Christ and the Tomb – Jonah and the great fish. Christians, Non-believers, and atheists ask the question: How can Jonah live in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights? 1 Peter 3:15 “In your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the – hope – that you have.” That would include – questions – the hope that you have. The answer begins with: The bible does Not say Jonah Lived in the belly of the great fish for three days and nights. The words of Jesus Christ dissolves that assumption.
Jonah 1:1-12 – The Lord sent a violent storm. The sailors cast lots to find out who is responsible for the calamity. The lot fell on Jonah. They asked Jonah: What should we do to you to make the raging sea calm down for us? Jonah replied, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea and it will be calm.” I know, it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” After prayer, they took Jonah and threw him into the sea and the raging sea grew calm.
Jonah 1:17 “The Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 2:2 “From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:10 “The Lord Commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” three days and three nights later.
Matthew 12:39-40 “A wicked and adulterous generation ask for a sign! But none will be given it – except – the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Another way to say that is: As Messiah was dead for three days and three the nights in the heart of the earth, Jonah was dead for three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish.
Yeshua Messiah compares his death and burial in the tomb for three days and three nights, to Jonah’s death and burial in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights. As Christ was resurrected on the third day from the tomb, Jonah was resurrected on the third day from the great fish. Luke 11:30 “For as Jonah was a Sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be (the same sign – death and resurrection) to this generation.”
Jonah 3:5 “The Ninevites believed God” the city was saved. Believe Jesus Christ and you will be saved also.
John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will Not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.”
Most do Not understand – the sign of the prophet Jonah. Why? They love traditions of men more than the word of God. Three days and three nights do Not fit into Friday sunset to Sunday morning.
Most pastors today teach that Christ was resurrected on Sunday morning. Jesus Christ was not resurrected on Sunday morning. Preachers deliberately Lie, why? They love “traditions of men” more than God’s Word. Christ said he would be in the tomb “three days and three nights.” And he was put in the tomb in the evening at sunset, Matthew 27:57-61; so, he would have been resurrected just before sunset; Not Sunday morning. The tomb was empty Sunday morning because, he was resurrected the seventh day of the week just before sunset.
For God’s word says, sunset is the beginning of a new day, Leviticus 23:32. The annual Sabbath, first day of Passover, Leviticus 23:7, that year was on Thursday, Christ was in the tomb, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Our Savior died on Wednesday preparation day for the Sabbath and Thursday was a “special Sabbath” a “High Day”, John 19:31. Christ was Crucified on Wednesday. At sunset Wednesday Christ was put in the tomb. Sunset Wednesday to sunset Thursday, Day One, Sunset Thursday to sunset Friday, Day Two, Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday, Day three. Just before sunset on Saturday he was resurrected; exactly three day and nights, as he said.
Mark 16:9 is false, because it contradicts scripture. “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week”. John 10:35 “scripture cannot be broken”. Margin notes, regarding this verse: “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20 NIV. Verses “9-20 are Not included in two of the best and oldest Greek manuscripts of Mark” The Everyday Bible. The Good News Bible and the RSV and others have the same warnings regarding verses 9-20.
The Sign of Jonah: Three days and three nights and resurrection. Christ has been raised: Colossians 1:18 “the firstborn from the dead” Not the thief on the cross. Some teach the thief on the cross went to heaven when he died – that would make the thief the firstborn from the dead, because Jesus Christ was in the grave for three days and three nights. The correct wording of Luke 23:43 “I tell you the truth today, you will be with me in paradise.” John 3:13, No man has ascended to heaven, except the one who is from heaven, Jesus Christ. Why did Christ promise him paradise? Because he expressed faith in Christ, admitted he sinned and accepted his punishment though it was extreme.
Some, who love false doctrine claim, Jesus Christ was not really dead, but was in the spirit in heaven for those three days and three nights. They do it to hold on to the false popular teaching: Believe and you will go to heaven the day you die. Christ himself calls them liars. Revelation 1:17-18 “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! I hold the keys of death and Hell.”
Deceivers use 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 to teach going to heaven at death. “We live by faith, not by sight.” “And would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Psalm 6:5 “In death there is no remembrance of thee.” Thousands of years may pass but no one will remember being dead! Death of the righteous is like going to sleep at night and awakening in the morning in the promised kingdom of God. To the righteous Resurrection Day: Is the day of your death.
Jonah’s resurrection: Chapter 2:10 “The Lord commanded the fish, and it ejected Jonah onto dry land.” How does a great fish do that? it was miraculous. Jonah ejected on dry land with clothes, hat, and sandals in perfect condition, that were Not wet – was a witness to those at the beach. By the time Jonah made his journey to Nineveh the miracle of his coming from the sea by a great fish was known. God, in his mercy gave Nineveh a great witness of Jonah’s resurrection, and they believed Jonah and repented. God, in great mercy, gave the world a greater witness in the Crucifixion – death and resurrection of Christ Jesus and many believe, but the world rejects God’s promise of salvation.
Brothers and Sisters: Understand and believe, the – Sign of Jonah – and the sign of – Christ Jesus – resurrected from the grave on the third day, precisely as he predicted. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed his Wonderful Son, as atonement for our sins: Revelation 1:4-5 “Grace and peace from” “Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and rulers of the kings of the earth”. Praise our Father in heaven. Jesus Christ Crucified is Light that Shines Beyond the grave. |
