Chapter 12.

3 Nights And 3 Days

 

 

Jesus’ Body Was In the Earth

For 72 Hours.

 

Jesus died about 3 o’clock on Holy Wednesday.  Shortly after sunset He was entombed.  Then began a 72 hour period comprised of 3 complete Jewish days.  Jesus had said  it would be so, and it was. 

... as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  (Matthew 12:40 NIV)

The pattern of Jesus’ time in the tomb was night, day, night, day, night, day.  So, He left His grave shortly after sunset on Saturday evening at the beginning of the Jews’ first day of the week, the first Easter Sunday.

 

During these days and nights, Jesus’ body lay lifeless, but His Spirit was quite active.  The Son of God had been active before He became flesh and dwelt among us.  He has been active since His Resurrection.  And, He was active during the 72 hours His body lay in His sepulcher.  The Amplified Bible says that when Jesus was put to death in the flesh, He was made alive in the Spirit.

... indeed Christ died for sins once for all, the Just and Righteous for the unjust and unrighteous [the Innocent for the guilty] so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit ... 

(1 Peter 3:18 AMP)

Also note, His body suffered no decay while it lay in the heart of the earth.  Long ago, King David wrote down a statement he had heard Jesus say in a prophetic vision.  Jesus had said ...

... you [LORD] will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.  (Psalm 16:10 NIV)

 

 

 

What Did Jesus Do

While His Body Lay Lifeless?

 

Jesus’ body was lifeless from about 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon until about 7:30 Saturday evening, an hour or 2 after the Jews’ Easter Sunday began.  What did He do during that period of time?  Two things we know for sure:

1.  He did not ascend to visit God the Father.  Even

 after His Resurrection, well into Easter Sunday

 morning,  He said to Mary Magdalene ...

Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father ... 

(John 20:17a NIV)

2.  He did descend into Paradise.  While still on

 the Cross, He had said to the thief who had

 repented and had been saved ...

Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.  (Luke 23:43)

Many Bible students have come to believe that Jesus did sundry other things while His body lay in His tomb, but all such convictions must be accounted as speculations.

 

 

 

Undaunted,

We Offer These Speculations

For Your Consideration.

 

The author of the book of Hebrews calls Jesus the “Captain” of our salvation.

... it became him [God], for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.  (Hebrews 2:10)

Now, the Son of God was perfect before He came to Earth.  But He, as Jesus, became the Perfect Sin-Sacrifice by the sufferings He endured the day He died.  By living as a man and dying in our stead, He became the Captain of our salvation.

 

Prior to Christ’s Resurrection, when a believer died, he or she went to Paradise, clothed in a beautiful, “Pre-Rapture” body.  Today, when believers die, they go to Heaven to be with the Lord.  They too are clothed with a marvelous, “Pre-Rapture” body.  When the Rapture occurs, in some miraculous way, each “Pre-Rapture” body will be merged with its resurrected, physical body.  As the Captain of saved souls, Jesus followed a similar course of action.  He clothed Himself in a “Pre-Resurrection” body.  Thus, He identified Himself with the citizens of Paradise as He descended into the abode of deceased believers.

 

Christ was no stranger there.  In the days before He came to Earth, He had frequently visited Paradise.  Just as He had visited Adam and Eve in Eden, He had fraternized with the residents of Paradise.  But, He had not been there for about 33 years.  He had been living among the Israelites on planet Earth.

 

When Jesus returned to Paradise, He was warmly greeted by all.  For years, many wonderful stories about Him had been circulating through the population.  When Simeon and Anna had arrived, they had told everyone that they had seen the Christ child.  When Jesus’ foster father, Joseph, had died, he had filled Paradise with details about Jesus.  John the Baptist had told of Christ’s Baptism.  And, many had testified that they had heard some of Jesus’ sermons and had witnessed some of His miraculous works.  Soon after Jesus arrived, the saved thief who had died on the cross next to Jesus appeared, happily expressing his gratitude to Jesus.  Jesus gave him a hearty hug.

 

During the hours remaining before His Resurrection, Jesus delivered Good News to the saved souls of Paradise.  He spoke of coming events, saying, “Shortly after My Resurrection, I will return to lead you from here to ‘Pre-Millennium Heaven’.  We’ll form a festive parade and march up to glory.  Simultaneously, I will give spiritual gifts to the believers who remain on Earth.  They will form the New Testament Church and take the Gospel worldwide.  You will be the vanguard of the wave of believers who will fill ‘Pre-Millennium Heaven’, but the Apostles and other believers will be sending up many more saved souls.”

