The End

a sabbath day, regardless of the day of the week on which it

occurs. Such days are known as high sabbaths—the first of

seven high sabbaths in the Jewish year.

On this day, the 15th day of Nisan, the Jews prepare un-

leavened bread, which symbolizes holiness. The preparations

include wrapping and “securing” a piece of bread.

This piece of unleavened bread that is “wrapped” during

the Passover meal—afikomen, a Greek term—literally means

“the one who came.”

In ancient days, it had been on the 15th of Nisan that the

Jews began their exodus from Egypt. Also Joseph, son of Jacob,

had made a request that his bones be picked up, or “secured”

at his grave when the Israelites returned to the promised land.

It was on the 15th of Nisan, at the beginning of their exodus,

that Joseph’s request was granted. In a climactic moment of

prophetic fulfillment and historical significance, this is the

same day Christ’s body was prepared and secured in the tomb

of Joseph of Arimathea.

Due to the lack of this knowledge, and the fact that Christ was crucified

before a Sabbath, most Christians celebrate an erroneous Good Friday.

Non-Jewish tradition has created a physical impossibility, with three days

and three nights of Christ’s state of death (Matt. 12:40) occurring between

Friday night and Sunday morning.

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