Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven (with the Word and the Holy Spirit) is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. (Mat. 13:52)
Jesus | His Ancient Knowledge of a New 3-Day Resurrection
Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up….But he spake of the temple of his (physical) body.” (Jn. 2:19-21) .
My studies have revealed that according to traditional Jewish texts like the Midrash and Jerusalem Talmud, there actually was a historical belief that the soul hovers near the physical body for 3 days after death, hoping to return to life. And that only after the third day, when physical decomposition begins that the immortal soul fully departs for the spiritual afterlife.
So, wow. Jesus who was entirely knowledgeable of ancient Jewish traditions, knew the pre-existing cultural belief that 3 days represented a critical window of spiritual transition. While this ancient tradition was centuries later compiled into written works like the Talmud and Midrash, its origins stemmed from Old Testament patterns establishing the “third day” as the moment of a divine deliverance and rescue. (Hosea 6:2) While some early Jewish thought used “revival” as a poetic metaphor for national restoration rather than individual bodily resurrection, Jesus took this well known timeline and fulfilled it LITERALLY. (Much to the chagrin of the Saduccees and continues today with non-believers.) Physically rising from the grave after “3 days” could possibly and even strongly suggest He was using a familiar cultural timeline to visually demonstrate his divine authority even over death. And in the process, even possibly and ultimately setting a divine 3-day blueprint and precedence for his followers who are called a “kind of firstfruits”. (James 1:18) That is to say that through Him, faithful Believers are promised to eventually undergo that same physical transformation.
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. (Hos. 6:2)
Who shall change our vile body (the physical flesh and blood body that is subject to decay, aging and death cannot inherit eternal life; it must be changed into a glorified body) that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Phil. 3:21)
RAPTURE | A 3 Day Transition, linked here.
Keep the Faith!
Suzanne ✝ ♥ 🕊
Hello Suzanne. I agree with all you wrote.
Most Christians believe that Jesus died on Friday at 3 pm and resurrected before sunrise Sunday (~ 6:00 AM Standard Time), which is elapsed time of 40 hours, less than 2 days; but Bible repeatedly says “3 days & 3 nights”
[Mat 12:40 KJV] “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.”
Is “3 days & 3 nights” merely an idiom, a shorthand expression, that we mis-interpret, as it wasn’t meant to be literal?
If Jesus died Friday at 3 PM, that might count for a part of a day for day #1, Friday night is night #1, Saturday day is day #2, Saturday night is night #2, Sunday morning is some part of day #3, but we are still missing a third night in this cockeyed accounting. From Friday afternoon to Sunday sunrise, there is no reasonable interpretation to get 3 days & 3 nights.
In the Old Testament, Esther calls a fast for 3 days and three nights in Esther 4:16, so as to prepare for Esther going before the King. In Esther 5:1, Esther goes before the King on the 3rd day (ie. not after the 3rd day is over). Therefore to count properly, as defined by the Bible, we must have at least a part of the day or night to count it.
This same counting as Esther used is also used for the 8 days after birth for the male baby circumcision (Gen. 17:12; Lev. 12:3; Philippians 3:5); even if just a minute of a day remains, it counts as a full day.
This is similar to parking garage fees of today: $4 per hour, or any part thereof. If you overstay by 1 minute, you pay for a full additional hour.
Even here, Friday 3 PM to Sunday sunrise cannot be stretched by any means, into 3 days and 3 nights.
Based on a detailed analysis of the Bible, I suggest that Jesus was crucified on a Thursday, died about 3 pm Thursday, was in his tomb just before Friday sunrise, and resurrected around sunrise Sunday morning.
That equates to 3 days, or part thereof; plus 3 nights, or part thereof.
For the full proof, see:
https://et-manitoulin.blogspot.com/2024/04/jesus-3-days-3-nights.html?m=1
Hi Glenn,
You wrote:
If Jesus died Friday at 3 PM, that might count for a part of a day for day #1, Friday night is night #1, Saturday day is day #2, Saturday night is night #2, Sunday morning is some part of day #3, but we are still missing a third night in this cockeyed accounting. From Friday afternoon to Sunday sunrise, there is no reasonable interpretation to get 3 days & 3 nights.
My Response:
Day 1 (Friday): The night belonging to Friday was actually Thursday night (even though Jesus missed it). And because ancient Jews counted any part of a day as a full day, the few hours He spent in the tomb Friday afternoon legally counted as Day 1.
Day 2 (Saturday): This day began at Friday sunset. Jesus rested through the Friday night portion and the entire Saturday daytime portion.
Day 3 (Sunday): This day began at Saturday sunset. Jesus rested through the Saturday night portion and rose from the dead sometime at dawn on Sunday morning, legally completing the third day.
Altogether, this Jewish timekeeping and inclusive counting fulfills the legal definition of 3 days and 3 nights.
Blessings, Suzanne
Just an addendum and clarification to my previous response, Glenn:
Under Jewish timekeeping, a calendar day runs from sundown to sundown which legally joins the daytime hours to the night hours that came right before them. Because Jesus was buried on Friday afternoon, He legally entered the Friday calendar block which officially began at Thursday sunset. By touching parts of three distinct calendar days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), ancient Jewish inclusive counting legally claims all three 24-hour blocks. It is also believed that for the ancient Semitic culture, “three days and three nights” was a standard idiom for any event spanning three calendar days, meaning Thursday night is again and naturally included as the official calendar kickoff to the first day.
I know….interpreting these 3 nights and 3 days so that it makes sense can be like trying to figure out a rubik’s cube. 🙂