 

Years after Christ led the citizens of Paradise to Heaven, Paul, in his letter to the Church at Ephesus, discussed these events.  He was intrigued by the fact that David had foreseen them in a prophetic vision and recorded them in Psalm 68:18.  Using some of David’s words, Paul wrote ...

... When he [Christ] ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended [into Paradise] is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  (Ephesians 4:8-10)

 

 

 

What Happened On Earth

While Jesus’ Body

Lay In His Tomb?

 

At sundown Holy Wednesday, a new Jewish day began.  It was the first day of the seven-day “Feast of Unleavened Bread”, a holy “High Day”, a special, non-Saturday Sabbath.

 

 

 

Observant Jewish Families

Celebrated Passover.

 

As the sun set, each family made a final check of their premises to be sure that any leavening agent of any kind had been cast out.

 

Next, each father made sure that his entire family was inside the residence for the night.  Then, he took a bowl holding blood, which he had collected when his Passover Lamb was slaughtered, to the front door of his home.  He dipped a sprig of hyssop into the bowl and sprinkled the blood; first, on the lintel (the top) of the doorframe and then on each side of the frame.  Unwittingly, he had drawn in the air a sketch of Jesus’ Cross with the sprig that had been dipped in the blood of the Passover Lamb.

 

Since thousands of Jewish families came to Jerusalem for Passover Week, many of them rented hotel rooms or pitched tents on campgrounds near the Temple.  They had to improvise, placing the blood of their lambs on the doors to their rented rooms or the entrances to their tents.

 

Then, each family ate their Passover Feast.  During the meal, the older family members told the younger how God had delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  They recounted the series of judgments God had laid on the Egyptians to force Pharaoh to free the Jews.  Especially, they focused on the last judgment -- when the firstborn of each family in Egypt was to be slain in one night -- and how God had told each Israelite father to sacrifice a Passover Lamb and sprinkle its blood on the doorframe of his hone -- and how God had pledged, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.  Your firstborn will not die.”

 

This ritual foreshadowed an important teaching of the New Testament Church, which would soon be formed.

Let us draw near [to God] with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled [with the Sacrificial Blood of Jesus] from an evil conscience ...

(Hebrews 10:22)

The Church would proclaim, “If you will, in prayer, go to the Cross, confess your sins to Jesus, and ask Him to take them, He will sprinkle your heart with His Sacrificial Blood, He will cleanse you of all your sins, and He will fill you with His righteousness.  And, God will pass over you in the Final Judgment.”

 

 

 

Holy Thursday Morning

the Chief Priests Asked Pilate

To Secure Christ’s Tomb.

 

Matthew says ...

... the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.  So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

(Matthew 27:62-66)

The Roman soldiers stationed themselves near the entrance to Christ’s sepulcher.  And, some artisans  sent by Governor Pilate applied an official seal to the great stone blocking the door of the tomb.  Probably, they fastened the ends of 2 strong ropes to the tomb’s outer wall, so that the ropes crossed the stone in parallel, horizontally.  Then they attached a placard to the ropes.  It bore messages written in 3 languages, Latin, Hebrew and Greek, saying, “Do not move this stone.  The penalty for doing so is death.  Signed, Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea.”

 

 

 

Some Christian Women Felt

Jesus Should Be Re-Buried.

 

Also on Holy Thursday, some of the women among Jesus’ followers decided that Jesus had not received a proper burial.  They had watched as Joseph and Nicodemus had  hurriedly washed Jesus’ body and wrapped it in grave cloths interspersed with spices, but they felt Jesus deserved a better burial.  So, they formulated a plan to re-wash Jesus’ body, anoint it with ointments, and re-wrap it carefully.  That day being a “High Day” Sabbath, they could not begin preparations for their project.  They had to wait till the shops opened on Friday.

 

 

 

On Holy Friday,

Preparations For Re-Burying Jesus Proceeded.

 

Friday was a day of commerce.  Mark says ...

... when the [“High Day”] sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.  (Mark 16:1)

 

This passage pinpoints when these Christian women bought a supply of spices and ointments; that is, after the Thursday “High Day” Sabbath passed.  And, Luke tells us they needed some time to prepare what they had purchased for Jesus’ re-burial.  He says ...

... they [the women] returned, and prepared spices and ointments ...  (Luke 23:56a)

When they finished, it was too late to go to the tomb.   Saturday Sabbath was about to begin.

