Why Three Days?

Good Friday is done. There is that day between Friday and Sunday. For most people, it's just the day between the two holidays those Christians are celebrating. Good Friday is all about doom and gloom, about some person dying named Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, it's about some person rising again from the dead, like that would really happen. Why not have it all happen on one day?

Three days is a significant time period for us during this Resurrection weekend. There are a few reasons why Jesus Christ had to die and be dead for three days. If Christ had not died for three days, then there would be serious questions remaining on Christ's power and triumph over death.

For those of you who had not had the chance to read the post "Why Good Friday?", read it first before proceeding.

First, three days demonstrates completion. It is one of a few numbers considered significant in the Bible. Seven and twelve are the other two primary numbers demonstrating completeness. Why would completeness be critical here? If Jesus were to have "died" and risen again within the same day, maybe even two days, many people would have questioned Christ's death in the first place. Even today, many people who do not believe wonder if Jesus really died (or simply don't believe that Jesus died). We read in John 19:34 about the real evidence of Christ's death: "But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water" (ESV). The body does not clearly separate blood and water while it is living. It is a complete system. If someone stabbed you, you'll bleed blood. You're not spilling out water. However, when Christ died, we see that He was truly dead, and His body had completely shut down.

This all happened on Good Friday. However, three days remained before He was to rise again. For those of you counting, at that time, a day was considered a day when it was reached, not when it was completed. Therefore, Christ died on Friday and rose again Sunday... that's three days.

Why three days? Besides to demonstrate that Christ was truly dead, it was also fulfillment to prophecy. We see Christ's prophecy of His death of three days in His referral of Jonah's three days in the belly of the whale (Matthew 12:40), and we also read Christ stating He would also be torn down (destroyed) and be resurrected on the third day (using the temple as a reference... His body being the Temple) (John 2:19). Christ is no liar. He said He would be dead for three days. Who in their right mind would know how long he himself will stay dead? When you're dead, you're dead. If you say you're going to only be dead for three days, either you're a liar, deranged, or telling the truth. If Christ only stayed dead for one or two days, or if He rose again four days later, He is a liar. However, He was dead for three days, just as He said. Christ is proving He is telling the truth, that He is fulfilling His own prophecy, which means He is God.

In addition to that, three days also developed the faith of those around Him. It is the development of patience and anticipation of those who were awaiting His resurrection. While no one truly was waiting for Christ to come back alive Easter Sunday because of a lack of faith, a few women were waiting to go to the tomb but was hindered by the fact that Saturday was the Sabbath and were restricted from going due to the law (Luke 23:56). Imagine how frightened the women were come Sunday morning... Roman soldiers guarding the tomb (Matthew 27:66), and no one was going to roll that stone away for them (Mark 16:3). It was a real test of their faith and courage to seek Christ's tomb, but they had to wait. His disciples had really given up at that time, hiding because their Master was dead (John 20:19). Three days is a long time for anybody to be dead. Most bodies start decaying and smelling at the time. Who would even think Christ could possibly come back from the dead at that time?

But three days is only part of the picture. Good Friday is significant because Christ saved us from the fiery and horrible pits of hell. He died in our place when we justly deserve death and eternal separation from God by being in hell. Three days - Christ stayed dead. He was utterly and completely dead. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Jesus was dead in the tomb for three days. He predicted that He would be dead for three days, and He stayed dead for three days. Those who were His followers had to develop their faith in anticipation for Sunday. They had to muster their courage in order to approach His tomb Easter Sunday.

But Easter Sunday comes next. None of this matters if Easter Sunday did not happen. Christ truly did rise again, and that significance will be posted here Saturday night.

Blessings,
JO