Jesus’ Resurrection
Jesus’ resurrection is explained in the book In the Heart of the Earth: The Secret Code that Reveals What Is In the Heart of God” (pictured to the right) with some interesting new insights and significant scriptural discoveries.
Here is a summary of the main points of the book. The book gives much more detail, the reasoning and scriptural support, and references from the writings of others. Topics on this site with new or additional material beyond what appears in the book are indicated (with links) in and following the summary below. This is an ongoing study and new material will be added from time to time.
Chapter 1 introduces the topic of Jesus’ resurrection by means of a story that gives the context. It also describes the method used – that of allowing the Bible to define its own terms by determining how it uses words. An example of this – the meaning of “heart” is given on this site’s home page.
Chapter 2 discusses how inclusive reckoning counts portions of time as a whole unit of time (day or year). But even using that you cannot get three days and three nights between a Friday afternoon crucifixion and a Sunday morning resurrection.
Jesus compared His experience to that of Jonah yet Jonah was not dead.
Jesus did not use the terms “grave” or “tomb” which He could have if that was what He meant. The time period was not referring to how long He would be buried.
Word studies show that the Greek word “kardia” is never translated in the New Testament with the meaning of the middle or center of anything. The Greek word “ge” can mean the occupants of the earth. Jesus’ use of these words in parables points to a different meaning for “in the heart of the earth.”
Being “in the heart of the earth” was a reference to being within the mind (will or control) of man.
The three days and three nights started after Jesus’ betrayal following the dinner at Simon’s house on Tuesday evening. This would put the end of the time period on Friday afternoon.
The exact time period is not the most important aspect of the sign. In fact, some gospel references to the sign of Jonah do not even mention the time.
Chapter 3 demonstrates that the Greek word “sabbaton” means the seventh-day Sabbath. The phrase “mia ton sabbaton” means “one of the sabbaths” referring to the time interval between Passover and Pentecost. It has been mistranslated “first day of the week” in verses referring to Jesus’ resurrection in support of the idea of Sunday sacredness.
The original word “sabbaton” is in the plural form. It does not make sense to translate it into the singular word “week.”
Chapter 4 points out that Jesus said that what is commonly referred to as the last supper was a Passover observance and that there were sectarian differences in understanding of festal timing. References to a day of preparation prove that the crucifixion was on a Friday. The Wednesday crucifixion theory is briefly examined. Read 20 reasons why the crucifixion of Jesus Christ could not have been on a Wednesday.
The procedures of harvesting grain for the Feast of First Fruits point to the initial harvest (resurrection) being just after sunset followed by a waving of the grain offering the next morning. A study of uses of the word “after” in key verses shows that this offering happened on the seventh-day Sabbath not on the first day of the week. Pentecost was and is always on a seventh-day Sabbath.
The removal of Joseph’s bones from his tomb in Egypt was parallel to Jesus’ resurrection.
Chapter 5 shows by carefully examining John’s wording that the supper at Simon’s house was on Tuesday evening.
The women could have purchased the spices before the crucifixion. They did not come to embalm Jesus’ body in the morning (that had already been done) but merely to anoint Him.
The “next day” when the guard was posted started at sunset Friday evening.
Chapter 6 reminds us of the many signs that Jesus was the Messiah proving that “there shall no sign be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonas” must be referring to a sign of something else. See other evidence that He was the Messiah.
A deeper look at the context of Matthew 12 shows that the significance of the sign Jesus offered was meant to reveal something in our hearts and in the heart of God.
Chapter 7 gets to the heart of the matter, revealing the character of God in a better way than is usually understood. It identifies a principle showing that God does not use force and that it is Satan, the destroyer, who is behind the destruction and suffering that comes about when God, in honoring our free will, removes His presence and protection.
The sign was all about God’s character of love and His honoring of man’s free will. He so highly values man’s God-given right to exercise free will that for a period of time – “three days and three nights” – He allowed His Son to be “in the heart of the earth” (within the control of man) to do with Him as they pleased even to the point of crucifying Him.
Remember, these are just a few highlights from each chapter. There are other important details in the text of the book.
Since the book was published some additional items have been researched or expanded on. These are all listed and briefly explained at Jesus’ Resurrection Addenda with links to each.
December 27, 2010 @ 10:56 am
The Resurrection on One of the Sabbaths?
* The possible hidden scenes are a rash burial of a one piece linen cloth placed around Jesus’ body on Wednesday the preparation (secular) day of Nisan 20th.
