This week finishes our reading of Matthew's Gospel. You could argue that if you've read this much, then you've read enough - Jesus is the center of all our Christian Theology! This particular section represents 1/4 of Matthew's Gospel, yet primarily looks at only the last week of Jesus' life. Although the Gospel gives only little detail about Jesus' childhood, it obviously focuses great detail into Holy Week. I wanted to focus on something that almost no scholars can agree - putting a date to Jesus' life.
One of the facts considered by historians to be practically beyond dispute is that Jesus was executed on the orders of the Roman prefect Pontius Pilate. We know that Pilate held this position from 26–36 AD. Since the Gospels tell us in detail that Nisan 14 fell on that Friday, 27, 30, and 33 AD are the major options. John P. Meier's "A Marginal Jew" cites 7 April 30 AD, 3 April 33 AD, and 30 March 36 AD as astronomically possible Friday Nisan 14 dates during Pilate's tenure in office. This is where I would like to start. The 14th of Nisan also implies that Jesus died at the time when the sacrificial lambs died. In the Gospel of Luke, it is stated that Jesus was "about 30 years old" when he was baptised by John the Baptist (the word "about" in Greek can mean "close to", "around", or "at least". Although it is a vague expression, I believe culturally it is referring to the fact that Jesus was "at least" 30 years old thus signifying that he was the required age to start a rabbinic ministry as a Jewish man.
Another fact to be considered is Luke's statement that John the Baptist's ministry began in the fifteenth year of the reign of emperor Tiberius (Luke 3:1-2). Tiberius' reign began after Augustus' death on 19 August 14 AD, placing John's appearance in 29AD. Unlike the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John points to three separate Passovers during Jesus' ministry, which would favour 33 AD.
The use of astronomical evidence to estimate the year of the Crucifixion of Jesus has led to AD 33 by two different groups, and originally as AD 34 by Isaac Newton via the differences between the Biblical and Julian calendars and the crescent of the moon. John Pratt argued that Newton's reasoning was effectively sound, but included a minor error at the end. Pratt suggested the year 33 AD as the accurate answer. Using similar computations, in 1990 astronomer Bradley Schaefer arrived at the same date, Friday, April 3 33 AD. A third method, using a completely different astronomical approach based on a lunar Crucifixion darkness and eclipse model (consistent with Apostle Peter's reference to a "moon of blood" in Acts 2:20) arrives at the same date, namely Friday April 3, AD 33. I support this date in my own research.
Since Jesus' birth, escape to Egypt, and life in Egypt (before his eventual return to Nazareth) all happened before the death of King Herod the Great (died 4 BC), we know that his birth was likely 6 BC or before. Of course there is still much speculation and debate about each of these numbers - but one thing I know for sure, numbers in the Bible always matter. They are never there just by chance. Things happen for a reason in God's timing!
Another important point: Perhaps knowing when the crucifixion happened is not as important as knowing that it is still happening! Christ's forgiveness for mankind was won on one particular day on a cross, but its application to sinners happens every day. Of course the resurrection works in much the same way - new life was given to all Jesus' followers.
Final important point: I love researching the timing of Jesus' life because it places Jesus into history...where he belongs. Jesus lived, died and rose again. He is not an idea or a philosophy. He is the Real Son of God! His place in history matters - besides, look how much attention Matthew gives just to his last week on this earth.
- Pastor Jim Mueller
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