Three days and three nights in the grave and risen---true or not

[Vic]

There is much controversy over the issue of when Jesus was crucified, buried and when He rose from the grave.

Many deny that He fit the prophetic 3 days and 3 nights.

Mat 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

So, how does one prove the accuracy of the Scriptures?
How does one know it was accurate, when saying 'three days and three nights' or as Jesus also said, 'in three days'?

[Lois]

I actually had a bit of a run in with someone on the net regarding this issue lately,which had me doing some research and praying to look for an answer.

I ran into someone that flat out said Jesus was a liar because he did not spend a literal 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb.

Matthew does not say tomb though..here is the verse again,

Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.


It says in the heart of the earth.I have been trying to figure out exactly what "in the heart of the earth" means.

Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

[Mary]

It is confusing because it isn't literal. "Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights" is clearly stated, but we do not know what time of the day or night Jonah got onto the ship, or what time he was thrown overboard. Is it not the case that it is considered a "day" even when it is only part of the day, or "night" even if only part of the night?

Some thoughts.....

"heart of the earth" is clearly different from "face of the earth". God created man and life on the face of the earth, which is more than just the mere surface, but perhaps what life can access?

'heart' is the spiritual location of emotions, will, desire, ... one's true or full self.

Does heart of the earth perhaps encompass, the fullness of the earth, all of creation, all things good, but also all things evil. Perhaps we can connect here the part in Isaiah where God says He creates evil? Is it a description of Jesus taking on all that creation has to experience?

[Lois]

Hi Mary,

I think that is the major problem,it being taken literal..because we were not there and can really only speculate as to the timeline.

I think people also forget that Jesus spoke in parables.

I had tried to google the "heart of the earth" and could only find a lot of speculation some even saying it meant he(Jesus) went to hell.?
I don't know how they came up with that one because that is not in the scriptures.

[Vic]

Hi Lois,

People are always looking for ways to deny Christ, who He is, what He did and Scriptural Truth.

The idea of the literal and complete 3 days and 3 nights equal 72 hours would nullify all Scriptures relating to all that took place. The bottom line is if it has to be the full 72 hours and Jesus rising after the 72 hours, then everything would have to be come Him rising on the 4th day; walking on the road with the disciples would have to have been after 3 days meaning the 4th day and so on... It overturns the Scriptures to try to impose what is not stated and one must apply all Scriptures to gain understanding. And then we can understand that Jonah's time in the whale did not equate to 72 hours and then on the 4th day he was expelled. It had to be within the time frame of 3 days and 3 nights as time was reckoned by the Jews.

The issue is about 3 days and 3 nights--and how it is true. And Jesus did indeed spend the allotted time 'in the heart of the earth' where He was physically killed as a man--as He allowed, to take the punishment for all sin. Some say that is referring to being in the tomb, which was sealed if you recall. However, Jesus died before being placed in the tomb.

Therefore, we know it has to do with the time of His dying, being buried and being alive again, and having the victory over death. What Mary noted is probably right as well.

Jewish time keeping was different than the Romans. Friday started after sunset -(6PM) on what we would have called Thursday evening. It went then from evening until evening of what we would today call Friday evening/sunset. Jesus was crucified and died on the cross while it was Friday during the day. He was buried before sunset Friday-before the sabbath began-meaning that Friday would be day 1. After sunset begins day 2 ie Saturday and also the sabbath, but it was also a high holy day because the passover fell on that day as well.

That means until after Sunset on the Saturday, that begins day 3, which is the day He rose. And we know He arose , and it was early in the morning that day because,

Mar 14:1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Mar 14:2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.

Luk 22:1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

Mar 14:12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
Mar 14:13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.

...Mar 14:16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover. ...

Mar 14:26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Mar 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

Mar 15:1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.

Mar 15:25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

Joh 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

PLease note that Jesus was crucified and died before the sabbath began, and the Jews did not want His body left on the cross during the sabbath.

