I wrote briefly on this about four months ago back in February this year.
See the post: When did the Crucifixion take place?
Just as I did in my previous post, today I'd like to take a close look again into the time-line of the Trial and the Crucifixion of our Lord Iesous based on the account in the Gospel of John, this time with a few additional observations about what John implied by "Preparation Day" and "special sabbath".
In contrast to the synoptic Gospels, John's Gospel account of the trial of Iesus was placed on the night through early morning *before* sunrise of Passover Day 14d 1m. In other words, they have not yet eaten the Passover meal, (and the dinner on the previous evening that Iesus had with his disciples in John 13:2ff happened "just before the Passover Feast" - John 13:1)
Biblically, the 14th day had already begun, and it was approaching early morning as the Lord Iesus was led away from Caiaphas' court to Pilate's palace. The Jews, however, did not enter Pilate's palace for fear of being defiled and disqualified from partaking the Passover that coming evening at the end of 14d 1m.
John 18:28 NIV
Then the Jews led Iesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.
Further, in John 19:14, we also learn that as Pilate finished interrogating Iesus and proceeded to deliver his judgment from the Judge's seat at the Stone Pavement called Gabbatha, it was approaching noon time of 14d 1m. That evening the Passover Meal will be eaten by the Jews, and the next day begins a week long Feast of Unleavened Bread (or Passover Week, as mentioned in John 19:4).
This seven-day long feast requires a day of rest and holy convocation on the first and the last day, i.e. on 15d 1m and 21d 1m (Exodus 12:18; also Exodus 12:15 - 16; 13:6 - 7; Leviticus 23:5 - 8). These two days of rest are also considered "sabbath" rest days, similar to the weekly Shabbat. As such, the Passover Day 14d 1m is a day of Preparation for "sabbath" at the start of Passover Week.
We also learn from John 19:31 that that year, the 14d 1m was not only the Preparation Day for the start of the Passover Week (or Feast of Unleavened Bread), it was also a Friday i.e. Preparation Day for the Weekly Sabbath. John 19:31 tells us that the next day was to be "special Sabbath" (NIV) or "high Sabbath" (ASV, KJV).
John 19:14 NIV
It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
John 19:31 NIV
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath, . . .
