The Preparation Day, as seen in the instruction concerning the manna in Exodus 16, is the sixth day of the week when we are to gather twice as much bread from heaven to ensure enough for the Sabbath. This day serves as a prelude to God's holy time, a period when, despite still having to work, we are intended to gather our thoughts, turn our attention, and focus doubly on what life is truly about, rather than merely what it consists of. By doing so, when the sanctified time of the Sabbath arrives, we are not still mentally entangled in daily concerns or problems. The Preparation Day is thus a day of gathering what relates to eternity, enabling us to properly ingest the spiritual manna on the holy day without distraction. In the New Testament, the Preparation Day is referenced in all four gospel accounts in relation to Passover day, rather than the weekly sixth day, marking it as an annual preparation for the first day of Unleavened Bread, an annual Sabbath. Even though Passover day remains a common work day, the gravity and significance of the preceding night and the upcoming Feast make it feel like a holy day, as our thoughts are gathered and focused on the spiritual dimension in anticipation of the holy days. This reorientation of the mind through the Passover ritual ensures we are mentally present when the holy time arrives. While the weekly Preparation Day may not carry the same intensity due to its frequency, understanding Passover as the epitome of Preparation Days can guide us to use the weekly day to mentally and spiritually reorient ourselves, preventing the Sabbath from arriving abruptly. Just as the Days of Unleavened Bread are an annual memorial of God's deliverance, preceded by the essential Preparation Day of Passover, the weekly Sabbath also commemorates God's deliverance from physical and spiritual Egypt. The lesson of the Sabbath is not fully learned without taking advantage of the weekly Preparation Day to begin turning our focus. This day helps us get ready and focused to participate in the spiritual creation, ensuring that we can ingest the true Bread from heaven on the Sabbath and develop His attributes without competing distractions.

In His perfect providence, God has provided the Preparation Day to set the stage for properly receiving the gift of the Sabbath. This day, first mentioned in Exodus 16, was given to the children of Israel with the command to gather their food for the Sabbath on the sixth day, minimizing distractions on the seventh day. The Preparation Day is thus designated for completing all cleaning, cooking, business transactions, and other mundane activities, ensuring that ordinary life does not detract from the holy time God has set apart. While God initially gave this principle to a carnal Israel with a focus on physical preparation, it also carries a spiritual dimension. Physically, this preparation helps in making proper use of the Sabbath, while spiritually, it involves gathering twice the effort on the sixth day to ensure sufficient spiritual nourishment for the holy day.

All four gospel writers mention that Jesus was tried, convicted, crucified, and buried on a preparation day. Without further clarification, one might assume this refers to the weekly preparation day before the Sabbath. However, other days can also be considered preparation days. God gave instructions about the use of the preparation day to the Israelites before they reached Mount Sinai. The Jews later deemed this so significant that they ensured each of the holy days, which are also Sabbaths, was preceded by a preparation day. Since holy days can fall on any day of the week, the preparation day can likewise fall on any day of the week. This is particularly relevant to the Passover. Not only is the Passover a festival in its own right, it also serves as the preparation day for a holy day, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. According to the calculated Hebrew Calendar, Passover can occur on various days of the week. Clearly, our Savior was crucified on a Passover day. John writes that it was the Preparation Day of the Passover. At some time before Christ's day, the Jews had begun referring to the day of Passover and the following seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread by the single name Passover, which has caused confusion for non-Jews. John clarifies that it was the Preparation Day, and the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a high day. Thus, without a doubt, Jesus was crucified on a Passover day, Nisan 14, and the Sabbath that followed was the first day of Unleavened Bread, an annual holy day, a high day.

The day of Jesus' burial was marked by urgency as it was the Preparation Day, with the Sabbath drawing near. Luke records, "That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near" (Luke 23:54). John further notes, "So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby" (John 19:42). Joseph hurried to place Jesus' body in the tomb before sunset, aligning with the significance of this day. The Passover, which Jesus and His disciples observed on the correct day, Abib/Nisan 14, falling on a Wednesday that year, serves as the preparation day for the first day of Unleavened Bread, except when Passover itself falls on a Sabbath.

God has made the Sabbath holy with His holy presence, and we should do everything possible to prepare on the Preparation Day to eliminate normal physical work and distraction from His holy Sabbath. Is it really that much of a sacrifice for us to prepare a meal in advance so we can simply heat it up or take it out of the fridge and even eat it cold one day a week to give us more time to spend with God? As we review Exodus 12:16 and Exodus 16:23, God specifically calls out the ability to prepare that which everyone must eat on other holy days, but on the weekly Sabbath and the Day of Atonement, He commands to do no work, instructing to bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil before the Sabbath.

The Preparation Day, as outlined in the biblical instructions, is a significant aspect of observing the Sabbath, emphasizing the importance of readiness to honor God's holy time. In Exodus 16:23, it is clear that God commands preparation on the day before the Sabbath, stating, "Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which you will bake today, and seethe that you will seethe; and that which remains over lay up for you to be kept until the morning." This directive ensures that no ordinary weekday work, such as gathering food, is done on the Sabbath, preserving its sanctity. The Preparation Day begins at sunset on Thursday, marking the start of Friday, which is designated for these preparations. Meals, including leafy salads, can be prepared ahead of time to remain fresh for the Sabbath, ensuring that the focus on the holy day remains on worship and fellowship rather than labor. God explicitly instructs to prepare in advance, underscoring His desire that the Sabbath be free from customary tasks, allowing for a complete dedication to spiritual activities and rest in accordance with His purpose.