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From Kit Pharo

Red Robin

Well-known member
Easter Morning Inspiration
April 8, 2007


3 Days and 3 Nights --

Jesus said, "...the Son of Man (Jesus) will be
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Matthew 12:40

Jesus said he would be buried three days and three nights before his resurrection. This has always bothered me because tradition has led me to believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday. This is NOT three days and three nights -- no matter how you count.

Over the years, I have heard all the possible explanations for this apparent inconsistency. However, I have had trouble accepting any of them, because they simply don't make sense. There is absolutely no way that the time period from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning could ever be stretched enough to be interpreted as three days and three nights.

Was Jesus wrong when he said he would be buried for three days and three nights before his resurrection? Of course not? If Jesus wasn't wrong and if the Bible isn't wrong, then we must do our best to figure out what is wrong -- and why.

Several years ago, I studied history and the scriptures to find out why this apparent inconsistency existed. I soon discovered that I was not the first to ask these questions and to study this inconsistency. Through this study, I came to the conclusion that our traditional beliefs about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus were wrong. They were off by one day. Now, it all makes sense.

The following is a study outline that I use to lead others through this study (Readers Digest style). This is not an essay. You will have to look up the scriptures to follow along and to come to the same conclusions that I did.

I hope you get so involved in this study that you keep reading and digging for the truth. As I have said many times, "It doesn't matter what Kit says, or what some preacher says, or what anyone else says. What does God say?"


The Final Week



SUNDAY:

The Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem – Mk. 11:1-11. Why has this day come to be referred to as “Palm Sunday”?



MONDAY:

Jesus curses the fig tree and clears the Temple – Mk. 11:12-19.



TUESDAY:

Jesus was questioned and tested by the religious leaders. Jesus observed the poor widow’s offering, and then predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple – Mk. 11:20-14:2.



WEDNESDAY:

Disciples prepare for the Passover meal in an upper room – Mk. 14:12-16. Eating of the last supper – Mk. 14:17-31. The Jewish day begins at sunset and goes to the next sunset. For example, our Wednesday night would be the beginning of their Thursday. Therefore, this meal was actually eaten on Thursday. Was this the Passover meal? John 13:21-30 and John 18:28-29. After eating, Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane – Mk. 14:32-42. Jesus was arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin – Mk. 14:43-65.



THURSDAY:

Jesus was taken before Pilate, who handed Him over to be crucified – Mk. 15:1-20. Jesus was crucified at 9:00 am – Mk. 15:21-32. Darkness covers the land between noon and 3:00 pm when Jesus died – Mk. 15:33-41. The body of Jesus was buried in a rock tomb – Mk. 15:42-47. If this was the day before the Sabbath, what day was it? John 19:28-31.



NOTE: The Jewish Passover is observed on the 14th day of the month of Nisan, followed by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread. In the 23rd chapter of Leviticus, God commanded that a lamb is to be slaughtered on the 14th day (Passover) and the Passover meal eaten that same evening, which would actually be the beginning of the 15th day. The entire 15th day is to be observed as a special Sabbath, no matter what day of the week it happens to fall on.



A careful study of the Scriptures seems to contradict the traditional thinking that Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples on Thursday and was crucified on Friday. Rather, it seems as though Jesus was being crucified at the same time the Passover lambs were being slaughtered, prior to the Passover meal.



FRIDAY:

Special Sabbath following the Passover meal.



SATURDAY:

Weekly Sabbath.



SUNDAY:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ. Was Jesus’ prophecy in Mt. 12:40 fulfilled?



If Jesus was crucified and buried on Friday, as it has been traditionally believed, how is it possible to presume He remained in the tomb for three days and three nights as he said he would? Was Jesus wrong?



Through research and study, I am fully convinced Jesus was crucified and buried on Thursday -- not Friday.



Here are some other prophecies concerning Jesus rising on the third day: Matthew 16:21, 17:22-23, 20:18-19, Mark 9:31, 10:33-34, Luke 9:22, 18:31-33, and 24:7.

* * * * * * * * * *
 

Jason

Well-known member
There are no contradictions.

Jesus was dead for parts of three days, not three whole 24 hour days, see Mt. 16:21 Mt. 17:23 and Luke 24:46.

Hebrews sometimes used the erm day and night for a portion of a day. The same term is used in 1 Kings 12:5,12 and clearly refers to the third day, not 72 hours.

Jewish days started at sundown, so Nisan 14 was Thursday night and all of the daylight on Friday. The passover and then the Lord's evening meal was eaten after sundown on Thursday and Jesus spent the night in prayer. Very early Friday morning (sometime after midnight) Jesus was arrested and taken before the Jewish high priest. Remember Peter denied Jesus 3 times before a cock crowed, they do so at daybreak, and Mt. 27:1 says at daybreak the chief priests held a consultation and then handed him over to Pilate.

It seems that by 12 noon, or the sixth hour (Mt 12:45) Jesus had been hanging long enough to be ridiculed by passers by. He expired by the ninth hour or 3pm, still Nisan 14. He was dead before sunset and thus didn't have his legs broken to speed up death. His body was given over to Joseph of Arimathea and laid in a new tomb prior to the sabbath (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday).

The Jewish calendar was based on moon cycles, so Nisan was started on the new moon (no moon visible in the northern hemisphere) after the spring equinox, and Nisan 14 always started 14 days later with the full moon. This year April 2 was the first full moon after spring, so coincided with Nisan 14.
 

joaker

Well-known member
let me begin by saying that in know way am I to be even remotely considered a student of the bible. I don't take the bible literally. I really don't know when Christ was crucified or how many days, hours or phases of the moon it was till he rose from the dead, and quite frankly don't care.

What I do care about is that he did it, and he did it for me. Every day I crucify him again with my sins and every day he forgives me!

If Kit Pharo (who I agree with on many issues) wants to concern himself with this issue, well good for him.
 

jigs

Well-known member
I agree with joaker, except for the agree with Kit part.

arguing over the details in the Bible, which everyone interprets differently, is foolish. the real point is believing He died for us, and we will have eternal life.
 
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