A surprising discovery from NASA may have pinpointed the precise date on which Jesus Christ was crucified — and it all comes down to a lunar eclipse.
Whether or not you believe in the historical accuracy of the Bible, there’s no denying that certain events described in religious texts have fascinating real-world parallels. From the mysterious Shroud of Turin — believed by some to be the burial cloth of Jesus — to geological theories supporting the biblical flood of Noah, science continues to intersect with faith in unexpected ways.
Now, a new chapter in that intersection may be unfolding.
A Date Long Believed — Now Scientifically Backed?
NASA has revealed the exact date Jesus died (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / Stringer / Getty)
For centuries, Christian tradition has held that Jesus died on Good Friday, specifically on April 3, 33 AD, around 3:00 PM, just hours before the start of the Jewish Passover and the Sabbath.
What’s remarkable is that this date, long accepted by biblical scholars, is now supported by NASA's astronomical data.
According to records from the U.S. space agency, a lunar eclipse occurred on Friday, April 3, 33 AD — aligning perfectly with biblical descriptions of the sky darkening during Jesus’ crucifixion.
“Darkness Over the Land”
The link comes from Matthew 27:45, which says:
“From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over all the land.”
While many have interpreted this passage metaphorically or as a divine event, some scholars and scientists suggest it may have referred to a natural phenomenon — such as a lunar eclipse, during which the moon takes on a blood-red hue.
In fact, NASA noted in the 1990s that early Christian texts mention the Moon turning to blood after Jesus’s death, which fits the description of a total lunar eclipse.
Backed by Biblical Scholars
Oxford University researchers Colin Humphreys and W. Graeme Waddington also explored this connection. They cited Joel’s prophecy in the Old Testament:
“The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.”
This passage has often been linked to the crucifixion event and now appears to align with historical astronomical data.
Using a combination of biblical references, the Jewish calendar, and lunar cycle reconstructions, the team was able to trace the eclipse to April 3, 33 AD — lending further weight to the longstanding theory about the timing of Jesus’ death.
What NASA’s Website Says
A section of NASA’s own site on historical eclipses notes:
“Christian texts mention that the Moon turned to blood after Jesus’s crucifixion – potentially referring to a lunar eclipse… Using this textual source, scholars narrowed down a possible date of crucifixion to Friday, April 3, 33 C.E. because a lunar eclipse occurred that day.”
So while the mystery of Jesus’ life and death still inspires debate, science has now added a new layer to the conversation — one that grounds a pivotal biblical moment in a cosmic event visible from Earth nearly 2,000 years ago.
Whether coincidence or confirmation, it’s a remarkable overlap between faith and science.
