The Sign of Jonah Proving the identity of the Christ to an evil and adulterous generation. Good Friday—Easter Sunday: Did it happen That Way? Is Friday crucifixion and Sunday resurrection from the Bible? People will say Christ was crucified on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday because the Bible says it. But does the Bible say it?
Sign of the Christ (Messiah) At the beginning of the first century, hope for a Messiah burned in the hearts of many Jews. Bible Prophecies all had proclaimed the coming of this promised Deliverer. Jesus' ministry was supported by signs and wonders. Jesus also spoke with authority. His divinity was accepted by some and rejected by others. Amongst this anticipation, a young prophet named John the Baptist cried out to his countrymen to repent and return to God. His powerful message prompted some to wonder if he was the One to come. They asked, "Who are you?" He answered that he was not the Christ but was sent to prepare the way for Him ( John 1:19-23).
Sign of the Christ (Messiah) "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You" (Matthew 12:38). "But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 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'" (Matthew 12:39-40). Speculation as to the real identity of Jesus was a popular topic of conversation. But most of the religious leaders viewed Him as a threat to their position. One day a group of them tossed a challenge out to Him: Jesus said he would die, but remain dead for only a short time. But He precisely specified the length of time He would remain dead. Three days and three nights comprise a total of 72 hours. Yet today it is almost universally believed that Jesus died and was buried on late Friday afternoon and was resurrected early Sunday morning. Why?
Why Friday death-Sunday resurrection? The Bible says that Jesus was buried on "the preparation day," the day before a Sabbath. Heavy cooking and housecleaning were done on the day before a Sabbath in preparation for it. Luke 23: :3 54 That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near. 55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment. 1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Was Jesus Crucified before a Weekly Sabbath or an Annual Sabbath? The apostle John specifically tells us that the day on which Jesus was crucified immediately preceded a special Sabbath, not the regular weekly Sabbath. "Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away" (John 19:31). That Sabbath was "a high day" because it was the First Day of Unleavened Bread. The 15 th day of the first month was a Sabbath day in the Jewish Calendar, no matter what day of the month it fell on.
Problem with Friday-Sunday "That day was the Preparation [Day], and the Sabbath drew near. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment" (Luke 23:54- 56). In Mark 16:1, we read that they purchased the necessary spices "when the Sabbath was past"—clearly after it was over. But in Luke 23:56, we are told that they prepared the spices and fragrant oils and then rested on the Sabbath, which means they had to have acquired the spices before that Sabbath on which they rested. “When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body” (Mark 16:1)
Two Sabbaths in the Gospels Since it was unlawful to buy, sell or work on the Sabbath, the women had to wait until the annual Sabbath was past before they could purchase the spices. They did this on Thursday evening or early Friday. There was likely not enough time to both buy and prepare the spices plus put them on Christ's body. So they rested on the weekly Sabbath after purchasing and preparing them, intending to put them on His body early Sunday morning. There were actually two Sabbaths that week—an annual Sabbath "high day" and a regular weekly Sabbath day. This is proven by the Gospels' statements regarding Mary Magdalene and the other women, who planned to put more spices and ointments on Christ's body, having been unable to do so because He had been so hurriedly entombed.
Prophecies of time in the tomb 1."be raised again the third day" (Mt. 16:21). 2."the third day he shall be raised again" (Mt. 17:23). 3."the third day he shall rise again" (Mt. 20:19). 4."in three days" (Mt. 26:61). 5."in three days" (Mt. 27:40). 6."until the third day" (Mt. 27:64). 7."he shall rise the third day“ (Mk. 9:31). 8."the third day he shall rise again" (Mk. 10:34). 9."within three days" (Mk.14:58). 10."in three days" (Mk. 15:29). 11."be raised the third day" (Lk. 9:22). 12."the third day I shall be perfected" (Lk. 3:32). 13."the third day he shall rise again" (Lk. 18:33). 14."the third day rise again“ (Lk. 24:7). 15."today is the third day" (Lk. 24:21). 16."to rise from the dead the third day" (Lk. 24:46). 17."in three days I will raise it up" (John 2:19). 18."in three days" (John 2:20). 19."raised up the third day" (Acts 10:40). 20."rose again the third day" (1 Cor. 15:4). 1."three days and three nights" (Mt. 12:40).
Prophecies of time in the tomb " 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 " (Mark 8:31). Mark 8:31 records Christ stating here that His resurrection would occur after or at the end of three days - not after one day, or one and a half days, or two days. So Jesus must have been resurrected just as the third day was ending, three days and three nights after He was placed in the tomb. This is the only way Jesus' statements can be consistent.
TuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySunday Christ laid in sepulcher in haste Matthew 27:57-62 Pharisees go to Pilate for the guards - Matthew 27:62-66 Scourging - Matthew 27:26 Crucifixion at the 3rd hour (9:00 am) - Mark 15:25-26 Passover instituted by Jesus Christ - Luke 22:7-20; Matthew 26:20-28 Betrayal - Matthew 26:47- 56, 1 Corinthians 11:23 6 Night Trials - Jn 18:13,24; Luke 22:66; Jn 18:28-29; Luke 23:7; 11-14) 6 th hour (12:00 pm midday) until 9 th hour (3:00 pm) – Darkness, Agony – Mk 15:33-37; Mt 27:45-50 Jonah 1:17 —— Three days and three nights — Matthew 12:40 14th Nisan Preparation Day Annual Sabbath First Day U. Bread Preparation Day Second Day Weekly Sabbath Third Day First Day of the Week(s) Passover Week 31 A.D. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb "while it was still dark“, Jesus was already arisen; then John and Simon Peter (John 20:1-8; Luke 24:1) Christ is resurrected at the end of the Sabbath day, exactly three days and three nights after being placed in the tomb. Women prepare spices (Luke 23:56). “then” Women rest according to the commandment for the Sabbath (Luke 23:56). Christ’s second day in the tomb Christ’s second night in the tomb Christ’s third day in the tomb Christ’s third night in the tomb Christ’s first day in the tomb Christ’s first night in the tomb Women buy spices (Mark 16:1) "when the Sabbath was past"
Conclusion – the Truth Jesus Christ said He would be "three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Matthew 12:40). If He were buried in the late afternoon, then He must have been resurrected at around the same time three days and nights later. This places Christ's resurrection on Saturday around sunset— not on Sunday morning! As we have already seen, when Mary went to the tomb "while it was still dark" on Sunday morning, He was already risen! The tradition of a "Good Friday" crucifixion and an "Easter Sunday" resurrection are proven from the Bible to be only a tradition—and one without basis in fact. Christ was buried on a late Wednesday afternoon, and was raised from His grave just before sunset three days and nights later. This is the only time that fits Jesus' own prediction of how long He would be in the tomb. This fits perfectly with all the evidence recorded in the Gospels of which we briefly evaluated today. We in God’s Church are more impressed by truth than by signs. But we at least believe in the sign that Jesus announced would be proof of who he said he was to an evil and adulterous generation. The sign was fulfilled, just as He said!