Scheduling Jesus: Torah Calendar

Jesus was a devout first-century Jew. Thus, the calendar from the Torah (or Moses’ Law) in the Hebrew Bible established his yearly rhythm.

Holy-days restricted Jesus’ activities. Holiday Feasts required travel to Jerusalem.

The following are key days and weeks.

• Sabbath, the seventh day of the week
• New Moon, the first day of the month
• Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread in Jerusalem, seven days during the first month, spring barley harvest
• Feast of Weeks in Jerusalem, seven weeks after Passover, third month, spring wheat harvest
• New Year, the first day of the seventh month
• Day of Atonement, the tenth day of the seventh month
• Feast of Huts (or Tabernacles) in Jerusalem, seven days during the seventh month, fall fruit harvest

On Sabbath and New Moon the Torah ruled that businesses were closed, and people could travel only a limited distance. These restrictions are called Sabbath-rules.

The Day of Atonement included Sabbath-rules for work and a fast from food.

All adult males had to attend the three major Feasts in Jerusalem (1 Unleavened Bread, 2 Weeks, and 3 Huts).

Jesus lived by the rules of the Torah. The Torah established the schedule through which we better understand the weekly, monthly, and yearly rhythms of Jesus’ experience.