Three Days and Three Nights: Biblical Proof That Jesus Died on Wednesday, Not Good Friday
Jimmy Fortunato
April 3, 2025
The 72-Hour Truth That Changes Everything
Have you ever questioned why we call it "Good Friday" when Jesus clearly stated He would be in the heart of the earth for "three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40)?
If Jesus died on Friday afternoon and rose Sunday morning, that's only one full day and two nights at most—nowhere near the 72 hours He prophesied. This mathematical impossibility has troubled many Bible students, yet most churches continue teaching the Good Friday tradition without addressing this glaring discrepancy.
What if everything you've been taught about the crucifixion timeline is incorrect?
In this in-depth biblical study, we'll examine clear scriptural evidence that Jesus actually died on Wednesday, not Friday, and rose exactly 72 hours later on Saturday evening—perfectly fulfilling His own prophecy and validating His claim as the Messiah.
Understanding Biblical Days: The Foundation of the Timeline
Before we dive into the Gospel accounts, we need to understand how "day" is defined in Scripture:
The Two Biblical Definitions of "Day"
Daytime only (12 hours): "God called the light day, and the darkness night" (Genesis 1:5). Jesus confirmed this when He asked, "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" (John 11:9).
Complete day-night cycle (24 hours): "The evening and the morning were the first day" (Genesis 1:5). In biblical reckoning, a full day includes both evening and morning.
The Jewish Calendar: Essential to Understanding the Timeline
In Jewish custom, days begin at sunset (approximately 6 PM) and end at the following sunset—not midnight to midnight as in our modern calendar. This is crucial to understanding the crucifixion timeline.
Hebrew night: Begins at 6 PM, with hours counted as:
First hour = 7 PM
Sixth hour = Midnight (12 AM)
Twelfth hour = 6 AM
Hebrew day: Begins at 6 AM, with hours counted as:
First hour = 7 AM
Sixth hour = Noon (12 PM)
Twelfth hour = 6 PM
Jesus Died on Passover: The Biblical Timeline Revealed
The Scriptures clearly state that "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:7). According to Numbers 9:1-5, Passover was observed on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan) of the Jewish calendar.
Let's examine the Gospel accounts to establish the day-by-day timeline:
Wednesday (Nisan 14): Crucifixion Day
The Gospel accounts (Matthew 26-27, Mark 14-15, Luke 22-23, John 18-19) all record the same sequence of events occurring on the day of crucifixion:
Evening (6 PM, start of Wednesday): Jesus celebrates the Last Supper with disciples (Matthew 26:20, Mark 14:17)
Night hours: Judas betrays Jesus (Matthew 26:47-50)
Still night: Peter follows and denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75)
Morning (6 AM): Jesus taken before Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2)
Third hour (9 AM): Jesus crucified (Mark 15:25)
Sixth to ninth hour (Noon to 3 PM): Darkness over the land (Matthew 27:45-46)
Ninth hour (3 PM): Jesus dies (Matthew 27:46-50, Mark 15:34-37)
Before evening (before 6 PM): Jesus buried hurriedly before the next day begins (Matthew 27:57-60)
The Gospels specifically note that Jesus' body needed to be removed before the Sabbath began (John 19:31). But what Sabbath was this?
Thursday (Nisan 15): First Day in the Tomb - The "High Day" Sabbath
Matthew 27:62 refers to "the next day, the one after the Preparation Day." This wasn't the weekly Sabbath (Saturday), but the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread—a special "high day" Sabbath (John 19:31).
Leviticus 23:5-7 confirms this: "On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread...the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it."
This explains why Jesus' body was removed so hurriedly—not for the weekly Sabbath, but for this special Feast Sabbath that began Wednesday at sunset.
Friday (Nisan 16): Second Day in the Tomb
This was a regular workday between the special Sabbath (Thursday) and the weekly Sabbath (Saturday). Jesus remained in the tomb throughout this day—the second 24-hour period.
