Three Days and Three Nights

Does the Good Friday Crucifixion followed by Resurrection Sunday equal three days and three nights? 

Lets reflect on Easter Sunday services and teachings to see if we have all the facts correct; Good Friday to Easter Sunday does not equal seventy two hours when you do the math.

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

From this (three days and three nights)

To this

Mark 8:31 [ Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection ] And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Jesus clearly states He will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights in Matthew 12:40.

This had led many to question the reality of Good Friday crucifixion and burial followed by a Sunday morning resurrection. So lets take a look at why something seems to be amiss with this normal Easter celebration logic. Tim Greenwood has laid out an explanation that clearly resolves the issue and will edify your understanding of this critical question.

by Tim Greenwood

Three Days and Three Nights 

"So, how does Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday add up to make three days and three nights (72 hrs)?  Well it doesn't". 

"Yesterday, I was watching a nationally known Pastor on television giving an Easter message.  During this message he began to refer to ‘black Friday’ (or good Friday).  Now this was surprising because this same Pastor just weeks earlier taught a great series on the Holydays of Israel, which caused me to believe that he not only knew the symbolism of the Holydays, but also knew when they were observed during the year.  Evidently not.

That got me to thinking.  If this man, considered one of the Bible scholars of today, does not understand that the period between ‘good Friday’ and ‘resurrection Sunday’ does not equal three days and three nights (72 hrs) – then how many others are missing what Jesus himself called “the ONLY sign” that He would give that He was who He said he was"? (Read More)

Inquiring minds want to know the truth.

Amen