How Good Friday lines up with 3 days and 3 nights

By Jen Shroder

How does Good Friday line up with Jesus being in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights, and then rising on Sunday?

It's simple. Being in the "heart of the earth" is not about being in the tomb, but about Christ becoming sin on the night He was betrayed, right after His last miracle before the resurrection.

"For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor 5:21)

Many have assumed that His being in "the heart of the earth" indicates Jesus in the tomb. Yet, there are countless Scriptures that prove "the heart of the earth" is the heart of man, which the Bible says is exceedingly wicked. Thus when Jesus became sin, He was in the "heart of the earth." Jesus Himself used "earth" many times when He referred to man's heart. The "four soils" parable (originally "earth" in Scripture, Greek and KJV) confirms that earth is used to describe the heart of man. The importance of this is exemplified, for when the disciples asked Jesus to explain the parable, He said, "Know you not this parable? How then will you know all parables?" (Mk 4:13) Jesus then explains that the seed that was sown in the earth is:"...the word that was sown in their hearts." (Mark 4:15) The "faith of a mustard seed" parable is also planted in the earth and the earth signifies man's heart; and the talents were also "hidden in the earth" by the lazy servant. Suddenly all verses line up and make sense.

"He has made Him to be sin for us...that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor 5:21)

Christ had to become sin before payment could begin or the blood would be wasted. The chastisement "was upon Him." The miracle of Christ's redemption began on Thursday night when Christ became sin, the night He was betrayed, immersed in our sins and delivered unto man. Before the first drop of His precious blood, Jesus suffered far more than physical death, He became sin which separated Him from His Father, in the heart of the earth, as in the belly of the whale.

If the sign that Jesus gave was completed only by His death, time in the grave and resurrection, how was payment made earlier when He was wounded, bruised and given stripes (scourged)? Was He beaten and bleeding before He became sin? Were the bruises and bleeding for nothing? No! Was the Lamb delivered for the sacrifice already bloodied and torn? No!

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5)

Three days and three nights include the time Christ suffered. Every single Bible verse about this includes "suffering" when it delineates the time frame except one, and that was a quote of the Pharisees which clearly had trouble comprehending what was happening.

The Scriptures have always been correct. When you understand what is meant by Jesus being in the heart of the earth, then it all falls into place.

Jesus said,

"An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth" (Mt 12:40)

Because of what Christ did for us, Christians are not included in the description of "an evil and adulterous generation." This is why we can see so many "signs" and the wonders of God.

If you don't know God, know that He loves you, He sent His Son that you could be washed in the Blood, cleansed of all unrighteousness, and begin your walk with Him. You don't have to be perfect first, none of us were able to achieve that of our own. But once we are His, He helps us to become who He created us to be. It's not always easy, we stumble, we get our feet dirty, but by confession one to another we are cleansed and we continue. But it begins by receiving Christ. Come as you are. His arms are open wide. Come.

For a more indepth study go to http://www.blessedcause.org/BlessedCause%20Exclusives/The%20Sign%20of%20Jonah.htm

© Jen Shroder