Mar 15:33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.
Mar 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Mar 15:35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.
Mar 15:36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.
Mar 15:37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

Luk 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
Luk 23:45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
Luk 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Mar 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
Mar 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
Mar 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
Mar 15:45 And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
Mar 15:46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
Mar 15:47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

Joh 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Joh 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
Joh 19:35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
Joh 19:36 For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
Joh 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Joh 19:38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Joh 19:39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Joh 19:40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Joh 19:41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
Joh 19:42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Luk 23:51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
Luk 23:52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
Luk 23:53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
Luk 23:54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
Luk 23:55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
Luk 23:56 [/b]And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. [/b]

Mar 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
Mar 16:3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
Mar 16:4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

Mar 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
Luk 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
Luk 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luk 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Luk 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Luk 24:7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
Luk 24:8 And they remembered his words,

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luk 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

The Passover issue:

The Passover lasted a week--not just one day. Palm Sunday, Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem..On the Monday, called Nissan 10, the passover lamb was chosen. Jesus entered the temple as noted in Matthew 21:12, 13 and Luke 19:46. Jesus continues on Tuesday, Nissan 11, we see the issue of the fig tree dried from the roots, His authority was challenged, and the destruction of Jerusalem foretold.

Wednesday---Sunset Tues, 6pm -Wed 6 pm sunset--think in our time clock. Scriptures tell us that this was two days before Passover,(Matt 26:2) the chief priests plot to kill Jesus, and Judas makes his bargain. Mt 26:2-5, Mark 14:1-2, Luke 22:1-2.

Thursday, Nissan 13 ---Sunset Wed 6pm- Sunset Thurs 6pm our time---Disciples were sent by Jesus to prepare the upper room for the Passover feast----which goes for 8 days and the actual feast and eating of the passover lamb is not on that night. Mat 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16, Luke 22:7-13.

Friday--Nissan 14 --is the day "before" the Passover meal with passover beginning after sunset or 6pm on Nissan 14 which means it would be Nissan 15 or the Sabbath--the Saturday. Lev 23:5. Friday is also "day of preparation for the Passover" Jn 19:14; Matt. 27:62 It means it is the preparation day for the Feast of unleavened bread. Judas was identified for what he was Mat 26:21-25, Mark 14:18-21, Luke 22:21-23, John 13:21-30.

Joh 19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
Joh 19:14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

This is really important. Jesus did not eat the Passover meal with his disciples, but a had a regular meal and then Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper- Mat 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, Luke 22:14-16. The meal was awaited by Christ because He knew it was the last one before He was to be taken. -John 13:1, John 18:28, John 19:14,31. The Passover meal itself would not have been eaten until sundown 24 hours after Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and after He was crucified. Jesus could not have been the Passover Lamb if He had already eaten the Passover meal. The lambs for Passover were not to be slaughtered until later that day which coincided with when Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. Jesus had to fulfill being the final sacrifice and the Passover Lamb.

The Passover lambs for the Exodus 12 Passover meal were to be chosen on the Monday, Nissan 10 and killed on the afternoon of Friday, Nissan 14 around 3-5 PM our time--when Jesus was crucified and died; and it would be cooked and eaten after sundown on Saturday Nissan 15 , meaning 6 PM our time. Ex 12:6, Deut 16:6.

Friday evening, after meal and after 6pm, Jesus went to Gethsemane, prayed and was arrested- Mat 26:30-56, Mark 14:26-52, Luke 22:39-53, John 18:1-12.
Friday, Nissan 14, somewhere between 12 AM and 6 AM our time, the trials took place in the darkness of the night and morning.
6 AM would be the "sixth hour" Jn 19:15 the Jews tell Pilate: "We have no king but Caesar."

Crucifixion began at the third hour, which would be about 9 am -Mark 15:25. Jesus died at the moment the Passover lambs were to be slain, that is, the ninth hour or Friday 3 PM, or 14th of Nissan. From 12 Noon to 3 PM Roman time, that is, the 6th-9th hour Jewish time, the sky is completely dark. Thousands of lambs were being slain for Passover at the same time Jesus died. John 19:31-32 The thieves legs were broken because it was the preparation day and Saturday was a "high day" but Jesus was already dead and no bones broken as per prophecy. Jesus' body was claimed and placed in the tomb before sunset. From the moment Jesus was laid in the tomb on the Friday, until sunset, the Jews reckoned to be the first day in the grave, even though it was only a few hours. All of this took place on what was the preparation day - not only for the 7th day Sabbath, but also for the upcoming Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Saturday, Nissan 15 ---Friday Sunset, 6 PM - Saturday Sunset, 6 PM--Chief priests and Pharisees ask Pilate to put a guard on tomb about 7 PM , roughly 4 hours after Jesus died and one hour into the Sabbath, but understand it as our Friday night- Matthew 27:62
It was a "high" Seventh day -John 19:31 , Saturday/Sabbath because it was also the 15th of Nissan, a feast day for the Passover week: Lev 23:6-7
Jesus is in the tomb and this would count as the second day in the tomb.

