Sign of Jonah

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

Matthew 12: 40

Then He said to them,

“Thus it is written,

and thus it was necessary

for the Christ to suffer and

to rise from the dead

the third day,”

Luke 24: 46

For as Jonas was

3 days & 3 nights in the whale’s belly:

so shall the Son of man be

3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth

Matthew 12: 40

Then He said to them,

“Thus it is written.

and thus it was necessary

for the Christ to suffer and

to rise from the dead

the 3rd day.”

Luke 24: 46

One of the controversial issues in scripture concerns the three days and three nights quote spoken by our Savior in the book of Matthew. Many of us have read this passage repeatedly through the years attempting an investigation of both the above quoted passage along with various associated verses as well.

This debate has multiple issues to consider. Differences such as what day of the week did our Saviors’ sacrifice occur upon?, was there more than one Sabbath during crucifixion week?, and did He eat the Passover meal at the proper time? are concerns worthy of review.

The passages from 2Timothy and 2Peter are extremely important to realize and follow as we approach our goal of discerning the truth of this question. Please notice the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth and not using private interpretations to declare what is true.

2Timothy 2
(15) Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

2Peter 1
(19) And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
(20) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
(21) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The primary focus for this study will be to answer the question of; What day of the week was Jesus (Yashua) crucified upon? Was it Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday? There is possible evidence to support each of those days, yet, only one of them is the right day.

Introduction

Before we begin our study a plea for mercy and grace is hereby requested. Let me clarify what is meant by this request. Many of us Believers have already spent considerable time and energy looking into these topics. This causes us to filter what we read or study through what our previously understood position is. This is normal.

This plea is not a request to act in a non-Biblical manner, in fact, it is Biblical in the following way.

The Bereans, as Luke notes in the book of Acts, were commended for eagerly receiving the Word from Paul yet examining the Scriptures to see if what Paul was teaching them was true.

Please consider what points are made, but by all means, confirm through the Scriptures their truth. Find out about the Berean Way Here.

Acts 17
(10) And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
(11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(12) Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.
(13) But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.
(14) And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.

Crucifixion Week Graph

Below is a snapshot of the sequence of events spanning Messiah’s crucifixion week. In order to make sense of this graphic several issues need to be understood. They are as follows:

This graphic is structured using four columns, 1 through 4.
Column 1 is comprised of the numeric day of the month, the numeric (1 through 7) day of the week, and in red the Appointed or Sacred Time.
Column 2 details are separated into black and red colors . . . the black text presents the correct placement for the 3 days & 3 nights of Matthew 12 . . . the 3 days & 3 nights occur between the 10th day of the month/2nd day of the week and the 13th day of the month/5th day of the week. . . the red text shows the correct position for the third day verses found in most of the gospels. (See Various 3rd day or 3 days Passages text box below.)
Column 3 is simply a reminder that Biblical days start/end at sunset, not at midnight or sunrise. The 24 hour day begins in darkness and is completed in light. (Just like our lives).
Column 4 are brief descriptions of events occurring on a particular day. To view the Scripture(s) associated with the event hover or click on the green text.
If you want to grasp various timing issues in the Bible, you will need to learn these things.

You will not be able to understand this illustration until you read the Scriptural evidence, which is provided after the Crucifixion Week Graph. Consequently graph first–evidence to follow.

Crucifixion Week Graph

Day of Month

Day of Week

Appointed Time

3 Days

3 Nights

Third

Day

Night

First

Then

Day

In this column are brief descriptions of events occurring on a particular day. To view the Scripture associated with the event hover over the text.

9th Day of Month

1st Day of Week

N/A

Night

First

Then

Day

10th Day of Month

2nd Day of Week

Day 1 starts here at 3pm & ends on 11th day at 3 pm

Night

First

Then

Day

11th Day of Month

3rd Day of Week

Night 1 is completed.

Day 1 ends at 3pm & day 2 starts at 3pm.

Night

First

Then

Day

12th Day of Month

4th Day of Week

Night 2 is completed.

Day 2 ends at 3pm & day 3 starts at 3pm.

Night

First

Then

Day

13th Day of Month

5th Day of Week

Night 3 is completed.

Day 3 completed at 3pm.

Night

First

Then

Day

14th Day of Month

6th Day of Week

Preparation day

(for 7th day Sabbath)

PASSOVER

Day of Crucifixion.

