As you can see, this term "the third day" was used quite frequently. It is important to know what it means and when it was. The day known as the third day is very clear. On the road to Emmaus the discussion tells us that, as foretold, the day Jesus rose, and the first day of the week was the third day (Luke 24:1,21). If Sunday is the third day, then Saturday is the second day, and Friday must be the first day of burial. With that in mind, how do we explain "three days and three nights?"

The simple answer is that this was an idiom of Jewish culture, which was used interchangeably with "the third day." If it meant anything different, then all of the passages above are false! They must mean the same thing or the bible contradicts itself. For example, if we believe that Thursday was the first day of burial (in order to reconcile that Sunday makes three full days), then Sunday is the fourth day. Some other examples of this language are also found in the Old Testament.

"So he put them all together in prison for three days. Now Joseph said to them on the third day, 'Do this and live, for I fear God'" (Genesis 42:17-18)

"Then he said to them, 'Depart for three days, then return to me.' So the people departed... Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, 'Return to me on the third day.'" (1 Kings 12:5,12)

"And he said to them, 'Return to me again in three days.' So the people departed... So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, 'Return to me on the third day.' (2 Chronicles 10:5,12)

You can see by these examples that "three days" and "the third day" mean exactly the same thing and are used interchangeably. They do not indicate three 24-hour days, or 72 hours. They simply mean three different days, even in part. In light of this, it seems clear that the gospel writers used the same sort of idiom. This combined with the evidence we have already seen draws us to conclude that Jesus must have died on Friday.

Summary of Events

• Sunday, was "the third day", and the day of the resurrection.
• Saturday (Sabbath) was the second day that Christ rested in the tomb.
• Friday (Preparation day) was the first day, the day of the crucifixion.

Jesus was crucified on Friday and died at 3 p.m. He rose from the dead somewhere between Saturday after sunset and sunrise on Sunday morning.