The Road to Emmaus; Proof of Sunday Resurrection?
Sunday resurrection believers cite Luke 24 as proof that the “third day” was the first day of the week therefore Sunday was the day of the resurrection. Is his true? Notice what the source below states:
B. The Road to Emmaus: Irrefutable Sunday resurrection passage #2:
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The Road to Emmaus: |
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Verse |
Text |
Comment |
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Lk 24:1 |
"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared." |
The entire events of Lk 24 occurred on Sunday, the "first day of the week". |
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Lk 24:13 |
"And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem." |
"That very day" = Sunday and refers back to Lk 24:1 |
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Lk 24:21 |
"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened." |
"it is the third day" since Jesus was crucified and placed in the tomb. This was the day the two men were expecting Jesus to rise from the dead. This was their day of expectation. |
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Lk 24:46 |
"He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day" |
This is not connected directly with the men on the road to Emmaus, but Luke, through inspiration of the Holy Spirit has now referred to the third day, FOUR TIMES! (from Bible.ca) |
Yes this was the first day of the week, what we call Sunday today. (v.1)
Yes this journey to Emmaus was “that same day” (v.13 KJV).
What of verse 21? Was it the third day hence the day of the resurrection?
First the KJV says, “and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.” Now the words “Today” Vincent Word Studies says, “The best texts omit to-day.”
The Greek word for "since" after "the third day" in Luke 24:21 actually means "away from". Away from is the same as our "after". Strong’s #575 says, “A primary particle; ‘off’, that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively): - (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.” Jesus died late on a Wednesday afternoon and was laid in the grave at sundown on Wednesday as Thursday was beginning. He was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights on Wednesday night, Thursday night, and Friday night and Thursday day, Friday day, and Saturday day using our reckoning of days and nights. He rose in the Sabbath afternoon. So He was in the grave 3 days and 3 nights and rose after 3 days and 3 nights while the Sabbath was still on. So He rose on the third day. Sunday is therefore the 4th day. The 4th day is "away from" the third day. So it is apparent that the verse is literally saying they were walking and talking after the third day of the Resurrection not during the third day of the Resurrection! , which was Sunday. However, have other translators understood this point too? Yes, let's look at 3 of them. (Luke 24:21).
Moffatt Translation--by James Moffatt “....but he is dead, and that is three days ago!”
The Bible in Basic English Version says, “In addition to all this he has now let three days go by from the time when these things took place;”
James Murdock Translation has it, “And lo, three days [have passed], since all these things occurred.”
The New Berkeley Version in Modern English-- Gerrit Verkugl “Moreover, three days have already passed, since all these events occurred.”
The Syriac New Testament Translated Into English From The Peshitto Version -- James Murdock “...and lo, three days have passed since all these things have occurred.”
The Syriac Reading can be confirmed by 2 of the oldest manuscripts in Estrangelo Aramaic: the Sinaitic Palimpset and the Curetonian Syriac.
There is exceedingly ample evidence that the correct translation for Luke 24:21 is that the KJV should read, "today is after the third day since these things were done." As the information above shows, the oldest and multiple original manuscripts show that "away from" is the correct word for since, and shows us that they were talking about Sunday being the 4th day since Jesus was laid in the grave.
Looking at it Another Way...
If we are to accept that this was the "third day" in Luke 24. Which third day was it? This source called BABYLON MYSTERY RELIGION by Ralph Woodrow, pages 138, 139 states, "....Because Jesus appeared to the disciples on the first day of the week (verse 13), and this was the third day since these things were done, would this not indicate that Jesus died on Friday? This would DEPEND ON HOW WE COUNT. If PARTS of a day are counted as a whole, Friday could be meant. On the other hand, one day since Friday would have been Saturday and the THIRD day since Friday would have been Monday!
"This method of counting would not indicate Friday. On seeking to offer an explanation, I submit the following: They had talked about 'ALL these things which had happened' (verse 14) - more than just one event. If 'these things' included the arrest, the crucifixion, the burial and the setting of the seal and watch over the tomb all of these things were not done until THURSDAY.....(MAT. 27:62-66)....... 'These things' were not fully completed - were not 'done' – until the tomb was sealed and guarded. This happened, as we have already seen, on Thursday of that week ....... Sunday, then, would have been 'the third day since these things were done,' but not the third day since the crucifixion" (emphasis mine). So this scenario that they try to defend doesn't even fit their scenario of a good Friday Easter Sunday Resurrection! You get either a Monday Resurrection; or a Thursday Crucifixion if you count backwards 3 days from Sunday!
The Final "thing" that happened was the sealing of the tomb that took place "the next day that followed the day of preparation" (Matthew 26:62). This was the Thursday, the crucifixion being on the Wednesday. Some have said that the disciples may not have known about the sealing of the tomb, but that is nothing more than a speculative comment. According to Luke they were talking about "all these things which had happened." (Luke 24:14). This is the inspired writer of scripture who wrote this, not some statement by someone who could have been mistaken, and "all these things which had happened" would certainly have included the sealing of the tomb. Cleopas also spoke of what happened at the tomb-the time when Jesus was gone already when the women came there, (vv.22-24)-so they knew the sepulcher was sealed! Added to that, Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathaea who were also "disciples" of Christ could have easily have told the disciples the tomb was sealed the next day since the priests discussed this plan with the Romans (Matthew 27:62); and of course it was Joseph's tomb! (Matthew 27:60). In conclusion, the statement of Jesus’ disciples on the Emmaus road, "today is the third day since these things happened." (Luke 24:21) is explained as being the time from the last recorded scriptural event concerning Jesus death on the Passover, then the sealing of the tomb the next day, until the day the disciples met Jesus on the Emmaus road. So when Jesus referred to his resurrection "on the third day", he was using the day of his death as the starting point; but a different starting point (one day later) is used here by Cleopas. Therefore, while Jesus' "third day" was the Sabbath; Cleopas' "third day" was on Sunday-which is still the 4th day from the crucifixion (see above)!
If the events referred to were only his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and death, and nothing after, then the disciples would have been referring to events that happened "on that day", the Passover. But they referred to, "the things which came to pass there in these days" (Luke 24:18). Note the plural "days", and note also that the word "there" refers to "in Jerusalem" (Luke 24:18). So they must have referred to events on more than one day, namely 14th and 15th Nisan, the Passover and the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The crucifixion (14th) and the sealing of the tomb (15th)-that was the main topic of conversation! Therefore, the Emmaus road encounter is not proof that Jesus did not die on a Wednesday, nor proof that he rose on Sunday morning.
What of Luke 24:46? What the source above is indicating here is that Jesus told them the “third day” he would rise and that was the third day. But looking at the events of this we see that in verse 29 they asked Jesus to stay with them, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.” This makes it Sunday night, and the second day of the week begins at sunset. Then afterwards they went back to Jerusalem and told the disciples what happened (v.33). This is well into the evening of the second day of the week. Christ was making them “understand the scriptures” (v.45). He was not connecting that day with the day of his resurrection, it wasn’t even the first day of the week any longer, and he was just expounding and explaining the scriptures. This scripture is just wishful thinking on the Sunday Resurrection believers part, nothing more.
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