“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.” (Matthew 12:40) I believe the Bible. I believe Jesus’ body was in the tomb for at least 72 hours (three days and three nights) before His resurrection. That makes a Friday death and Sunday resurrection impossible.

Let’s start with what we know. Jesus did rise from the dead on a Sunday (Matt 28:1-2; Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). Jesus was crucified the day before a Sabbath (Mark 15:37-42). Jesus did rise from the dead a day after a Sabbath (Matt 28:1). And we have already seen that His body was in the tomb for at least 72 hours (cf. also Matt 16:21; 17:23; 27:63-64; John 2:19).

In order to help us see the timeline it would also be helpful to remember that the Jewish day begins at sundown. For example, as soon as the sun sets on a Saturday, it is Sunday on a Jewish calendar. As unusual as that is to our western culture, both the Bible (Gen 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31) and Jewish custom today bears this truth out.

It is also important to remember that the weekly Saturday Sabbath was not the only Sabbath on the Jewish calendar. Many feast days (holidays) had a Sabbath day associated with it. Space does not permit a review of each one, but, because Christ was killed prior to the Passover, we should at least consider the Sabbath associated with this Holy Day.

The Passover was celebrated on the 14^th day of the first month of the year (Lev 23:5). It wasn’t the first Monday or last Friday of the month, it was the 14^th day. And just like our calendar, the 14^th day of a month falls on a different day of the week each year. When a ‘holiday’ Sabbath day would fall on a day of the week other than the Saturday Sabbath, the Jews would celebrate two Sabbaths that week.

Now, what I am about to review can be verified with Scripture (most listed above). For that reason I am not going to clutter this summary with the proof texts: Christ victoriously entered Jerusalem on the Saturday Sabbath (Palm Saturday) exactly four days before His crucifixion. He was crucified and taken off the cross just before the start of the Passover Sabbath. (Thus, the Passover was on Thursday and Jesus had to be taken off the cross and buried before sundown Wednesday.) Just before Sundown Wednesday Jesus is buried…Thursday sundown is 24 hours…Friday sundown is 48 hours…Saturday sundown is 72 hours (three days and three nights). Any time after sundown on Saturday is Sunday on a Jewish calendar. Jesus did die prior to a Sabbath day (the Passover Sabbath) and did rise from the dead on a Sunday following a Sabbath day (the weekly Saturday-Sabbath) just like the Bible claims! And His body was in the ground for three days and three nights just like the Bible says. Friend, you can believe the Bible!

I believe Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday. But you can’t get to Heaven by believing or even proving what day of the week Jesus died. Our salvation comes from the fact that He rose from the dead. Dear friend, that you must believe.