“If Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday, where’s the third day and night?” Zane asked, puzzled. “Who said He died on Friday?” Andrea replied, raising an eyebrow.
“Wait, maybe we’re assuming the Bible said something here that it never did, and there’s really no contradiction,” Ren sudenly realized, eyes widening.
“Maybe you did,” Andrea quipped with a knowing smile.
The Bible is a trustworthy book that contains God’s inspired Word, giving us guidance for life. But some people try to challenge it, claiming certain details are contradictory. For example, when talking about Jesus’ resurrection, the Bible says He rose on Sunday morning after being in the grave for three days and three nights. Some, have asked, “How does that add up if He died on Friday?”
Well, the Bible never said Jesus died on a Friday. Many assume this because it mentions that He died the day before the Sabbath, and most people know Saturday is the Sabbath. But this wasn’t the usual weekly Sabbath. It was the Passover Sabbath, a special holiday that happened on the 14th day of the month of Nisan every year. This means it could fall on different days of the week, just like Christmas lands on different weekdays each year.
That year, the 14th of Nisan was on a Thursday, meaning Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, the day before the Passover Sabbath. Matthew, Mark, and Luke don’t mention this detail, but John makes it clear: “The Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week)...” (John 19:31 NLT).
The purpose of this isn’t to criticise the celebration of Good Friday; no. Rather, it’s to show that Jesus was accurate when He said, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40).
He was crucified on Wednesday, and before dawn on Sunday He had risen. This also shows that the Bible is trustworthy. You can trust its writings because it’s more than a religious book; it’s the testimony of God!
Prayer
Dear Father, your Word is trustworthy and true; it’s a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I’m strengthened, firmly grounded in the accuracy and reliability of the Scriptures, for it’s profitable for every aspect of my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
