Good Friday on the Third Day He Rose Again

Why did Jesus Rise on the Third Day?

New Life, Covenants, and an Ancient Pattern

by Derek Hiebert two years ago

Why did Jesus Rise on the Third Solar day?

For centuries, the Christian church has historic the resurrection of Jesus Christ on a Sunday--three days later remembering his death on Good Friday. This timeline of three days is based on numerous references in the New Testament. Jesus predicted it many times, and the apostles include it in their annunciation of the gospel (see footnote references).

Yet why did Jesus' resurrection accept place iii days after his expiry? It would seem that he could have risen one twenty-four hour period, ii days, or even 4 days after his death and the resurrection would however be historically valid according to eyewitnesses. Is the third day merely a random, inconsequential particular tacked on to the resurrection? Or is in that location significance to this timeline?

The Third Twenty-four hour period Matters

For Jesus and the apostles, the timing of his resurrection has strong theological implications. The three-twenty-four hours timeline matters to the biblical narrative, because it is the special day on which God creates new life and activates his covenant with humanity. How did the New Testament arrive at this understanding? It turns out Jesus himself and the New Testament authors are drawing from a consistent "third day" design pattern from the Hebrew Scriptures. Exploring this pattern for ourselves can enrich our understanding of the Easter upshot.

The Third Day Pattern in the Hebrew Bible

Perhaps the nearly clear examples of third day resurrection in the Hebrew Scriptures are institute in Jonah 1:17 and Hosea 6:one-ii. Jesus referenced Jonah's three days in the belly of the great fish as a metaphor for his resurrection. Hosea spoke of God's resurrecting work for Israel as occurring on the third day. While these are worthy texts to consider, this blueprint of resurrection on the third day begins even earlier in the story.

There are three passages found before in the narrative of the Hebrew Bible that brainstorm to develop a pattern of new life emerging on the third twenty-four hour period: the creation narrative of Genesis 1, Abraham's test in Genesis 22, and the Israelites at Sinai in Exodus nineteen.

The First "Resurrection"

Where practise we encounter the commencement peek into the 3-day significance? Page ane of the Bible. The creation account in Genesis 1 is written similar a poem with repetitive statements and parallels. Within the rhythm of these repetitions, 2 events in the creation narrative stand out as significant, each happening at three-day intervals. On the beginning "tertiary twenty-four hour period", God makes dry out land appear, and causes vegetation to come up out of the earth: plants yielding seeds and trees bearing fruit (ane:11-thirteen). The picture here is of new life sprouting or ascension upwards from the ground—a identify of not-existence or expiry.

The second "third twenty-four hour period" issue happens on the sixth day when God creates animals and human being beings (i:24). Reminiscent of the beginning "third twenty-four hour period", the passage says that the earth will bring forth living creatures (ane:24-27). Later we read that God formed humans from the dust of the basis (2:7). Again, here we see new life created out of the ground. Notice also the connection between humans and trees: both are newly created from the basis (2:7, 9), both bear seeds and fruit (1:eleven, 28; 3:fifteen) and both are created in this style on the third day. Notwithstanding ii things are unique to only humans: ane) humans are fabricated in God's image; and 2) God enters into a covenant with human beings, blessing them and giving them instructions.

A Blueprint Emerges

In the "third day" events of Genesis 1 there are three of import aspects which become a design blueprint:

1. God creates new life where there once was death (1:xi-13; 26-27; 2:vii)

2. God establishes his covenant with the creatures he has newly created, in this case humans (1:28-29)

3. The event takes place in Eden, which we sympathize as a high place from which a river flows out (two:10-14)

The importance of this imagery and design cannot be overstated, as it becomes the prototype for future resurrection.

Abraham's Test on the Third Twenty-four hours

Where else does this pattern appear? In another "third day" event, Abraham is tested by God—one of the about intriguing narratives in all of Scripture (Genesis 22:1-nineteen). When God calls Abraham to offer his simply son Isaac as a burnt offer on a mountain, the text says that on the third day, Abraham saw the identify from afar and proceeded to go through with the test (22:iv). In this scene, God wants Abraham to acquire to trust him with the covenant and blessing of offspring. Ultimately, it is God who provides the sacrifice and brings about the purposes of his covenant.

