Messiah Is Alive

The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. (NASB) John 19:31

This means that when Jesus died, He died on the eve of Passover which occurs on Nisan 14 and on a Friday afternoon before the Sabbath, which starts at 6:00 p.m. The Jewish Passover occurs on Nisan 15 and during a full moon. Thus one can verify the accuracy of the dates with astronomy.

The Jewish calendars indicate that the eve of Passover occurred during the years of A.D. 30 through A.D. 33 on a Friday in only one year - A.D. 33. This agrees with astronomy. A full moon did not occur on any Friday that was also the eve of the Passover in A.D. 30, 31, or 32. It is important to note that the monthly calendar for Nisan A.D. 34 and A.D. 35 are identical to that of Nisan A.D. 31. That leaves only one year in which Jesus could have died. The year is A.D. 33 and the day is April 1, 33 A.D. in our Gregorian calendar or Nisan 14, A.D. 33 in the Jewish calendar.

We have demonstrated that Jesus’ birth and life span most likely continued until sometime between A.D. 30 and A.D. 34. Astronomy and the calendars indicate that Jesus did die on Nisan 14, A.D. 33. We have discovered that the prophecy in Daniel 9:25-26a predicted that the Messiah would die after Nisan 10, A.D. 33 and Jesus fulfills that prophecy. He died on Nisan 14, A.D. 33.

Conclusion. The prophecy of Daniel 9:26 predicted that Messiah would die after Nisan 10, A.D. 33. The Messiah had to be alive before that in order to die. No one before that week or after that week qualifies to be the Messiah - only Jesus qualifies! That was a narrow window in history in which the Messiah could arrive and Jesus came during that window. Jesus was and is the Messiah.

Daniel predicted that the Messiah would die 500 years before it happened. Other prophecies predicted that the Messiah would suffer (Isaiah 53), be pierced with a sword, be scourged, die alongside thieves, and be buried in a rich man’s grave.

But He was pierced through for our transgressions . . . and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth . . . His grave was assigned with wicked men, yet He was with a rich man in His death, because He had done no violence, nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the LORD was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief . . . and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. (NASB) Isaiah 53:5-12

All these things happened to Jesus just as this 500 year old prophecy predicted. Why did Jesus die? He died for our sins. But that alone is not what Easter is all about. Easter is about Jesus’ return to life after being dead. Another prophet predicted this almost 1,000 years before Jesus,

One Easter, the pastor Dr. Gordon, brought an old rusty birdcage and sat it next to the pulpit. As he started his sermon that Easter morning, he held up the bird cage and said, “You might be wondering why this is here. It is not normal to have a bird cage here. Let me tell you the story behind it. Several days ago I was watching a little boy in tattered and torn blue jeans with a dirty T-shirt, cap off to the side, whistling, walking down an alley, and swinging this bird cage. Clinging to the bottom of the cage were little field sparrows he had caught. So I stopped him and asked, ‘Say, sonny, what do you have there?’ He said, ‘Oh, I’ve got some birds.’ What are you going to do with them?’ I asked. ‘Oh, mess around with them, tease them, and something like that.’ ‘Well I asked, ‘when you get tired of them, what are you gonna do?’ He thought for a moment and said, ‘Well, I have a couple of cats at home and they like birds. I think I will just let them have the birds.’”

Dr. Gordon’s heart went out to the little birds so he made the lad an offer. “How much do you want for the birds?” Surprised, the boy, said, “Mister, these birds are no good.” “Well,” Dr. Gordon said, “regardless, how much would you like for them?” The little fellow said, “How about two bucks?” I said, “Sold!” So he reached in his pocket and peeled off two dollar bills. The little boy shoved the bird cage forward, pleased with his good fortune.

When the boy left, the pastor walked a good distance away, lifted open the cage door and said, “Shoo, shoo.” And he shoved the birds out of the door and they flew free. The bird cage was a symbol of the human race trapped by sin and going to hell. Jesus Christ came as the prophecies predicted and paid the price for our freedom. He has made it possible for us to be set free.