Let me apologize for not having posted in over a month.  I have been busy writing various things elsewhere.  Besides my postings on Helium.com, I have been editing and perfecting my next Nostradamus book (a complete reordering of all 949 quatrains, in an order of story); and, I have begun writing my thoughts on each week's Episcopal lectionary readings.  Just as I have developed this uncanny ability to understand Nostradamus' writings, it equally applies to biblical writings.  I have no prior scholarship with biblical readings, just as I had no real scholastic background with Nostradamus before I began understanding him.  I see it as all part of my service for the Lord.

Anywhay, with my work with the biblical readings, we have just moved through the Easter week, beginning with Palm Sunday.  I have had some revelations about the role of Judas, which is quite shocking to most, I believe; but, I have also had some revelations about how the Easter week actually played out, as far as it correlating with Passover week for the Jews.  With this being Easter, and seeing how we always travel to meet my wife's family for Easter, I thought I would tell this part of my family about what I had found.  Wham!  Rejection instantly.  That can only mean I'm on to something here.

My mother-in-law would not entertain even listening to what I had to offer, even though I repeatedly tried to make it known it was my theory, with objections always worhty of review.  Before I could say six words, she kept interrupting me to tell me that "a rabbi came to her church and explained that the Passover Seder meal was eaten on Friday, before Christ was found arisen on Sunday morning.  The rabbi told her church that this meant parts of Friday and Sunday, along with all of the Sabbat (Saturday) was three days Jesus was dead.  The rabbi told her that it did not have to be 72 hours Jesus was dead."  So there.  Shut up with your wild ideas.

Well, I disagree; but, I did not argue the point with an elderly lady who is set in her ways.  I would appreciate any comments from Jews, who can possibly shed more light onto such things as: Is there a name for the last Passover meal?  I know that in Jerusalem there is the Passover Seder meal on the first day of Passover.  There is also a required feast meal on the last day of the week-long Passover rememberance.  I would also like some feedback on this: What is that last meal of Passover called?  Does the last meal of Passover begin before or after 6:00 PM?  If the Passover Seder meal was observed on Friday after 6:00 PM, is that officially the Shabbat?  Or, does the Shabbat actually begin at 6:00 AM Saturday morning?  Also, what is allowed by the temple priests (or rabbi's at a synagogue for that matter)  on the Shabbat?  Are the ceremonies by a rabbi-priest on that day considered work or rest?

You see, I have seen some other people with a similar idea as mine, on the internet, only they still see too much happening in one day than I see as humanly possible, as far as the biblical recounts of Jesus' passion is concerned.  I see everything about Jesus' betrayal, trials, execution and burial taking place between the first day of Passover and the last day of Passover, with the Passover Seder on Friday evening, and if the last Passover meal was on Friday (before the Shabbat) it makes the whole Easter story correspond with the whole Passover week story.

Without a chart (I have one now), just consider this.  Passover is about the Jew's freedom from bondage in Egypt.  Of the four cups of wine ceremoniously poured on the Passover Seder, the third cup calls for the front door to be opened, welcoming Elijah into the house.  After the fourth cup poured the songs of praise are sung, with one calling for Elijah to return and bring with him the messiah.  Jesus is recognized by his Jewish followers as the messiah, as well as all Christians.  What better time to have Jesus tried as such, than during the period that all Jews must always celebrate?

This would mean that Jesus was held after seeing Annas before sunrise on the Shabbat; but, he was not officially condemned to death by the high priest and elders until Sunday.  He then was shuttled between Pilate and Herod and back on Monday.  Tuesday he would finally be sentenced by Pilate and flogged; but his crown of thorns, change of clothes to a purple robe and mocking by the guards was overnight.  Wednesday he would actually be crucified, dying at noon, upon which time the sun was blocked until 3:00 PM.  Then an earthquake struck, closing all government offices the rest of the day.  This means Jesus hung on the cross overnight, dead, before his body was requested on Thursday.  Pilate was shocked as such a sudden request, because crucified people could take several days to actually die.  He ordered the bones of the legs of the two crucified beside Jesus broken, so this would hasten their deaths.  A hastening of their deaths would mean their dead bodies could be removed from their crosses on Friday, for burial before the Shabbat that evening at 6:00 PM.  This means Jesus was found dead (speared) when he was taken down on Thursday, when he was wrapped and entombed.  The Mary's prepared the last Passover meal and the spices and perfume on Thursday evening, into Friday before the last Passover meal.  Then they rested on Saturday, going to prepare for Jesus' removal from the tomb (thus the spices and perfume, because - as Martha had said of Lazarus - he is stinking by now) on Sunday, after three plus days of burial.

It all makes logical sense to me; but, I imagine most of the world is like my brother-in-law, "it could have all happened in one day."  I have no problem with that opinion, except that I see the Bible as more than a book requiring blind faith.  There is everything you need to fully believe in its pages, while those pages also allow you to fully knowing how everything connects to each other.  Everything is supportive of one another, while adding to the fuller overall picture.  Its like the Magic Eye though.  It doesn't all hit you right away.  You just have to let God speak to you (rather than a rabbi tell you, or a priest, or someone like me even), so you personally understand without question.

Till the next time ....