Today is commonly referred to as “Maundy Thursday” or “Holy Thursday”, the day before “Good Friday”. According to tradition, Jesus held the “Lord’s Suppler” on Maundy Thursday and was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday morning. However, is this true? Should Christians seek out the truth and reject all things false, or does God even care about the truth? What sign did Jesus give that would show that He was the Messiah, and how does the Good Friday – Easter Sunday tradition cloud that very sign?
Must 3 days and 3 nights really be 72 hours?
The Good Friday crucifixion Easter Sunday resurrection is not based upon the Bible. Instead, it is based upon tradition. To carry it further, it is based upon lies. The lie is that there are 3 days and 3 nights from Christs crucifixion on Good Friday to Easter Sunday. The 2nd lie is Easter itself, as it is a pagan holiday not only not condoned by Scripture but condemned by it. Any good Internet search will show its pagan roots. Dt 12:28-32 clearly show that God condemns worshiping Him as the pagans do, and it clearly shows that God does not appreciate traditions that add to or take away from His commandments in the Bible.
For now, I want to concentrate on the 3 days and 3 nights. It is not possible for 72 hours to transpire between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Mt 12:40 is the most direct verse that shows it would be 72 hours. Even more important, Jesus stated that no other sign would be given that He was the Messiah other than the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah was in the fishs belly 3 days and 3 nights, He would be in the tomb 3 days and 3 nights. Tradition does away with this, thus making Jesus out to be a false Messiah!
There were 2 Sabbaths the week of Jesus crucifixion. One was a high Sabbath, which would correlate to the 1st Day of Unleavened Bread. The 2nd would be the weekly Sabbath. A look at Mt 28:1-2 reveals it can be translated after the Sabbaths, which is plural.
The entire squeezing of a 3 day period into a 1-1/2 day timeframe is a lame attempt at justifying Sunday worship. Do away with the Good Friday crucifixion Easter Sunday resurrection scenario, and the justification falls apart for the so-called ”Lord’s Day”.
Is there more evidence it was 72 hours, though? What about some of those Scriptures people point to that say third day or within three days? How do we rectify them?
I’ve already mentioned Mt 12:40. The phrase 3 days and 3 nights provides emphasis on the time period so that there is no doubt that there would be 72 hours. 3 days or 3 nights would be a lot more loosey-goosey, and subject to fudging. Similarly, 3 days and nights would not be as exact, either. Therefore, 3 days and 3 nights can mean nothing less or more than 3 complete 24 hour cycles. So, lets look at some others.
Third Day
These verses would indicate that He could rise any time during the 3rd day. It might be at the beginning, middle or end of that day. It could last up to and include the 72nd hour.
31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
~ Mk 9:31
Within Three Days
Similar to the third day, this would indicate anything up to and including 72 hours.
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
~ Mk 14:58
After Three Days
This verse would be anything lasting longer exactly 3 days or longer.
31 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.
~ Mk 8:31
In Three Days
These verses would indicate exactly 3 days.
19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?
21 But he spake of the temple of his body.
Must Be 72 Hours
The sum total of what we read is that it must be 72 hours exactly. It can be any time during the 3rd day, including the 72nd hour. It can be anything within the 72 hours, including the 72nd hour. It can be anything after the 72nd hour, starting with the 72nd hour. It can be exactly 72 hours. Therefore, it must be 72 hours exactly.