Three Days and Three Nights

Sermon Title: Three Days and Three Nights: The Truth About the Crucifixion and Resurrection

Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025

Main Text: Matthew 12:40

Matthew 12:40 KJV 1900

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.

Introduction: Truth That Confirms the Word

This morning, we confront one of the most overlooked errors in modern Christian tradition: the idea that Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday. While well-intentioned, this tradition does not align with Jesus’ prophecy, Scripture’s timeline, or the pattern of the Feasts of the LORD.

Jesus did not say He would be buried for “parts of three days.” He said plainly:

“Three days and three nights.”

Either He meant what He said, or we’ve miscalculated. Today, we return to the Word to correct the timeline, reaffirm the truth, and prepare our hearts to remember His sacrifice in Communion.

I. Jesus’ Own Words: A Prophetic Declaration

Matthew 12:40 KJV 1900

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.

Jesus wasn’t using poetic license—He was quoting the prophetic pattern of Jonah (Jonah 1:17).

He would be buried for three full days and nights, just as Jonah was.

This is not symbolic, it is a literal time marker.

II. What Happened During the Three Days and Three Nights?

1. Jesus Descended into the Lower Parts of the Earth

Ephesians 4:9 KJV 1900

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

This refers to Jesus going down into Sheol/Hades, the realm of the dead. But it is not hell as in the lake of fire—that is a future place of final judgment.

In biblical cosmology, Sheol was the place of the dead, divided into two parts:

Abraham’s Bosom / Paradise – place of rest for the righteous

Torment / Flame – for the unrighteous (Luke 16:19–31)

2. Jesus Preached to the Spirits in Prison

1 Peter 3:18–19 KJV 1900

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

This does not mean He offered them salvation—it means He declared His victory over death, sin, and Satan. He preached as a conqueror, not an evangelist.

3. Jesus Led Captivity Captive

Ephesians 4:8 KJV 1900

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

This points to Jesus bringing the righteous dead out of Abraham’s bosom and into heaven with Him. Before the cross, the way into heaven had not yet been opened (Hebrews 10:19–20).

Matthew 27:52-53 (KJV)

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose… and appeared unto many.”

This was a firstfruits resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20), testifying to His authority over death.

4. Jesus Defeated Death, Hell, and the Grave

Revelation 1:18 KJV 1900

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

During these three days, Jesus:

Stripped Satan of his authority (Col. 2:15)

Took the keys of death and the grave

Conquered sin and fulfilled the law

Opened heaven’s gates to all who would believe

5. Jesus Rested on the Sabbath

The final full day, Saturday, was the Sabbath. Jesus was fulfilling the final rest—resting from His redemptive work, just as God rested on the seventh day of creation.

This also prophetically points to the Millennial Sabbath, the thousand-year reign of Christ—the day of rest to come.

Just as Jonah was hidden from view and then emerged as a sign to the Ninevites, so too Jesus:

Entered the depths,

Broke the chains of death,

And emerged as the eternal sign to all mankind.

Jonah’s message brought repentance to a Gentile nation.

Jesus’ resurrection opened salvation to Jew and Gentile alike.

III. The Problem with Good Friday

If Jesus was crucified Friday afternoon and rose Sunday morning, the timeline does not add up:

Friday night = 1 night

Saturday day = 1 day

Saturday night = 2nd night

Sunday morning = too early for 3rd day

This gives us only parts of two days and two nights, not three full days and nights.

This discrepancy isn’t minor—it challenges the integrity of Jesus’ own prophecy.

IV. The Solution: The High Sabbath Explained

John 19:31 KJV 1900

31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

There are two types of Sabbaths in the Bible:

Weekly Sabbath (Saturday)

High Sabbath (Feast Day) — see Leviticus 23:6-7

John clarifies that this Sabbath was a High Day—the first day of Unleavened Bread, which follows Passover.

This means Jesus was crucified on Passover day (14th of Nisan) and buried before sunset, at the start of the High Sabbath (15th of Nisan).

V. The True Timeline: A Wednesday Crucifixion

Let’s reconstruct the biblical timeline using Scripture and the Hebrew calendar:

Wednesday (Nisan 14) – The Crucifixion

Jesus is crucified and dies around 3 PM (Mark 15:34–37).

He is buried before sundown (Luke 23:53–54).

Night 1 begins at sundown.

Thursday (Nisan 15) – High Sabbath

First day of Unleavened Bread. No work done.

Day 1 / Night 2

Friday (Nisan 16) – Women Buy and Prepare Spices

Work resumes. Women buy and prepare spices (Mark 16:1).

Day 2 / Night 3

Saturday (Nisan 17) – Weekly Sabbath

Women rest

Luke 23:56 KJV 1900

56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Jesus is still in the tomb.

Day 3

Sunday (Nisan 18) – Resurrection at the End of the Sabbath

Matthew 28:1 KJV 1900

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Jesus rises as the Sabbath ends, fulfilling three days and three nights.

VI. Prophetic Fulfillment of the Feast Days

1. Passover (Nisan 14)

 – Jesus, the Lamb of God, is sacrificed

1 Corinthians 5:7 – “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.”

2. Unleavened Bread (Nisan 15)

 – Jesus is buried, sinless and broken

Leaven represents sin; Jesus, the sinless one, lay in the grave.

3. Firstfruits (Nisan 17-18)

 – Jesus rises as the firstfruits of the dead

1 Corinthians 15:20 – “Christ the firstfruits…”

This is not coincidence. Jesus fulfilled these Feasts on the exact days, showing that the Feasts were prophetic rehearsals of His redemptive work.

VII. Why This Truth Matters

It affirms the reliability of Scripture

– Jesus said three days and three nights, and He meant it.

2. It removes confusion and elevates clarity

– False timelines produce confusion and erode confidence in the Word.

3. It restores our reverence for the Feasts of the LORD

– These are not Jewish traditions, they are God’s appointed times (Leviticus 23:2).

4. It deepens our awe for the sacrifice of Christ

– Every step was intentional. Every hour was prophetic.

VIII. Preparing for Communion: From Prophecy to Participation

As we move into Communion, we are no longer just looking back at an ancient event—we are stepping into the fulfillment of everything we’ve just learned.

Proclaim His death,

Rejoice in His resurrection,

And look forward to His return.

Let today’s message settle your heart in truth:

He didn’t die on Friday—He died according to the Father’s clock.

He didn’t stay in the grave—He rose right on time.

He didn’t leave us guessing—He left us with prophetic clarity.

Communion Invitation

Before we partake, let us examine our hearts, as Paul instructs.

1 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV) – “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”

This is a holy moment. A prophetic moment. A time to:

Lay aside every false tradition,

Embrace the fullness of truth,

And honor the Lamb who was slain.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 KJV 1900

23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Charles Spurgeon once said:

“We are not to worship Christ as crucified only, but as risen. We remember the cross, but we live in the power of His resurrection.”