If Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday, how is that 3 days?
Today we will talk about if Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday, how is that 3 days. Many Christians do not know what this means. Be in the mode of meditation as we read through God’s word. The question regarding the timing of Jesus’ death and resurrection brings forth a complex yet insightful understanding of Jewish timekeeping and the significance of the resurrection itself. It’s essential to recognize the cultural and historical background while engaging with biblical texts. In this friendly discussion, we’ll highlight key scriptures, explore the Hebrew and Greek meanings behind the texts, and unravel the mystery of how three days can be accounted for, even with what seems like a discrepancy in time. Let’s take a closer look!
The Meaning of “Day” in Jewish Tradition
Before we can grasp how Jesus’ death and resurrection fit within a timeline that seems to contradict the idea of “three days,” we must understand how “days” are measured in Jewish tradition. The Jewish day begins at sunset and runs until the following sunset, which is different from the Western understanding that starts at midnight. In the Hebrew language, the term “yom” (יּוֹם) refers to a day, but it can span from one evening to the next, highlighting a significant cultural distinction.
This means that the period from Friday evening to Sunday morning can technically be understood as three distinct days: Friday (day one), Saturday (day two), and Sunday (day three). Jesus was crucified and died on the afternoon of Friday, say at around 3 PM (Matthew 27:46-50). After which, He was buried before sunset that day. The burial on Friday evening kickstarts the timeline of Jesus’ death in the Jewish conceptual framework.
When we consider Saturday, we recognize that this is the Sabbath, a day of rest. Jesus remained buried throughout Saturday, making it the second day in the sequence. Then comes Sunday morning, when the women discover the empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8). The traditional understanding points to Him rising early in the Sunday morning hours. This interpretation aligns with the Jewish way of counting days, which quite conveniently gives us the “three days.”
Hence, for us to see how we can count these days, it is essential to grasp the day-light framework, indicating how the death and resurrection timelines fit within a three-day span.
The Resurrection: A Key to Understanding
The resurrection of Jesus on the third day is central to Christian faith, and it carries impactful theological meaning. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul emphasizes that Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures. This occurrence is not merely about the counting of days; it signifies the victory over sin and death, offering believers a hope of eternal life with God.
The Greek word used for “resurrection” is “anastasis” (ἀνάστασις), meaning “standing up” or “raising up.” This illustrates a reawakening not just materially, but also spiritually. This event becomes a fulcrum of hope and assurance for Christians across time, showing that death is not the end but a passage to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. As we reflect on the importance of this affirmation, understanding the timeline can motivate our faith and reliance on God’s promises.
Moreover, in John 2:19, Jesus Himself spoke about raising the temple in three days, saving us the challenge to connect His resurrection with prophetic insight. Here, Jesus implied that after His death, He would rise again, and His words pointed to the transformative power He possesses. The resurrection stands as a cornerstone, a promise that fulfills the foreshadowing that exists within the Old Testament (e.g., Psalm 16:10 and Isaiah 53:10-11). This illustrates how the resurrection is the culmination of God’s plan for redemption, moving beyond mere time calculations to a much larger spiritual reality.
Historically, the manner in which the Church has understood the timeline from Jesus’ burial to resurrection has been subject to continuity and adherence to Jewish daily practices. Early Christians, who were mostly Jewish, would naturally follow these time measurements. The synoptic Gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke) harmonize to confirm this reality, affirming that Jesus indeed died on Friday and rose on Sunday, leaving a gap of three days counted in the Jewish manner.
In Jewish Eschatology, the idea of “three days and three nights” carries significant weight. Jonah spent three days and nights in the belly of a fish (Jonah 1:17), and Jesus referenced this experience as a parallel to His own time in the tomb (Matthew 12:40). The verbal connection between Jonah’s story and Jesus’ death serves as a foreshadowing prophecy. By connecting these dots, we bolster our understanding that these timeframes are not arbitrary; they serve a meaningful purpose.
As the early Church began forming its beliefs and canons, teachings regarding Jesus’ resurrection established key creeds and confessions, heavily relying on these historical events, deepening the roots of Christianity. The apostles preached a risen Christ as a fundamental truth, cementing the belief that the resurrection indeed occurred on the third day post-crucifixion (Acts 2:31-32).
Furthermore, one aspect worth noting is how the early Church used the resurrection during evangelism. The counting of days served not just as a timeline indicator but also as a centerpiece of faith which expanded effortlessly into the resurrection season in the annual Christian calendar. Good Friday and Easter Sunday reflect this understanding significantly, allowing generations of Christians to celebrate the victory of Christ over sin and death vividly.
The cultural understanding of days and the timekeeping of Jesus’ death provides us further insight into the theological implications of the event itself. The resurrection’s timing — attributed to three days — conveys hope and assurance for believers in a way that transcends mere physical measurement. It confirms the promise of life beyond death and God’s ultimate plan for humanity.
In Romans 6:4, baptism is presented as a symbol of identifying with Jesus’ death and resurrection, where believers, by faith, undergo a figurative death and resurrection in a spiritual sense; thus, Christ’s resurrection power lets us live in newness of life. This correlation showcases that the counting of days is not merely about literal time but rather the richness of experiencing transformation through a relationship with Jesus.
Moreover, the resurrection’s placement during Passover (Exodus 12) adds an enriched layer to the event’s significance. Jesus is depicted as the Passover Lamb, symbolically connecting Him to the freeing of the Israelites from bondage to sin and death. This presentation further illustrates the intertwining of the timing of His death and resurrection with Jewish prophecy and symbolism (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Thus, our understanding encompasses devotion, theology, cultural significance, and spiritual reality, symbolizing our transition from death to life, reflecting the promise that, like Jesus, we too are offered resurrection through faith.
Final Thoughts
Through our discussion, we have unveiled how the timeline of Jesus’ death and resurrection can be understood as three days when viewed through the lens of Jewish timekeeping. Jesus’ death on Friday, His burial that evening, His resting on Saturday, and His glorious resurrection on Sunday morning form a powerful foundation for our faith as Christians. We’ve seen how this pivotal moment is enveloped with history, cultural implications, and deep theological significance, marking the cornerstone of our beliefs.
The resurrection is not just an event but a promise of life and hope that every believer holds onto dearly. Understanding how we count those days helps elevate the message conveyed in the resurrection story. We can appreciate the intertwining of our faith with the experiences depicted in scripture and the rich and meaningful symbolism that each moment conveys.
As we reflect on these remarkable truths, let us keep in mind the essence of what this means for us today—embracing the hope, love, and promise of resurrection through Jesus Christ, making every day count in our walk with Him!
Further Reading
30 Bible Verses About Israel (With Explanation)
4 Ways to Encounter Grace and Truth: A Study on John, Chapter 4
Bible Commentary, Blog
50 Important short bible verses to comfort the sick (With Explanation)