What does "Preparation Day" signify in the context of Luke 23:54? Setting the Scene – Luke 23:54 “It was the Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was just beginning.” • Jesus has just breathed His last (Luke 23:46). • Joseph of Arimathea seeks permission to bury the body before sunset. • The sun is sliding toward the horizon; Sabbath law will shortly prohibit work (Exodus 20:8-11). What “Preparation Day” Means • Greek term: Παρασκευή (Paraskeuē) – literally “preparation.” • By the first century it had become the common Jewish name for Friday, the sixth day of the week. • Purpose: finish every chore— • slaughter and cook food (Exodus 16:5, 23), • complete business dealings, • remove leaven during Passover week (Exodus 12:15), • arrange lamps and dwelling so no work would break Sabbath rest. Other Gospel Witnesses • Mark 15:42 – “It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath)….” • John 19:31 – “Because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the bodies could not remain on the cross on the Sabbath….” • John 19:42 – “Because it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.” These parallel references confirm Luke’s use: the ordinary Friday that preceded the weekly Sabbath during Passover week. Why the Detail Matters • Explains the urgency of Joseph and Nicodemus: burial, linens, spices had to be completed before sunset (Luke 23:53). • Validates the Friday-Saturday-Sunday timeline: • Friday afternoon death, • full Saturday rest in the grave, • first-day (Sunday) resurrection (Luke 24:1). • Shows faithful obedience: the women “rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56). Theological Echoes • Creation pattern: God worked six days, then rested (Genesis 2:2-3). – Christ completes His redemptive work on the sixth day, then “rests” in the tomb on the seventh. • Sabbath foreshadows the believer’s rest in Christ (Hebrews 4:9-10). • The Preparation underscores that everything necessary for salvation was finished; no human effort could be added once the Sabbath began (John 19:30). Take-Home Highlights • Preparation Day = Friday, the day set aside for readying heart and home for Sabbath. • Its mention anchors the historicity of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial schedule. • It showcases Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of the Law and sets the stage for resurrection morning—the dawn of new creation life. |
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