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Dear Gramps,

Was the Savior crucified on a Thursday or Friday? I feel it was a Thursday. Read Matthew 12:40. “For as Jonas was 3 days & 3 nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of Man be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth.” The world and Church say Friday. Any thoughts on this? Thank you once again for your time and consideration.

Roger , Brea CA

Dear Roger,

In spite of the quote in Matthew 12:40, the Savior was crucified on a Friday. We may know this from the following information: It was customary for Jews, during the period between Paschal week and Pentecost, to fast twice a week-on Mondays and Thursdays. These days were chosen because , according to tradition, Moses went up Mount Sinai the second time to receive the Tables of the Law on a Thursday, and came down again on a Monday. (See Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol.1, p.184 – p.185). When the Jews had determined to kill Jesus, they would not have it to be on the fast day for fear of causing an uproar among the people.

And came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples, Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill [him]. But they said, Not on the feast [day], lest there be an uproar among the people (Matthew 26:1-6).

The fasts were from sundown to sundown, so the Savior invited the Twelve to break the fast with him on the evening of that fateful Thursday.

And in the evening he cometh with the twelve. And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me . . . And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives (Mark 14:18-19;26).

The Savior, betrayed by Judas, was taken captive that night, and on the following day, Friday, he was crucified.

Gramps

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