Was Jesus really dead for 3 days & 3 nights?
This is a legitimate question. Why?
To answer that, please allow me to clarify what this question is not asking. It's not asking if Jesus died. Every person who has ever lived previously has died.
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. — Hebrews 9:27-28
And, yes, I know what you studious Bible readers are thinking: "what about Enoch and Elijah?" Their lives on earth certainly ended in unique ways, but for the purposes of answering the question at hand I hope we can simply agree that Jesus surely, 100%, without-a-doubt died by Roman crucifixion. Jesus, who is the Messiah, lived a perfectly sinless life and died.
This question also does not imply that Jesus never came back to life.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. — 1 Peter 1:3-5
Jesus Christ IS the resurrection (John 11:25). Jesus' resurrection is historical fact—verified by eye-witness accounts and evidenced by the the resolute faith (including the willingness to be persecuted and experience brutal deaths) of His disciples. Jesus is a risen savior who, being God, had the authority and power (and ridiculously gracious, self-sacrificial love) to lay down His life and then pick it back up.
What isn't so clear to most of us, however, is how to reconcile the claim of a 3-day death-to-resurrection timetable with our traditional understanding of Good Friday through Easter Sunday. In Latin, this period of time is referred to as the Triduum. And it's worth rolling up our sleeves and applying some critical thinking to understand.
It is good and right to take Jesus at His word and to lean in and verify biblical truth claims. It's also a lot of fun!
And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. — Hebrews 9:27-28
And, yes, I know what you studious Bible readers are thinking: "what about Enoch and Elijah?" Their lives on earth certainly ended in unique ways, but for the purposes of answering the question at hand I hope we can simply agree that Jesus surely, 100%, without-a-doubt died by Roman crucifixion. Jesus, who is the Messiah, lived a perfectly sinless life and died.
This question also does not imply that Jesus never came back to life.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. — 1 Peter 1:3-5
Jesus Christ IS the resurrection (John 11:25). Jesus' resurrection is historical fact—verified by eye-witness accounts and evidenced by the the resolute faith (including the willingness to be persecuted and experience brutal deaths) of His disciples. Jesus is a risen savior who, being God, had the authority and power (and ridiculously gracious, self-sacrificial love) to lay down His life and then pick it back up.
What isn't so clear to most of us, however, is how to reconcile the claim of a 3-day death-to-resurrection timetable with our traditional understanding of Good Friday through Easter Sunday. In Latin, this period of time is referred to as the Triduum. And it's worth rolling up our sleeves and applying some critical thinking to understand.
It is good and right to take Jesus at His word and to lean in and verify biblical truth claims. It's also a lot of fun!
Video Resource Highlight
Our aim at Closure is to bring you resources that help you think critically and see biblically. This 7-minute video by Tomorrow's World does an excellent job at breaking this down. We're thankful for their work here.
Where can you go for a deeper dive?
1) The Bible!
Set aside a little time, invite the Holy Spirit to assist you in reading God's Word, and open your Bible to Mark chapter 15. You could also start at Luke chapter 22. Read (or re-read) the gospel accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection for yourself.