The Fallacy of Art: Jesus' (Yeshua's) Resurrection

Art. It's powerful. It has been used to help illiterate people learn the historical accounts found in the Bible. And I have become increasingly aware of the responsibility that we artists have. Because... well, because art has the ability to teach correctly or... incorrectly. It has the power to influence us in such a way that we are quick to embrace its message. Seeing is believing??

I can't recall who, but someone once made an excellent point about the responsibility of art and how it impacts kids. Seeds of doubt can be planted in their minds about a world-wide flood and an ark containing many species of animals when they see a little tubby boat having over-sized giraffes and other critters sticking out of windows. 

Art, however, affects adults as well as children. We tend to gravitate toward what we have seen vs. investigating to see if what we have seen is a true depiction of what the Scriptures teach us.

What do you think of when you see the picture below? What do you recall from Scripture? What do you recall from things you have learnend over the years?

{Shared free image from st-takla.org}

This is a common depiction of Yeshua after His resurrection. Notice that it's bright daylight. A flower garden is suggested. Soft colors are used. He doesn't look Middle-Eastern (grant it skin tones range from light to dark in the middle-east. Mostly I'm referring to features and hair color.)

The main thing I'm referring to is the time of day. How many days was Yeshua in the tomb? Three days. How many hours is that? It's 72 hours.

When we were studying about The Passion Week in our Bible lessons, we got to thinking that some things weren't making sense. Needless to say, we dove in deeper to research and gain understanding.

It is commonly taught that Yeshua was buried on a Friday and resurrected on Sunday morning. If we count the days this way: Friday, Saturday, Sunday. One. Two. Three days. We say He was in the tomb since a Friday and sunrise services are attended. But is this accurate according to Scripture? What can understanding the Hebrew culture teach us of the Scriptures which are written with a Hebrew mindset?

The Bible tells us that He was crucified at 3 pm. When understanding the Hebrew culture, the Jews were getting ready for Passover preparations, so they would have buried Him in the tomb prior to sunset (annual, monthly and weekly Sabbaths begin at sunset and end at sunset the next day). Let's see if what is commonly taught through art about a sunrise resurrection adds up. 

What's the big deal? Is it a salvation issue? No. It is not a salvation issue. But, I think it's important to know what the Bible teaches as best as we are able to. I think it's important to know what the truth is. In addition, it could cause some people to question the validity of the Bible. Therefor, I think it's important for apologetic purposes. All of these are serious enough reasons for me.

However, we need to think with a Hebraic mindset. What does God call a day? Open up your Bible, please, to Genesis 1:5, "And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." He calls the evening and the morning the first day. So, for some reason we think of the design of a day in a backwards fashion from what our Creator designed it as. When and where and how that happened, I know not.

Nevertheless, let's try it from the Hebraic teachings:

 

We can reason that, most likely, Yeshua was crucified on a Wednesday at 3 pm (not a Friday). As I understand it at this time, He would have been buried by sunset on Wednesday because the Jews were making preparations for the annual Sabbath of Passover. Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset is one day. Thursday sunset to Friday sunset is two days. And Friday sunset to Saturday (Sabbath Day) sunset is three days. 

So, once the full 72 hours were complete, He rose on Sunday (the First Day) just as Sabbath ended at sunset. 

Who would have thought a story problem would be found in the Bible? I wouldn't have!

Now, if you will please open up your Bible to John 20:11-18 and read. Do you see that Miriam  (Mary is her name in English) is at the tomb, weeping? Who does she mistake Yeshua to be? 

The gardener.

What?! Why?! The gardener?! Seriously?!

Let's evaluate the common depiction of Yeshua after His resurrection again. Recall, if you will, that we often see that it's broad daylight. 

Let us reason that if it was broad daylight, how could she have mistaken Him to be a gardener? I'm learning by and by to pay closer to each word in the Scriptures. It's something I'm putting into practice. Are you, too? If you read John 20:1, you'll see that it is still dark out when Miriam (Mary) arrives at the tomb. 

We must ask, why did she go when it was still dark out? Because she knew that Yeshua was to be in the tomb for a full 72 hours. She went to see if He was still there after 72 hours. Three.full.days. And three.full.nights. Just as He said in Matthew 12:38-40: "⁴⁰ For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." KJV

I reason that it must have been darker... like this... or maybe even darker out...

And do you know what I wonder? I wonder if it wasn't almost immediately after He was resurrected. Because when we read in John 20:17, Yeshua tells her not to touch Him because He had not ascended yet unto the Father. So, He sent Miriam away to go tell His brethren that He was ascending to the Father. If you keep reading in your Bible, you'll read that it was the evening of the first day when Yeshua appeared to the disciples.

We must also ask, why did she mistake Him for the gardener? Well, we have established that it was dark out so it was hard for her to see clearly. But why was He in the garden? He became the first fruits when He was risen (But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 1 Corinthians 15:20).

Are your socks knocked off yet? Mine were! Why is it taught that Yeshua rose at sunrise? Why is it that many believers hold and attend sunrise services? That may be worth some time to investigate on your own, if you are interested in learning about it. 

And why? Why oh why are the Lord's Feasts ignored and replaced with something called Easter? Passover is about His Crucifixion, the Feast of Unleavened Bread is about His burial, and First Fruits is about His resurrection.

I don't want to settle for substitutes. Do you?

Blessings,