Luke 23:54 - It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near.

Generated Verse: Luke 23:54

What does "Luke 23:54" mean?


Luke 23:54, "It was the day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was drawing near," is a key piece of information about the timing of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Here's a breakdown of what it means:

"It was the day of the Preparation": This refers to the day before the Jewish Sabbath. The Jews religiously observe Saturday as a day of rest and worship, during which they refrain from work. Therefore, the day before, Friday, was dedicated to preparing for the Sabbath. This preparation involved cooking meals in advance, tidying the house, and making sure everything was ready for a day of rest.
"and the Sabbath was drawing near": This indicates that Friday was coming to an end, and the Sabbath (Saturday) was about to begin at sunset. Jewish days are reckoned from sunset to sunset, not midnight to midnight.

In essence, this verse tells us that Jesus was crucified and buried on a Friday afternoon, shortly before the start of the Jewish Sabbath.

Significance of the Timing:

Historical Context: This verse provides valuable historical context for understanding the events of Holy Week.
Hurry for Burial: Because the Sabbath was approaching, there was urgency to take Jesus' body down from the cross and bury him quickly, before the Sabbath began. Jewish law prohibited handling a dead body on the Sabbath. This urgency explains why Jesus was buried in a tomb that was nearby and hadn't been used yet.
Connection to Resurrection: The timing is crucial in understanding the resurrection narrative. Jesus was buried on Friday evening, remained in the tomb during the Sabbath (Saturday), and was resurrected early on Sunday morning. This fulfilled the prophecy of rising on the third day.
Passover Connection: Often, this particular Sabbath was a "High Sabbath" because it coincided with the Passover festival. This would have made the restrictions even stricter and the need for haste even greater. The Gospels suggest Jesus was crucified on the Day of Preparation for Passover, which added to the significance of the timing.

In summary, Luke 23:54 is not just a throwaway detail. It's a specific time marker that's essential for understanding the events surrounding Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection within the historical and religious context of first-century Judaism.

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