their faith that God would continue to provide (Numbers 15:17–21; Deuteronomy 26:1–11). They gave the best part of what they received to God (Exodus 23:19), knowing that all that they had belonged to God and was to be used in service to Him.

Also, on that day, Jesus came to life as God’s first fruits, the guarantee that the rest would follow, including the resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20–23).

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me always remember that you paid the price for my sin so that I am able to serve you with all that you entrust to me. Help me always to see that it is not mine but thine! In Jesus’ Name, Amen