First Day.

Night

First

Then

Day

15th Day of Month

7th Day of Week

HIGH SABBATH

HOLY

CONVOCATION

Night after Crucifixion.

Second Day.

Night

First

Then

Day

On this day Jesus goes to Bethany which is less than two miles from Jerusalem.

16th Day of Month

1st Day of Week

WAVESHEAF DAY

Second Day after Crucifixion.

Third Day.

Night

First

Then

Day

On this day Jesus goes to Bethany which is less than two miles from Jerusalem.

What is the sign of Jonah ?

The very first question we need to answer is just what is the sign of Jonah?

If you will remember in the beginning of Matthew 12 our Messiah is questioned about the manner in which He keeps the Sabbath day. Plucking ears of corn to eat and healing a man with a withered hand are followed by accusations of Him healing a devil possessed deaf and blind man by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

After all these signs they asked Messiah for an additional sign !

Matthew 12
(38) Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.
(39) But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
(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.
(41) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
(42) The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11
(29) And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
(30) For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
(31) The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
(32) The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

We must pay close attention to His reply concerning their request. He states the following:

Messiah says no sign to be given but the sign of Jonah.
He addresses them as an evil and adulterous generation.
Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the whale’s belly.
He will be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.
Jonah himself was the sign to the Ninevites.
Messiah Himself was/is the sign to them and us as well.
The Ninevites repented in response to Jonah’s message.
The Judeans did not repent in response to the message of Messiah (who is greater than Jonah).
The queen of Sheba listened to the wisdom of Solomon.
The Judeans did not listen to the wisdom of Messiah (who is wiser than Solomon).

The primary message of Matthew 12: 38-42 and Luke 11:29-32 is not 3 days and 3 nights. The fundamental point is that Messiah Himself is THE SIGN of SIGNS to Israel – Judah – Jerusalem – the religious leaders – THE WORLD !

Note: We will discuss at length the significance and meaning of the 3 day and 3 nights and the heart of the earth issues later in this study. Please be patient.

The Dilemma

The quandary concerns various passages describing the crucifixion timing of our Savior. The majority of the verses in question are the following eleven (11) quotations taken from the NKJV version. These passages use the timing phrase third day or three days. Notice that all of these verses primarily provide statements about the death and resurrection of the Savior.

Various 3rd day or 3 days Passages :

1. Matthew 16
(21) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

2. Matthew 17
(22) Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,
(23) and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” And they were exceedingly sorrowful.

3. Matthew 20
(18) “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,
(19) and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”

4. Mark 8
(31) And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

5. Mark 9
(31) For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.”

6. Mark 10
(33) “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;
(34) and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

7. Luke 9
(22) saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

8. Luke 18
(31) Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.
(32) For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
(33) They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.

9. Luke 24
(7) saying,’The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’

10. Luke 24
(46) Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

11. Acts 10
(39) And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.
(40) Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

As we examine the eleven (11) above passages two facts quickly become evident. One is that all the verses are dealing with the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ (Yashua ha Maschiach). The second is that He will rise again on the third day. One more third day passage needs to be examined before we can move on to our next step in our investigation. Please look closely at the following verses in Luke 24.

Timing info from Luke 24 :

(1) Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

[ This is the first day of the week, our Sunday.]

(13) Now behold, two of them (Jesus’ disciples) were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

[ Later, on the same first day of the week, two disciples are traveling on the road to Emmaus.]

(15) So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
(16) But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

[ On the way Jesus joins the two disciples but they do not recognize Him. ]

(21) But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

[ The two disciples state their hope Jesus (still not recognized) was the hoped for Redeemer. They also state that that first day was, in fact, the third day since the Messiah’s death.]

(25) Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
(26) Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?”

[ Jesus tells them that what had happened to Him was all according to what the prophets had prophesied. ]

(44) Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

[ Jesus again tells them that what had happened to Him was all according to what had been prophesied about Him. ]

Our Saviors’ sacrifice occurred on . . . ? day!

Wednesday or Thursday or Friday are the three days of the week overwhelmingly understood to be the day our Savior was crucified upon.

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Sign of Jonah

Introduction

Crucifixion Week Graph​

Crucifixion Week Graph​

What is the sign of Jonah ?

The Dilemma

Crucifixion Week Graph

Crucifixion Week Graph