Greetings everyone!

In last week's letter we discussed the 3 days and 3 nights that Christ spent in the grave, and why some attempt to fit this time between Friday and Sunday. Whatever the reason motivating this, the big obstacle to overcome is the explicit statement from Christ Himself, that He would spend 3 days and nights in the grave. The most common argument posits that "three days and three nights" is not to be taken literally. Instead, the claim is that this is a Hebrew idiom referring to parts of three days and parts of three nights. At a cursory glance this would seem to allow for a "squeezing" of the timeline to fit a Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection. However, not only is the argument for the Hebrew idiom not valid, but also it does not fix the situation. An Idiom is defined as an expression peculiar to a language. Examples can be given of such usages in the Old Testament (i.e. 1 Sam 30:12-13, Esther 4:16. 5:1), but no irrefutable evidence is found to support the use with Christ's burial. In fact, the Old Testament Scriptures serve only to prove against the parts of days and nights theory. In each instance, even if parts of days and nights are meant, it still requires at least the specified number of parts of days and nights. This is not the case with a Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection. At best you could only get three days and two nights (Friday day and night, Saturday day and night, and Sunday day)."

There is further evidence against the Hebrew idiom argument. Here is a quote from the Bible Companion: "The fact that "three days" is used by Hebrew idiom for any part of three days and three nights is not disputed; because that was the common way of reckoning just as it was when used of years... But when the number of "nights" is stated as well as the number of "days", then the expression ceases to be an idiom and becomes a literal statement of fact... Hence when it says Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17) it means exactly what it says, and that this can be the only meaning of the expression in Matthew 12:40 16:4 Luke 11:30.

When we look at the timeline with all these things in mind, there is no trouble fitting in the full three days, and three nights. Based on Historical evidence, as well as Bible Prophecy (70 weeks prophecy Daniel 9:24-26, and Ezra 7) the year of Jesus birth lands around 4 B.C. This gives us the year 31 A.D. for the year of Christ's death. With this date the timelines would play out something like this:

Tuesday

• Night
  • Christ observes Passover with Apostles after Sunset

Wednesday

• Day
  • The crucifixion would have begun about 9:00 A.M. - Mark 15:25
  • Christ would have died at 3:00 P.M. - Mark 15:33-34
  • Christ Would have been buried just before sunset around 6:00 P.M - Luke 23:53-54
  • This would start the period of 72 hours in the heart of the earth
• Night
  •  Night 1 in the tomb

Thursday

• Day
  • High Day or Sabbath of the First Day of Unleavened Bread - John 19:21
  • Day 1 in the tomb
• Night
  • Night 2 in the tomb

Friday

• Day
  • The women would come to bring spices in between the two Sabbaths - Luke 23:56, Mark 16:1
  • Day 2 in the tomb
• Night
  • Start of weekly Sabbath; the women rest - Luke 23:56
  • Night 3 in the tomb

Saturday

• Day
  • Christ would be resurrected at the end of the day exactly 72 hours from Wednesday night just before sunset, on Saturday, not Sunday
  • Day 3 in the tomb

 

This explanation is compliant with the scriptures. It also explains the prophecy of 3 days and 3 nights. There is no need of squeezing 72 hours into a period of 36 hours. No matter how you slice it, Christ was clear in what He was foretelling of His death and resurrection. Simply put three full days and three full nights elapsed between the time that He was put in the heart of the earth to the time when He was resurrected.

Have a wonderful Sabbath!

Devin Schulz