Lesson 6

Believing Jesus was in paradise the same day he died conflicts with the fact he would not allow himself to be touched after he had been resurrected three days and nights later because he had not yet gone back to his father. Had he been in heaven with the thief, just after his death, wouldn’t he have already ascended to the father?

John 20:17 1599 Geneva Bible
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not: for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and to your Father, and to my God, and your God.

Jesus is our perfect sacrifice. Most Christians agree he was our unblemished Passover lamb, but don’t realize Jesus fulfilled other daily and seasonal sacrifices along with the Passover and Unleavened Bread holy days. Two sacrifices took place every day at the temple. Counting from 6 am, the first was at the third hour and the other at the ninth. With his trial taking place during the night, Jesus was hung on the cross at 9 am. Later that afternoon, around 3 pm, Jesus drew his last breath. His crucifixion mirrored the sacrifices taking place at the temple that day for the Passover and the beginning of a special high day, yearly Sabbath, beginning the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

Mark 15:25 New King James Version
Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

Matthew 27:45-50 International Children’s Bible
45 At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness lasted for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” This means, “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?” 47 Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, “He is calling Elijah.” 48 Quickly one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled the sponge with vinegar and tied it to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to drink from it. 49 But the others said, “Don’t bother him. We want to see if Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Again Jesus cried out in a loud voice. Then he died.

Ephesians 5:2 Modern English Version
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

John 19:31 New King James Version
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.