 

While the women focused on their labor of love, many souls went to the cemetery garden.  Enemies of Jesus came to gloat.  They brought their friends and family members to the site and exclaimed, “There’s where that false messiah from Galilee is buried!  Thank God!  He’s dead!”

 

And, friends of Jesus came.  Many wept and prayed.  But, one can imagine Lazarus of Bethany standing there with his sisters, Mary and Martha, saying, “He raised me from the dead on the fourth day.  This isn’t over yet!”

 

 

 

The Women

Were Delayed Again

By the Saturday Sabbath.

 

Luke tells us that these Christian women were restrained from returning to the tomb on Saturday.  They had to wait out the Sabbath that occurred after they had prepared the spices.  He says they ... 

... rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.  (Luke 23:56b)

Notice: Luke indicates that the Sabbath they rested was a Saturday Sabbath, which was specifically instituted in the Ten Commandments.  It was not a special, festival Sabbath. 

 

 

 

Shortly After Sunset,

Holy Saturday,

Jesus Left the Tomb.

 

An hour or 2 after the sun set on the Saturday Sabbath of Holy Week, in the early hours of the first day of a new Jewish week, Jesus left His tomb.  The 72 hour “3 nights and 3 days” prescribed by Jesus’ prophecy were complete.  In some mysterious way, the “Pre-Resurrection” body Jesus had worn for 3 days was merged with His physical remains.  Suddenly, He was the Resurrected Christ.

 

Soon, He would return to Paradise and lead all of its residents to “Pre-Millennial Heaven”.  Today, that’s where all saved souls go when they die.  And, immediately, they are clothed with “Pre-Rapture” bodies.  When the Rapture occurs, they will follow the pattern established by Jesus at His Resurrection.  Miraculously, their “Pre-Rapture” bodies will be merged with their earthly remains to form the bodies they will wear throughout eternity.

 

During the next 40 days, Jesus would interact with God  the Father, God the Holy Spirit, the saints in Heaven, and the saints on Earth.  Hundreds of Christians would meet the Risen Lord.  The fledgling New Testament Church would be established.  Then, Christ would Ascend into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God until the time comes for Him to return to Earth and reign over the whole planet.
 

 

 

Early Sunday Morning,

a Band Of Christian Women

Hurried To the Tomb.

 

John discloses ...

The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre  ...  (John 20:1a)

Luke states ...

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  (Luke 24:1)

Mark says ...

... very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?  (Mark 16:2-3)

And, Matthew declares ...

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.  (Matthew 28:1)

This verse from Matthew is of great significance.  In it, the word translated “Sabbath” is “Sabbaths” in our best source manuscripts for the New Testament.  This is stated in many scholarly texts: Fenton's Translation, Green's Literal Translation, Marshall's Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, and Young's Literal Translation.  Thus, this verse documents the fact that the women waited through 2 Sabbath days before returning to Jesus’ tomb: a Thursday Sabbath and a Saturday Sabbath.

 

 

 

An Angel Opened Christ’s Tomb.

 

Jesus had left the tomb hours before the women arrived.  Because He wanted the women to see that the sepulcher was empty, God sent an angel to roll back the stone blocking the entrance to it.  And since the angel had immobilized the troops guarding the site, the women were free to enter it.

... behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  (Matthew 28:2-4)

 

 

 

As They Approached,

the Women Saw

That the Tomb Was Open.

 

John discloses ...

... [they] seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.  (John 20:1b)

Mark says ...

... when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.  (Mark 16:4)

And, Luke declares ...

... they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.  (Luke 24:2)

 

 

 

The Angel At the Door

Of the Tomb

Encouraged the Women To Enter.

 

Matthew declares ...

... the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  (Matthew 28:5-6)

 

 

 

The Women Entered

And Met Another Angel.

 

Luke says ...

... they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.  (Luke 24:3)

Mark declares ...

... entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.  (Mark 16:5-6)

 

 

 

The Women Were Perplexed.

 

Luke states ...

... it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen ... 

(Luke 24:4-6a)

The women didn’t know what to think.  They had heard the two impressive men say “risen” and “living”, but they didn’t see Jesus.

 

What did these Christians see?  They saw the wrappings, which had been wound around Jesus’ body, strangely undisturbed.  The grave cloths were intact, but there was nothing inside them.  Jesus’ physical body had floated free from them and from the stone walls of the tomb.

 

Later that same day, the women would see the Risen Lord and be among the first to say, “Hallelujah!  Jesus is risen indeed!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 4 Gospels, Interwoven

Holy Week  

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