Biblical References to Jesus' Resurrection on the Third Day

Many are curious about the scriptural basis for the belief that Jesus would rise from the dead on the third day. The New Testament provides several references to this prediction and fulfillment. Let's explore the biblical evidence and the timeline surrounding these events.

Scriptural References to Jesus' Prediction

In the New Testament, Jesus made multiple predictions about his imminent death and subsequent resurrection. These predictions were bold and specific, providing clarity to his disciples and later forming the cornerstone of the early Christian faith.

References from Matthew

Mt 16:21 - "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Mt 17:23 - "They will kill him and on the third day he will be raised to life."

Mt 20:19 - "They will mock him, spit on him, flog him and crucify him. On the third day he will rise again."

Mt 27:63 - "So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

References from Luke

Lk 9:22 - "And he said, ‘The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.’"

Lk 18:33 - "On the third day he will rise again."

Lk 24:6-7 - “The Messiah must suffer these things and then enter his glory.’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Then they accepted his message and rejoiced in the hope of the glory of the Lord appearing through him."

References from Acts and 1 Corinthians

Ac 10:40 - "But God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen."

1Cor 15:4 - "that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures."

The Timeline and Jewish Calendar

The crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Jesus are often shrouded in confusion due to the different ways days are counted in different calendars. It is important to clarify the timeline based on the Jewish calendar, which was followed in the first century.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is crucified on Wednesday, the day before the Passover, which falls on a Friday. This is known as the Preparation Day (John 19:31) and was a significant day since it was not to be delayed until the Sabbath (Saturday or the following day). Bodies were not to be left out on sacred days, which includes the Passover and other holy days (Leviticus 23:5-7).

Jesus was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea on the Preparation Day, which falls on a Wednesday afternoon (Luke 23:50-54). The tomb was sealed on the same day, as per request from the chief priests (Matthew 27:62-66). According to Jewish reckoning, Jesus remained in the tomb from Wednesday night until the start of the Sabbath (Saturday) at sunset of Friday. He was then resurrected on the first day of the week, which falls on a Sunday after sunset.

The Jewish calendar day begins at sunset, so the following sequence is accurate:

Sunday - Preparations and sealing the tomb Sunday night - Jesus in the tomb (first night) Monday - Jesus in the tomb (second night) Tuesday - Jesus in the tomb (third night) Sunset on Tuesday - Jesus is resurrected

This means that the days were counted as follows:

Sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday - first day Sundown on Saturday to sundown on Sunday - second day Sundown on Sunday to sundown on Monday - third day

According to this timeline, Jesus was indeed resurrected on the third day, as predicted in the scriptures. This understanding aligns perfectly with the biblical references and the Jewish calendar practices of the time.