Now there are some who argue that we do not know how they accounted for their time during those days. They argue that there is no way to determine that there was only twenty-four hours in a day. They argue that there could have used any number of hours to determine what constituted a day back then. They say that no one can know for sure. But according to the scriptures, Jesus states exactly how many hours there were in a day.
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?
If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world (John 11:9).
In this passage, Jesus poses the question, Are there not twelve hours in the day? One could safely assume that if there be twelve hours in the day, then there would equally be twelve hours in the night. But Jesus goes on to say that if the man walk in the day, he will not stumble because he can see by the light of this world. So, what do you imagine the light of this world to be? Could he possibly be talking about the twelve hours of daylight that is provided by the sun?
So, there appears to be twelve hours in the day and twelve hours in the night. If we look at this mathematically, with Jesus supposedly dying around the three o’clock hour, then there would only be three hours left to do all that was reportedly done before sunset. Any time after that would technically be the next evening and according to our table, that would be the Sabbath, you know that day everyone would rest all the day as required by law.
We know from scripture that Jesus foretold of his rejection, of his death, and of his resurrection in Jerusalem.
From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21).
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again (Mark 8:31).
Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished (fulfilled). For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated (insulted), and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken (Luke 18:31-34).
From then on Jesus, gathering the twelve around him, began to speak plainly to his disciples, teaching them. He made it clear to his disciples how he would have to go up to Jerusalem and what would happen to him there. He told them that when they got there, all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning him would come true. He went on to say that he would be rejected by and suffer at the hands of those in authority, that being the Jewish leaders, the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes. He went on to tell them of the terrible things that he would suffer and how he would be mocked, be treated shamefully, be made a sport of, be spat upon, and be lashed. He also told them that he would be killed, but three days later, be raised to life again from the dead. But they could make no sense of any of the words that he spoke, for what he was saying was not clear to them and their minds were not able to see. They just did not understand what he was saying. They truly believed him to be speaking in riddles.
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear (raise) it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body (John 2:18-21).
Then the Jews put this question to him, Seeing that you do these things, what sign of authority have you to give us? If you have authority from God, show us a miracle to prove it. And Jesus replied saying, All right then, here is the miracle that I will do for you, destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, It took forty-six years to build this temple and you can raise it up in three days. But his words were about that temple, which was his body.
And let us not forget the passage we found in the twelfth chapter of the gospel according to Matthew, where Jesus said, Just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, the son of man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. But then there was a question asked that we do not believe received an answer: Does that mean that the son of man was in the belly of the earth for a total of at least seventy-two hours?
The scriptures have clearly established that there be twelve hours in the day and there be twelve hours in the night. And the scriptures have clearly established that when Jesus told his disciples that he would be raised to life again from the dead three days later and when he told the Jewish leaders that he would raise up the temple in three days, he was specifically defining those day as three days and three nights. Now, if we have twelve hours in the day and twelve hours in the night and we have three days and three nights, then mathematically speaking, we have a total of seventy-two hours. So now that we have done the math, we have to ask this question, Does there appear to be seventy-two hours from what is called Good Friday until the time of his resurrection on Sunday morning?
Well, let us just answer the question. The answer is no, there does not appear to be seventy-two hours from what is called Good Friday until the time of his resurrection on Sunday morning. However, those who truly believe that Jesus was crucified and died on Friday, that being Good Friday, argue that there exist a way for it to be shown that Jesus could have been in the grave for three days. Those who believe in the Friday crucifixion and death, claim that in that day, any part of a day was considered to be a full day, and since Jesus was in the tomb for part of the day on Friday, all day Saturday, and part of Sunday, then they conclude that he was in the grave for three days, fulfilling what the scriptures had said about him coming back to life again. Those who believe in the Friday crucifixion and death, cite several passages of scripture to support their belief.
The first one can be found in the sixteenth chapter of the gospel according to Matthew, which says that Jesus would be raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21). They, those who believe in the Friday crucifixion and death, appear to count Friday as the first day, Saturday as the second day, and Sunday as the third day. A similar passage of scripture can be in the ninth chapter of the gospel according to Luke, which says that Jesus would be raised the third day.
Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day (Luke 9:22).
If counted as they who believe in the Friday crucifixion and death, then Jesus would not be in the grave for three full days, because he would be raised the third day. And to support their position, there are some translations that have interpreted this passage to mean that Jesus was raised on the third day and not just raised the third day. We find similar interpretations in the fifteen chapter of the first book of Corinthians, the tenth chapter of the book of Acts, and the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel according to Luke.
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (I Corinthians 15:4).
Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly (Acts 10:40).
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day (Luke 24:46).
Each of these passages appears to say the same thing. It is as if the word "on" is missing from each of them. Was Jesus raised on the third day? Or, is this just some type of wishful interpretation on the part of those who believe in the Friday crucifixion and death that helps to support their position?
Enjoy your blessings - KW
Amen Thank you!
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