A lot of people believe that Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday and resurrected on Sunday morning. However, when we carefully study the Scriptures, we can see another understanding of the timeline. Jesus clearly said in Matthew 12:40 that He would spend three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, which means the timing of His death and resurrection must perfectly fulfill that prophecy.
Looking closely at Matthew 28:1-6, we see that when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb at the end of the Sabbath, Jesus was no longer there. The angel announced to them, “He is not here; for He is risen.” This shows that Christ had already risen before the women came to the tomb on the first day of the week.
This supports the understanding that Jesus may have died on Wednesday afternoon and was buried before sunset, which would allow a complete three days and three nights in the tomb—Thursday, Friday, and Saturday—before His resurrection at the close of the Sabbath.
It is also important to understand that not all Sabbaths observed by the Jews occurred on Saturday. There were special or annual Sabbaths that could fall on different days, which helps explain the biblical timeline more accurately.
This study teaches us the importance of relying on the Scriptures for truth. Rather than depending only on tradition, we should examine God’s Word carefully, because His Word remains the final authority and reveals the truth clearly.
Thanks for reading.
