The Overlooked Sabbath That Unlocks the True Date of the Resurrection

Most Christians have never heard of this Sabbath.

It’s not the First Day of Unleavened Bread. It’s not the Last Day either.

It’s the weekly Sabbath that falls in between — and it might be the most important Sabbath in history.

Why?

Because that’s when Jesus rose from the dead.

Not Sunday. Not at sunrise. But on the Sabbath, just before sunset.

He died Wednesday afternoon. Was buried before sunset.

Then three days and three nights later — Saturday before sunset — He came back to life.

That Sabbath is more than a rest day.

It’s the fulfillment of the Sign of Jonah.

It’s the end of sin’s hold. It’s the moment death was defeated.

But it’s also the key to Pentecost.

Leviticus 23:11 commands that the wave sheaf be offered “on the morrow after the Sabbath.”

But which Sabbath?

Not the annual one. The weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

The wave sheaf is offered that Sunday morning — and the countdown to Pentecost begins with that day: seven Sabbaths plus one day.

The original Greek in several New Testament verses refers to this Sunday as “the first of the Sabbaths” (μίαν σαββάτων) — literally the first day in the count toward Pentecost.

If you misplace that Sabbath, you misplace everything:

• The resurrection

• The wave sheaf

• The entire count to Pentecost

The year Jesus died sets the perfect pattern:

• Sabbath resurrection

• Wave sheaf offered Sunday

• Pentecost exactly 50 days later

I unpack this more fully in my article on properly counting Pentecost — especially for years like 2025, when Passover falls on a weekly Sabbath.

God doesn’t guess. He’s exact.

And His calendar reveals the full plan of salvation.

So why do billions still believe Jesus rose on Sunday?

We’ll tackle that tomorrow — and the answer might shock you.