As we approach another celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, the timing of the death of Christ always kind of bothered me.
Matthew 12:40 states:
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Even a casual student of scripture then should [must?] contrast the statement in Matt 12:40 with our remembrance of “Good Friday”. How exactly would death on Friday afternoon, and resurrection on Sunday morning equate to 3 days – let alone 3 nights?
How did we come to commemorate Good Friday at all?
I believe Friday was arbitrarily selected at the day of crucifixion centuries ago by a church leader who, knowing the next day was the Sabbath, reasoned the death had to have been on a Friday. WRONG.
Several years ago, I decided to research this in Scripture to see really what was said. What I found was amazing – and not surprisingly- completely accurate to both the 3 day/3 night timeline, and the recording of Christ’s last day on earth. [at least as a mortal] The link below explains this in great detail on a visual chart. To understand it, you should have at least a basic understanding of two things:
1. Jewish Festivals as detailed in the Old Testament
2. The Jewish Calendar
3. The Jewish day
One last note. The real key to all of this is John 19:31. In it we learn Christ was crucified the day before a Special Sabbath – i.e. not the weekly Sabbath. Intrigued? Read on and enjoy.
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