RUSSELL SANDERS
4-16-2022
JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION – LESSON 3
THE SIGN OF JONAH
Today is the first full day of Passover. It began last night (Friday) at sundown when Jesus was placed in the tomb. Passover is a “death event” marking Jesus’ three days and three nights of his dead physical body in the burial tomb.
But it was only his body in the tomb. He, himself, spent those three full days in Sheol (Hades), the abode of those previously deceased, preaching to them. Then, with His resurrection, He led them (believers) that had been held captive in their ascension to heaven. Their full redemption was based on the blood he had just shed on the cross to atone for them.
In Matthew 12:40 and verified again in Luke 11:29, Jesus had said that as the prophet Jonah had been in the belly of the great fish (KJV whale), so also would he be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (Hades, Sheol).
We must remember that a Jew’s day begins at sundown and ends the next day at sundown. This will help us understand the three days. During Jesus’ “passion week” that meant Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, (beginning our Wednesday evening) and ending at sundown on Saturday (beginning of our Sunday, the first day of the week) were those three days.
In today’s timeline of 2022 that means he entered the tomb at sundown last night, Passover, (our Friday, Jews’ Saturday) and sundown today completes his first day in the grave. Sundown tonight beings their “Sunday” and sundown Sunday, April 17, 2022, completes the second full day and night. Sundown Sunday (the Jews’ Monday) to sundown Monday April 18, 2022, completes the third full day.
Therefore, it was at some time after sundown Monday evening (beginning of the Jews’ Tuesday) that he arose from the grave. He arose “very early” that morning. Yes, “morning” for the Jews begins at sundown. It is then by today’s 2022 calendar, that Mary discovered the empty tomb at the first light of day on Tuesday (which started at sundown on Monday). The grave had already been empty of His body all night (Jews’ beginning of day) , but she had to wait until early dawn to go there.
So, this year, 2022, it is Tuesday that would actually be the true resurrection day, not “Easter Sunday” as the church declares. Of course, I have no problem celebrating Jesus’ resurrection on “Easter Sunday” because any of our 365 days that we choose to honor His resurrection is a good thing. We prefer to call it Resurrection Day rather than Easter.
So, let us rejoice in His resurrection to life and the eternal life it brings to us rather than celebrating Easter which is named for a pagan fertility goddess Ishtar ( Astarte). Let us not forget to praise and thank Him on Tuesday for His resurrection. In fact, it is a good thing to thank him every day and thank Father who raised Him from the dead!
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