Sunday, Nissan 16 --- Saturday Sunset, 6 PM -Sunday, Sunset, 6 PM our time, the 3rd day and Jesus' resurrection took place in the early hours, before the women came to the tomb. When they
arrived the stone was rolled back and the tomb already empty. This day corresponds with the day of first fruits/ wave/ sheaf offering and fulfills the prophesy, type and shadow of the Passover.

250 AD IGNATIUS: "On the day of the preparation, then, at the third hour, He received the sentence from Pilate, the Father permitting that to happen; at the sixth hour He was crucified; at the ninth hour He gave up the ghost; and before sunset He was buried. During the Sabbath He continued under the earth in the tomb in which Joseph of Arimathaea had laid Him. At the dawning of the Lord's day He arose from the dead, according to what was spoken by Himself, "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man also be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." The day of the preparation, then, comprises the passion; the Sabbath embraces the burial; the
Lord's Day contains the resurrection." The (Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians, chapter 9)

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21. Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

[mjmselim]

It is scripture, true and trustworthy, that the lord Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb, and rose on the third day. The language of scripture in the Gospels may confuse a new believer or unfamiliar reader, but a little study and research clears up many things. That Jonah's sign of death and resurrection was a prophetic type and picture is the Lord's own instruction to us and all. I read the Gospels thus in regards to the Three Days and Nights of the Passover Feast:
1. Matthew 26 shows that the Passover Feast within two days was used to predict His betrayal and crucifixion. The Jews did not wish His death on the Feast day to avoid a riot. The Passover Day was also the First Day of 7 Days of Unleavened Bread in accordance to Moses'Law in Exodus 12 and repeated in Deuteronomy 16. The preparation to eat the Paschal Lamb must be made before sunset after the pattern of their deliverance from Egypt
on that first Passover. So the Lord cammanded them. So He feasted with the Twelve. The false witnesses reported that Jesus had said that He would destroy and rebuild God's Temple in three days. This saying was common as seen chapter 27. The next day that followed the preparation or the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread which is the 2nd Day of the Feast. The Chief Priests fearing that Jesus's saying that He would rise after three days sought His tomb to be securely guarded. Then at the close of the Sabbath Day, High Sabbath, in the morning dawn, beginning the first day of the week, or the 3rd day of Unleavened Bread they came and found He
had risen as He said.
2. Mark 14-16 reinforces this report that Jesus ate the Passover Lamb according to the Law at the time of the New Supper.
3. Luke 22-24 further corroborates the testimony.
4. John 19-20. The same
5. Acts 10:40 "God raised Him up the third day, and showed Him openly."
mjm.

[Solo Christo]

(04-09-2012 02:20 PM)Lois Wrote:  I had tried to google the "heart of the earth" and could only find a lot of speculation some even saying it meant he(Jesus) went to hell.?
I don't know how they came up with that one because that is not in the scriptures.

It's interesting that there's a long tradition of the belief that Jesus went to hell in orthodox Christianity (e.g. the Apostles' Creed), although it seems to be based only on a few verses (e.g. see below).

For Matt 12:40, KJV Wrote:For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

I guess the heart of the earth sounds a bit like their concept of the grave/Sheol, especially as Sheol/Hades appears in Jonah 2:2

For Jonah 2:2, KJV Wrote:And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

For 1Peter 3:19–20, KJV Wrote:By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison [hell??];

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

For 1Peter 4:6, KJV Wrote:For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead [in hell??], that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

For Acts 2:27, KJV Wrote:Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

For Acts 2:31, KJV Wrote:He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.