Pharisees' request for a sign from the Messiah.

When responding to the Pharisees' request for a sign, why do you suppose the Messiah made the specific point that He would be in the "heart of the earth" for 3 days and 3 nights?

That was the sign
Luk 11:29 & 30

Yes, The Belly of the Beast was symbolic of the Earth.

Matthew 12:40
“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.”

The Pharisees requested signs whilst the multitudes requested sandwiches.

The Pharisees no doubt were familiar with the book of Jonah, and also knew that Jonah was literally resurrected after three days and three nights.

From God's perspective, this was to be a sign of the resurrection of Christ. Therefore what Christ was telling the Pharisees and His enemies was that His resurrection would be the only sign given to them that He was indeed their Messiah.

So when Peter preached to the Jews on the day of Pentecost, He made the resurrection of Christ his focus, and also said that because of His resurrection, God had made Him both Lord and Christ. Which meant that all the Jews were to repent and believe on Him. But not all did. However, later on many Pharisees were in fact saved. But then many of them probably also because Judaizers.

Hello @rstrats, just like Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, so the Lord Jesus was about to spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (which is in reference to His burial, of course, not to His descent into Sheol, just FYI).

Further, as Jonah himself was the "sign" given to the Ninevites when he arrived in their town (as they believed him dead because they knew what happened to him at sea), so Jesus Himself would be the "sign" following His Resurrection.

The odd thing (if you think about it) is this, the ones who were demanding to see a sign from Him (the Pharisees) were the very ones who never would (since our risen Lord appeared to believers only between His Resurrection and Ascension), unless like Nicodemus, they became believers, of course.

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

Hi Oyster, I couldn't decide between a frowning emoji or the laughing one in response to the sad truth of that sentence. I would have used both if I could have, but since I could not, I chose the laughing one, because I like it better and because it seemed to fit the 'spirit' of your post a little bit better.

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

Great post and points @Nehemiah6 If I'd seen it before I posted I doubt that I would have ended up making my post.

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy

Because He had to preach to ALL mankind about His salvation gospel! As well, He defeated death and the grave and took the keys to hell away from the devil, making the world His footstool when He ascended to sit at the right hand of God the Father.

The sign of the prophet Jonah. He died, went to the heart of the earth, and was resurrected the third day. As Jonah, so shall the Son of man be.

Because he ended up being in the tomb for 3 nights and 3 days..

What did He mean by "heart of the earth?" Did He mean He'd be in the grave for 3 days and 3 nights; or did He mean something more? Honestly I don't know. To me the important point was He'd be dead 3 days and 3 nights then rise from the dead.

Was Jesus contrasting the wicked gentile Ninevites, who repented at the preaching of Jonah, with the self-righteous Jewish Pharisees, who rejected the Messiah even after He had risen from the dead?

The Pharisees weren't looking for a sign, or they would have been converted. They were looking for a reason to maintain their sinful hardheartedness, which they found.

To all:

But why did it need to be 3 days and 3 nights? Was there something meaningful about that timeframe?

Aside from the spiritual significance of the number 3 that the Pharisees should have been familiar with from their studies, the three days and three nights would be a fulfillment of prophecy straight from the mouth of Jesus, the Messiah, Himself. His resurrection was widely proclaimed, and Jesus’ teachings were widely discussed among the Pharisees. Assuming they could count….

John 2:13-22 (NKJV)

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

Matthew 17:22-23 (NKJV)

Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

From what I understand of the situation, the 3 days and 3 nights part is significant NOT because it was a fulfilment of a prophecy regarding the messiah, and NOT because it was a fulfilling of one of the commandments. It is important specifically because it is not either of those two. Which means it has to be for some other reason. Not law, not prophecy. A.K.A it was not done because he HAD to.. It was done because he wanted to.

It was done out of Love and respect for Jonah and his repentance.

Jonah (on the negative side) was also NOT in the belly of the fish/whale because of Prophecy or Commandment. Jonah was outside of both prophecy and commandment. (He was in rebellion and was basically a laughingstock during those 3 days and 3 nights). But Jonah repented and PRAYED when even to Jonah there seemed to be no way out... And bringing that 'impossible' situation to God allowed God to turn defeat into victory. And God really appreciates that opportunity to show himself strong. (Think fish and loaves when they stopped whining and actually brought the situation to Jesus so He could bless it)

So Jesus, in appreciation of that opportunity, and to show his willingness to associate with our griefs and trials (even if self-imposed), himself says "You know what...I'm also going to willingly be considered a laughingstock for 3 days and 3 nights out of respect to Jonah because God is STILL able to turn 'defeat' into rejoicing." (paraphrased) (That's why it was 3 days and 3 nights)

And THAT is very important because it means there are other opportunities outside of both prophecy and commandment, IF we're willing to seek them out.

And basically this explanation falls under the idea of "He that is able to hear, let him hear".

Love in Jesus,
Kelby

Oh my goodness! Where have you been??? Welcome back .

Hi Magenta

I've been out doing this stuff in the real world.. and taking some time out to seek God more earnestly... and have dealt with a lot at work...etc. I haven't died or disappeared. lol

How are you? How have you been? what's up? etc.


And Thank You for noticing and welcoming me back. That's very kind of you.


Love in Jesus,
Kelby

Jesus said this before it happened

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. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: and they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Luke 18:31‭-‬33 KJ

This after it happened

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 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 24:44‭-‬46 KJV


If you notice anytime Jesus declared something it happened
In the ot there are always patterns of it bieng he third day like Jonah or Abraham and Isaac Abraham looking to the sacrifice

Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
Genesis 22:4 KJV

After that

and be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Exodus 19:11 KJV


And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount.
Exodus 19:16‭-‬17 KJV

Later

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Hosea 6:1‭-‬2 KJV


Also it's in the nt

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
John 2:1‭-‬2‭, ‬11 KJV

him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
Acts 10:40 KJV

and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:4 KJV

Everything points to Jesus an the gospel

But the number of daytimes and the number of night times to be involved are not stated.

Because He was telling them what was going to happen, when they habe Him killed. That He would ressurrect from the grave.
He called them perverse sayimg a perverse generation seeks a sign, but none is given.
(Except, they had already seen many wonderous signs. Healings and other miraculous things)
Then He warned them that when they have him murdered (unjustly) He would rise again, and that is what happened.