Bible Question: In Matthew 12:40, Jesus said that, like Jonah, He would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. On what day of the week was Jesus crucified? John Hermes |
Bible Answer: Hi John, I'm not sure if this has been posted before, but just as the Feast Days of the Lord are a shadow of Jesus death, 3days/nights in the tomb, and resurrection... the Feast of Passover, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits are also "remembrances" of the Exodus, when the first passover lamb was killed, that first week that the Israelites ate unleavened bread after leaving Egypt, and the Red Sea Crossing... when the Lord saved (delivered) the firstfruits of Israel from death? (Ex. 14:30, 15:2). Below is what I've found. The children of Israel remained in Egypt the (1st) evening/night time after the Passover lamb was killed, and they left Egypt the following day-time. Ex. 12:27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. Ex. 12:31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said. Ex. 12:41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. They then traveled from Rameses to Succoth where they baked unleavened cakes (because they were driven out of Egypt so quickly). Succoth is where the Feast of Unleavened Bread was first 'instituted' (13:3-10). It doesn't say they "encamped" there, but in verse 20, it says they left Succoth and encamped in Etham on the following (2nd) night. Ex. 12:37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. Ex. 13:20 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. Then the Lord told them to encamp beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon on the following (3rd) night. And this is where the Egyptians overtook them. Ex. 14:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. Ex. 14:9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. The Lord kept the children of Israel all that (3rd) night, and told them to cross the Red Sea in the early morning... and the Lord saved (delivered) the firstfruits of Israel. 14:20 And it (pillar) came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. So the time between the death of the first passover lamb(s) (starting from the evening immediately after the slaughter of the lamb(s)), and the salvation of the firstfruits of Israel was 3 nights and 3 days if you count the "day" that God saved the firstfruits of Israel. And since it seems that Jesus fulfilled the Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of Weeks to the letter, He probably did this one too. (So I believe He literally fulfilled the sign of Jonah.) Overview: Nisan 14, lamb killed late afternoon (equivalent to Thursday Passover - Christ's death in late afternoon). Nisan 15, night in Egypt, left Egypt in "day time". (Feast of Unleavened Bread instituted during the "day time".) [1st night, 1st day] (equivalent to Friday in tomb). Nisan 16, night in Etham, traveled by "day time". [2nd night, 2nd day] (equivalent to Saturday in tomb). Nisan 17, night beside Pihahiroth, began crossing the Red Sea early "day time". [3rd night, 3rd day] (equivalent to Sunday night in tomb, and early morning resurrection " before sunrise"). Hope this helps. God bless. |