Preparation Day, often referred to as the day before the Sabbath, holds significant importance in biblical tradition and practice. It is primarily mentioned in the context of the events surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The term "Preparation Day" is derived from the Greek word "paraskeuē," which means "preparation." This day is traditionally understood as Friday, the day before the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at sundown on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday.

Biblical References:

1. Mark 15:42 : "Now it was already evening. Since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath),"

This verse highlights the timing of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, requested Jesus' body from Pilate on Preparation Day to ensure that Jesus was buried before the Sabbath began.

2. John 19:31 : "It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a high Sabbath. So the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed."

Here, the urgency of the Jewish leaders to have the crucified bodies removed from the crosses before the Sabbath is evident. The "high Sabbath" refers to the special Sabbath that coincided with the Passover festival, emphasizing the importance of the Preparation Day in ensuring ceremonial cleanliness and adherence to the Law.

3. Luke 23:54 : "It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning."

This passage underscores the immediacy with which Jesus' followers had to act to prepare His body for burial. The onset of the Sabbath restricted work, including burial activities, necessitating that all preparations be completed beforehand.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Preparation Day was a time for the Jewish people to make necessary arrangements for the Sabbath, a day of rest and worship. This included cooking meals, completing any work that could not be done on the Sabbath, and ensuring that all was in order for the day of rest. The observance of the Sabbath was a commandment given by God, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11, and was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel.

In the context of the New Testament, Preparation Day takes on additional significance as it relates to the Passion of Christ. The urgency and actions taken on this day highlight the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the meticulous observance of Jewish law even in the face of extraordinary events.

Theological Implications:

For Christians, the events of Preparation Day are a prelude to the resurrection of Jesus, which is celebrated on the first day of the week, Sunday. The careful observance of Preparation Day by Jesus' followers demonstrates their devotion and adherence to the law, even as they faced the loss of their teacher and Lord. It also sets the stage for the miraculous events of Easter Sunday, when Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death.

Preparation Day serves as a reminder of the importance of readiness and reverence in the life of faith. It calls believers to prepare their hearts and lives for worship and to honor the sacredness of God's commandments.3904. paraskeue -- preparation, the day of preparation (for a ...
... Definition preparation, the day of preparation (for a Sabbath or feast) NASB Word
Usage day (1), day of preparation (3), preparation (2), preparation day (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3904.htm - 6k

Concerning Fasting and Prayer (The Lord's Prayer).
... The word "Preparation" (day before the Jewish sabbath) occurs in Matthew 27:62,
etc., and for some time retained a place in Christian literature. ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter viii name fasting and.htm

If it be Objected to us on this Subject that we Ourselves are ...
... who is not indulging the lust of the flesh, but "keeping under his body, and bringing
it into subjection,""such a one is always keeping Preparation-day. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen against celsus/chapter xxii if it be.htm

Reply to the Charge of "Galaticism. "
... Why do we devote to Stations the fourth and sixth days of the week, and to fasts
the "preparation-day?" [1099] Anyhow, you sometimes continue your Station even ...
/.../on fasting in opposition to the psychics/chapter xiv reply to the charge.htm

Christ Crucified.
... passover. Christ and his apostles had eaten the passover already. How then could
it be that that was the preparation day? Amid conflicting ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/christ crucified.htm

Synoptical Table
... yet laid. 42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation
day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand. Peter. gave ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the gospel of peter/synoptical table.htm

1 Timothy i. 18, 19
... iii. of St. Chrys. against the Jews, 4. Ben. ti[p. 611. [1156] paraskeue, Friday
[preparation day for the Jewish Sabbath, Sabbath-eve]. [1157] pascha. ...
/.../homily v 1 timothy i.htm

Chapter xii.
... Church is evident from the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, which enjoins it before
baptism, and on the "fourth day and the Preparation Day" (vii., viii.). ...
/.../augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xii 2.htm

The Teacher Come from God and the Teacher from Jerusalem - Jesus ...
... [1825] On the evening of the 13th Nisan, with which the 14th, or preparation-day,'
commenced, the head of each household would, with lighted candle and in ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the teacher come.htm

Of the Question Whether the First Three Evangelists are Quite in ...
... There laid they Jesus, therefore, because of the Jews' preparation day; for the
sepulchre was nigh at hand." [1472] But there is really as little ground for ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxiii of the question whether.htm

"In the Spirit and Power of Elias"
... appointed rest day, by the withholding of the manna every seventh day and the
miraculous preservation of the double portion that fell on the preparation day. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 14 in the spirit.htm

Preparation-day (1 Occurrence)
Preparation-day. Preparation, Preparation-day. Preparations .
Multi-Version Concordance Preparation-day (1 Occurrence). ...
/p/preparation-day.htm - 6k

Preparation (28 Occurrences)
... It is possible that the phrase the "Preparation of the passover" in John 19:14 may
mean it was the preparationday (Friday) of the Passover week (see Andrews ...
/p/preparation.htm - 19k

Preparations (16 Occurrences)

/p/preparations.htm - 11k

Jews (287 Occurrences)
... WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). John 19:14 Now it was the PreparationDay of the Passover,
at about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold ...
/j/jews.htm - 36k

Legs (50 Occurrences)
... (BBE). John 19:31 Therefore the Jews, because it was the PreparationDay, so that
the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a ...
/l/legs.htm - 21k

Gathered (384 Occurrences)
... Matthew 27:62 Now on the next day, which was the day after the PreparationDay,
the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, (WEB ASV ...
/g/gathered.htm - 35k

Wouldn't (67 Occurrences)
... John 19:31 Therefore the Jews, because it was the PreparationDay, so that the bodies
wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a ...
/w/wouldn't.htm - 26k

Week (18 Occurrences)
... prepared. (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV). John 19:14 Now it was the
PreparationDay of the Passover, at about the sixth hour. He ...
/w/week.htm - 13k

Twilight (25 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Twilight (25 Occurrences). Luke 23:54 And it was
preparationday, and the sabbath twilight was coming on. (DBY). ...
/t/twilight.htm - 15k

Bodies (144 Occurrences)
... (BBE). John 19:31 Therefore the Jews, because it was the PreparationDay, so that
the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a ...
/b/bodies.htm - 37k

If Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation, why had He already eaten the Passover meal? | GotQuestions.org

What is the day of the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Christian calendar? | GotQuestions.org

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