The Gospel of John often provides unique insights and details not found in the Synoptic Gospels. One such detail appears in John 19:31, where John describes the Sabbath following Jesus’ crucifixion as a “high day.” This phrase has intrigued Bible readers and scholars for centuries, as it offers important clues about the timing of the crucifixion and the nature of the Sabbath being referenced.
Let’s explore what John meant by this phrase, its connection to the Jewish calendar, and its deeper theological significance.
The Biblical Passage (John 19:31)
“The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.”
— John 19:31, KJV
At first glance, this verse describes a practical concern: the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies of those crucified to remain on the crosses during the Sabbath. But John adds a clarifying parenthetical note: “for that Sabbath day was a high day.” This phrase reveals that the Sabbath in question was no ordinary weekly Sabbath, but one of special significance.
Understanding the Term “High Day”
The phrase “high day” (Greek: μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα, megalē hē hēmera) literally means a “great day” or “special day.” In the context of Jewish worship, it refers to a festival Sabbath — an annual holy day associated with one of the major Jewish feasts ordained by God in the Law of Moses.
According to Leviticus 23, Israel was commanded to observe seven annual feast days, several of which were designated as “Sabbaths” regardless of the day of the week on which they fell. These were days of rest and worship, set apart as sacred convocations.
The Jewish Calendar Context
To understand John’s statement, it helps to recall the sequence of events during Passover week:
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- Nisan 14 – The Day of Preparation (Passover day)
- The lambs were slain in the afternoon.
- This was the day Jesus was crucified — He was the true Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7).
- It was a preparation day because the next day began a festival Sabbath.
- Nisan 15 – First Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
- This was an annual Sabbath (a “high day”) regardless of the weekday.
- No work was to be done; it was a day of sacred assembly (Leviticus 23:6–7).
Therefore, the Sabbath that immediately followed Jesus’ death was not necessarily the weekly Saturday Sabbath (though it could have coincided with it), but rather the first day of Unleavened Bread, a festival Sabbath — a “high day.”
Why John Emphasized the “High Day”
John’s Gospel often includes specific Jewish details to help readers understand the religious and prophetic significance of events. His mention of a “high day” serves several purposes:
- To Explain the Urgency
The Jewish leaders wanted the bodies removed before sundown because, according to Deuteronomy 21:22–23, leaving a body hanging overnight defiled the land — and doing so on a sacred Sabbath would have been especially offensive. - To Indicate a Festival Sabbath
John clarifies that this Sabbath was special — not just the weekly rest day — emphasizing the sanctity of the Passover season. - To Highlight Prophetic Fulfillment
The crucifixion of Jesus during Passover aligns with His role as the ultimate Passover Lamb. By noting the “high day,” John ties Jesus’ death directly to the fulfillment of the Passover symbolism — the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
Theological Significance
1. Jesus as the True Passover Lamb
The Passover lambs were sacrificed on the day of preparation (Nisan 14), just before the Feast of Unleavened Bread began. Jesus, the Lamb of God, died at that exact time, fulfilling centuries of prophetic imagery. John’s mention of the “high day” underscores that Jesus’ death was not random — it was divinely timed to coincide with the very feast that foreshadowed His redemptive work.
2. The Dual Nature of the Sabbath
In this context, there were two Sabbaths in the Passover week — the annual “high day” Sabbath and possibly the weekly Sabbath that followed it. This helps explain why the women waited until “after the Sabbaths” (plural, see Matthew 28:1 in the Greek) to visit Jesus’ tomb.
3. Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets
By dying on the eve of this “high Sabbath,” Jesus not only fulfilled the Passover symbolism but also perfectly aligned His sacrifice with the rhythm of God’s appointed feasts — showing that He is the fulfillment of the Law and the ultimate rest for all who believe in Him (Hebrews 4:9–10).
The Debate Over the Crucifixion Day
John’s statement about a “high day” has fueled scholarly discussions about which day of the week Jesus was crucified. The traditional view holds to a Friday crucifixion, but some propose a Wednesday or Thursday crucifixion, allowing for Jesus to be in the tomb for a literal three days and three nights as He predicted (Matthew 12:40).
Without diving too deeply into that debate, the key takeaway remains: John’s reference to a “high Sabbath” clearly identifies that the Sabbath following Jesus’ death was an annual feast day, not merely the regular Saturday rest.
The Debate Over the Crucifixion Day
For centuries, scholars have debated whether Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. Traditional Christian observance holds to a Friday crucifixion, but John’s mention of a “high Sabbath” suggests otherwise. If the Sabbath following the crucifixion was a festival Sabbath, then the crucifixion could not have occurred on the normal Friday, because that would make two Sabbaths overlap (Friday night to Saturday) without enough time to fulfill Jesus’ prophecy of “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).
The Timing: Why the Crucifixion Likely Occurred on a Wednesday
If we take Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 12:40 literally —
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth,”
then the timeline most consistent with this is a Wednesday crucifixion.
According to the Jewish method of timekeeping (evening to evening), here’s how the timeline unfolds:
- Wednesday (Nisan 14) — Jesus is crucified in the afternoon and buried before sunset, just as the Passover day ends.
- Wednesday night (start of Nisan 15) — Night 1 begins; the High Sabbath (first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread) starts.
- Thursday day — Day 1.
- Thursday night — Night 2.
- Friday day — Day 2.
- Friday night — Night 3.
- Saturday day — Day 3.
- Saturday evening (end of the Sabbath) — Jesus rises from the dead, just before sunset, fulfilling “three days and three nights” exactly.
- Sunday morning — The tomb is discovered empty, confirming His resurrection.
This timeline harmonizes perfectly with John’s statement that the following day was a “high Sabbath” — an annual feast Sabbath, not the regular weekly Sabbath. It also explains why the women visited the tomb “after the Sabbaths” (Matthew 28:1, plural in the Greek), since two Sabbaths occurred back-to-back:
- The high Sabbath of Unleavened Bread (Thursday).
- The regular weekly Sabbath (Saturday).
Thus, Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, rested in the tomb through three days and three nights, and rose just before the weekly Sabbath ended — exactly as He foretold.
This not only aligns with the Hebrew calendar but also reinforces the precision of God’s prophetic timeline.
Symbolism and Spiritual Application
The “high day” also carries deep symbolic meaning for believers today:
- It reminds us that God orchestrates His redemptive plan perfectly in time and prophecy.
- It highlights Jesus’ identity as the Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice brings freedom from sin.
- It calls us to honor the holiness of God’s appointed times, not as legalistic rituals, but as reminders of His faithfulness and sovereignty.
When John wrote, “for that Sabbath day was a high day,” he was not merely noting a date — he was pointing to the climax of redemption history, where the shadow of the Passover found its fulfillment in the Lamb of God.
Conclusion
In John 19:31, the phrase “for that Sabbath day was a high day” reveals that the Sabbath following Jesus’ crucifixion was a festival Sabbath — the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, immediately following Passover. This detail connects the crucifixion directly to the Jewish feasts, underscoring the perfect timing and prophetic fulfillment of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Through this “high day,” God was declaring that redemption had been accomplished — the true Passover had been fulfilled in Christ.
“Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” — 1 Corinthians 5:7