Saturday (Nisan 17): Third Day in the Tomb - Weekly Sabbath
This was the regular weekly Sabbath, the third full day Jesus spent in the tomb. According to Matthew 28:1, Jesus rose "in the end of the Sabbath"—not Sunday morning!
The original Greek text of Matthew 28:1 states that the resurrection occurred "late on the Sabbath" as it "drew toward the first day of the week." This places the resurrection just before sunset on Saturday, exactly 72 hours after Jesus was buried.
Sunday Morning: Discovery of the Empty Tomb
The women came to the tomb "on the first day of the week...while it was still dark" (John 20:1) and found it already empty. They didn't witness the resurrection—it had already happened the previous evening!
Mark 16:2 notes they arrived "very early in the morning...when the sun had risen," but nowhere does Scripture say Jesus rose at sunrise.
Why This Matters: Implications of the Wednesday Crucifixion
Understanding the true timeline has profound implications:
Validates Jesus' prophecy: Jesus said He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights (72 hours). Only a Wednesday crucifixion and Saturday evening resurrection fulfills this exactly.
Confirms Jesus' authority: If Jesus couldn't fulfill His own prophecy about the timeframe of His resurrection, what else might be questioned about His claims?
Explains early church worship: The early church gathered on "the first day of the week" (1 Corinthians 16:2) because Jesus rose just before this day began, pointing believers toward Sunday worship.
Unmasks pagan influences: Many "sunrise services" unknowingly reenact pagan sun worship rituals rather than biblical events, as Jesus rose in the evening, not at sunrise.
The Pagan Connection to Easter Practices
The traditional Easter timeline follows the pagan calculation: "the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox." This has nothing to do with the biblical timeline and everything to do with ancient fertility and sun worship practices.
Sunrise services, while well-intended, unintentionally echo sun deity worship rather than celebrating the risen Son of God—who rose as the Sabbath ended, not as the sun rose.
Conclusion: Following Scripture Over Tradition
The evidence is clear: Jesus died on Wednesday afternoon, was buried just before 6 PM, and rose 72 hours later on Saturday evening before sunset—fulfilling His prophecy perfectly.
This understanding doesn't diminish the significance of Christ's resurrection—it enhances it by confirming the precise fulfillment of prophecy. The resurrection remains the cornerstone of Christian faith, proving that Jesus is who He claimed to be.
When tradition conflicts with Scripture, we must always choose Scripture. As Jesus Himself warned about human traditions: "Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition" (Matthew 15:6).
Your Turn to Discover Biblical Truth
Have you been following tradition without examining the Scriptures for yourself? The Bible rewards those who carefully study its words rather than simply accepting what they've been told.
Take time this week to read through the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection. Count the days and nights. See for yourself that only a Wednesday crucifixion accounts for the full "three days and three nights" Jesus promised.
"Test all things; hold fast what is good" - 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Scripture References for Further Study
Matthew 12:40 - Jesus' prophecy of "three days and three nights"
Matthew 26-28 - Crucifixion and resurrection account
Mark 14-16 - Crucifixion and resurrection account
Luke 22-24 - Crucifixion and resurrection account
John 18-20 - Crucifixion and resurrection account
1 Corinthians 5:7 - "Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us"
Leviticus 23:4-8 - Explanation of Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread
Numbers 9:1-5 - Instructions for Passover observance
Experience the Full Teaching
This blog post only scratches the surface of this powerful biblical truth. To gain a deeper understanding of the crucifixion timeline and see every Scripture reference explained in context, listen to the complete sermon:
📢 "The 72-Hour Truth: Jesus Died Wednesday, Not Friday"
Dive deeper with our full 45-minute sermon that explores:
Complete biblical analysis - Step-by-step examination of all Gospel accounts
Historical context - How the Hebrew calendar proves the Wednesday crucifixion
Jesus' fulfilled prophecy - Why exactly 72 hours in the tomb matters
Worship implications - Understanding Sunday worship in light of this truth
🎧 Listen to the Full Sermon Here!
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