The connexion to "third twenty-four hour period" theme here resides in a powerfully vivid act of atonement by God in which he substitutes a ram in the place of Isaac (22:thirteen-14). We come to find out this act is wrapped up within his larger covenant projection to multiply Abraham's offspring, and through them, anoint the nations (22:17-18). Here once more, on the third day we meet the same pattern:

1. God interim to bring new life, in this case to Isaac in his life being spared, and to Abraham in receiving back his son (22:11-14)

2. God reaffirms his covenant with Abraham, using language and themes consistent with Genesis 1:28 (22:17-18)

3. This event takes place on a mountain (22:2, 14)

State of israel'due south Third Day at Sinai

At a key juncture in the Bible'south story, we find still another event happening on the tertiary day. Having but rescued his people from centuries-long oppression in Egypt, Yahweh is on the cusp of inbound into covenant with State of israel, again on a mountain (Exodus 19:two-3). Hither God makes articulate that on the "3rd mean solar day" he will come downward to Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Like Abraham, this moment is a test for Israel. They are to prepare themselves to enter into covenant with God and be ready on the "third mean solar day" (Exodus 19:nine-16). The narrative mentions "tertiary day" four times to ensure we don't miss the fact that this momentous event volition take place on God'southward special day.

Based on what we have seen already with "third day", we should come to expect a certain pattern, which we see nonetheless again:

1. God brings about new life for his people — in this example, new identity for Israel — merely like he did at creation, and with Abraham and Isaac (xix:four-6)

2. God enters into covenant with his people, namely State of israel (xix:4-half dozen)

3. God accomplishes all this on a mount (xix:2)

And this is what we see in the narrative! Withal, sadly the rest of Israel'due south story in the Hebrew Scriptures is marked by rebellion, unbelief and inability to sustain their end of the covenant. Which brings us again to those passages in the prophets that mention the 3rd twenty-four hours: Hosea and Jonah.

Hosea'south Hope, Jonah's 'Resurrection'

When we return to these prophets, nosotros have a greater backdrop for the "third day" and its powerful imagery of resurrection, along with its connection to God's covenant. Hosea calls Israel to "return to Yahweh", which is classic prophetic language for repentance toward covenant fidelity, and offers them hope using resurrection language (Hosea half-dozen:1-2). In keeping with our pattern, this render to the covenant means a renewing of life, a resurrection as a people into the life of Yahweh, which he will bring nearly on the "third mean solar day".

With Jonah, nosotros find one of Israel'due south own prophets failing to obey Yahweh, and therefore experiencing 'death' in an unlikely 'tomb'— a large fish. In many ways, Jonah and his failure represent that of Israel. Yet, God does not surrender on him nor his people. He gives Jonah new life later iii days by airsickness him out of the fish — the nigh unusual 'resurrection' in the Bible.

Jesus Predicts a Third Day Resurrection

When we arrive at the Gospels, we find Jesus speaking of a third day resurrection when he talks near his death with his disciples. In fact, he mentions "three days" 21 times! By at present y'all can probably tell this emphasis was not random. Jesus was adamant about the 3rd 24-hour interval because it represents God's initiative in creating new life and establishing covenant with humanity. Wait at how the Easter event — the resurrection of Jesus — maps onto our tertiary twenty-four hour period design design:

1. God resurrects new life upwardly from the footing (tomb), in this case Jesus

2. God acts to bring about the new covenant through Jesus' apologetic death and resurrection, in this case for all who believe

3. Jesus' act of amende occurs on a colina

The imagery in Genesis 1-two of new life ascent upwardly from the ground on the third solar day, forth with the connection to divine covenant throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, provides a poignant picture to the theological significance of Jesus' resurrection. On the third mean solar day, Jesus' resurrection is made all the more paramount. It is the climactic twenty-four hours of God's project of new life and covenant, beautifully pictured since creation, the finale of which will result in the future resurrection of Jesus' followers, and the restoration of the whole universe.

And then what does this mean for us?

When we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday, we are non merely following an historic tradition. We are engaging in a deeply meaningful theology centered around the third twenty-four hour period, with all its implications of God'southward redemptive piece of work. The third 24-hour interval blueprint pattern is a reminder — God has initiated the procedure of resurrecting people to new life, bringing them into his covenant partnership. How will nosotros accept function in that today?

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Source: https://bibleproject.com/blog/why-did-jesus-rise-on-the-third-day/

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