Matthew 12 (see also Jonah 1:15-2:10; Mt 16:4; Luke 11:29-32)
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 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. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
The prophecy of Jonah (8th century BC) is found in the Old Testament among the Minor Prophets. Since it has one of the most remarkable miracles recorded in the Bible, the Higher Critics (theological liberals and modernists) rejected it as a true historical account of a man being swallowed by a great fish (a whale) and then vomited out alive (see The Story of Jonah in the Light of Higher Criticism by Luther Tracy Townsend https://archive.org/details/storyofjonahinli00town/page/n3).
On the other hand, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed that what happened to Jonah was a precursor to what would happen to Him from the time of His death to His resurrection. Jonah was the type and Jesus was the antitype.
According to the prayer of Jonah, he died after being swallowed, and his soul and spirit went to Sheol-Hades for three days and three nights: “And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. ...out of the belly of hell (שְׁאֹ֛ול Sheol) cried I, and thou heardest my voice...Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” (Jonah 1:17; 2:2,4).
When Christ died, His body was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. His soul and spirit also went to Sheol-Hades for three days and three night: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ( שְׁאֹ֛ול Sheol); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption... Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (ᾄδην Hades), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.(Ps 16:10; Acts 2:27) These Scriptures tell us that Christ did not remain in Sheol-Hades for more than there days and three nights, and His body did not experience any corruption or decay.
In order for Christ to fulfill this prophecy exactly, the 14th of Nisan in the year 30 AD would have been on a Wednesday, and that is the day on which Christ died. Therefore Christians should observe “Good Wednesday”, not “Good Friday” (if indeed they observe this day). And in order to fulfill three days and three nights we would have to reckon days from sunset to sunset (as was the stipulation in the Old Testament, and the manner of Hebrew reckoning).
Sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday (24 hours)
Sunset Thursday to sunset Friday (24 hours)
Sunset Friday to sunset Saturday (24 hours)
Anytime after sunset on Saturday would be the first day of the week, and it is more than likely that Christ arose on that day between midnight and dawn. Christ's resurrection was to be a "sign" to unbelieving Jews that He was indeed both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:32-36). And without the resurrection of Christ there could be no Gospel or Good News for sinners.
If the men of Nineveh repented through the preaching of the resurrected and reluctant prophet Jonah, how much more should all men everywhere repent at the preaching of Christ and Him crucified and resurrected?
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 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. 41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
The prophecy of Jonah (8th century BC) is found in the Old Testament among the Minor Prophets. Since it has one of the most remarkable miracles recorded in the Bible, the Higher Critics (theological liberals and modernists) rejected it as a true historical account of a man being swallowed by a great fish (a whale) and then vomited out alive (see The Story of Jonah in the Light of Higher Criticism by Luther Tracy Townsend https://archive.org/details/storyofjonahinli00town/page/n3).
On the other hand, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed that what happened to Jonah was a precursor to what would happen to Him from the time of His death to His resurrection. Jonah was the type and Jesus was the antitype.
According to the prayer of Jonah, he died after being swallowed, and his soul and spirit went to Sheol-Hades for three days and three nights: “And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. ...out of the belly of hell (שְׁאֹ֛ול Sheol) cried I, and thou heardest my voice...Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.” (Jonah 1:17; 2:2,4).
When Christ died, His body was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. His soul and spirit also went to Sheol-Hades for three days and three night: For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell ( שְׁאֹ֛ול Sheol); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption... Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (ᾄδην Hades), neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.(Ps 16:10; Acts 2:27) These Scriptures tell us that Christ did not remain in Sheol-Hades for more than there days and three nights, and His body did not experience any corruption or decay.
In order for Christ to fulfill this prophecy exactly, the 14th of Nisan in the year 30 AD would have been on a Wednesday, and that is the day on which Christ died. Therefore Christians should observe “Good Wednesday”, not “Good Friday” (if indeed they observe this day). And in order to fulfill three days and three nights we would have to reckon days from sunset to sunset (as was the stipulation in the Old Testament, and the manner of Hebrew reckoning).
Sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday (24 hours)
Sunset Thursday to sunset Friday (24 hours)
Sunset Friday to sunset Saturday (24 hours)
Anytime after sunset on Saturday would be the first day of the week, and it is more than likely that Christ arose on that day between midnight and dawn. Christ's resurrection was to be a "sign" to unbelieving Jews that He was indeed both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:32-36). And without the resurrection of Christ there could be no Gospel or Good News for sinners.
If the men of Nineveh repented through the preaching of the resurrected and reluctant prophet Jonah, how much more should all men everywhere repent at the preaching of Christ and Him crucified and resurrected?
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