After the high sabbath (John 19:31) of Thursday Nisan 21st, Joseph returns to the tomb with Pilate’s permission on the preparation (secular) day of Friday Nisan 22nd with linen strips and a headdress, and wraps the body with aromatic spices under a guarded watch well before the weekly Sabbath. The linen strips are re-discovered neatly rolled up on the evening (end) of Saturday Nisan 23rd when Peter comes to the sepulcher. The guards quickly bring word to the priests who seek for Joseph in the holding cell knowing that he was the last person working in the tomb but he is not revealed until about 40 days later.
* This narrative does not suit a Friday to Sunday chronology too well.
The sign of Jonah also holds little merit if the missing Joseph was with Jesus at a time on the weekly sabbath before a Sunday resurrection.
August 6, 2011 @ 10:56 am
Not true allegations
…1. There were no “possible hidden scenes”
…2. There was no “rash burial” but the meticulously “ETHICAL” John 19:40b BURIAL Joseph had undertaken from beginning of the Sixth Day Mark 15:42 Matthew 27:57 John 19:31,38 Luke 23:50 UNTIL Luke 23:54-56a John 19:42.
…3. There were more than “one piece linen cloth” John 20:6
…4. It was not “After the high sabbath (John 19:31)”; it was “THAT DAY OF great day sabbath-OF” passover
…5. It was not “Nisan 21st”; it was ‘Nisan’ 15
…6. It was not “the high sabbath (John 19:31) of Thursday”; it was “THAT DAY OF great day sabbath-OF” passover “SINCE IT WAS The Preparation” “WHICH IS The Fore-Sabbath”, i.e., ‘Friday’
…7. “Joseph” does not “return… to the tomb with Pilate’s permission on the preparation (secular) day of Friday”, “After the high sabbath (John 19:31)”; he BEGINS his whole undertaking “when already it was evening” in the NIGHT “after these things” of the Jews’ request that the bodies be removed.
…8. “the preparation … day of Friday” was no “secular” day; it was “THAT DAY OF great day sabbath-OF” passover “SINCE IT WAS The Preparation” “WHICH IS The Fore-Sabbath”, i.e., ‘Friday’.
…9. It was not “Nisan 22nd”; it was ‘Nisan’ 15 BEGINNING.
…10. Joseph did not “wrap… the body with aromatic spices under a guarded watch”. The guard was only requested and stationed “on the morning after the Jews’ preparations / Preparation Day”, i.e., on the Sabbath (Seventh Day) “morning”.
…11. Joseph closed the grave and finished the burial and went home and the women also, indeed “well before the weekly Sabbath”, in fact three hours “because the Jews’ preparations”-time had begun, “mid-afternoon while the Sabbath approached”.
Yours is the classic example of arbitrary mal-application of the Scriptures.
March 12, 2016 @ 10:56 am
DEATH OF MESSIAH ON WEDNESDAY NISSAN 14 NEW
To me it looks as if Yahushuah Ha-Mashiach ate a Passover meal with His disciples on Nissan 14 (Tuesday evening). He was betrayed and arrested during the night and brought to the High Priest on Nissan 14. He was nailed to the stake/cross on Passover Day (Wednesday Nissan 14)at 9 a.m. and died at 3 p.m. He was buried before 6 p.m. on Wednesday Nissan 14 according to precise Jewish customs. Thus He fulfilled the Feast of Passover as the Passover Lamb. This Nissan 14 Wednesday was the Day of Preparation (Matthew 27:62) before the High Sabbath feast of Unleavened Bread on Thursday Nissan 15. This High Sabbath was in addition to the normal Sabbath day later in the week. Thus Yahushuah fulfilled the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Yahushuah then rose up on Nissan 17/Saturday evening at 6 p.m. and fulfilled the feast of First Fruits. He probably remained in the tomb for the whole of the Sabbath in the Jewish tradition as He was the Lord of the Sabbath. This version amounts to three full days and three full nights in the grave as in the case of Jonas in the belly of alarge fish/whale(Matthew 12:38-40). A past 6 p.m. resurrection amounts to a Sunday resurrection as Sunday/Ist Day would run from 6 p.m. on Saturday to 6 p.m. on Sunday. There were not witnesses when He arose and it could thus be anytime from past 6 p.m. on the Saturday to the next day. However this would amount to another night (i.e 4 nights) if he arose on Sunday a.m. By resurrecting on Nissan 17/Saturday evening at 6 p.m. it amounts to 3 full days and three full nights in the grave up to that point.
Now all this looks correct as far as 3 full nights and days in the grave (i.e. 72 hours) but is it correct as far as other scripture variations? So Yahushuah died in the middle of the week on Nissan 14. He died in the middle of the 70th week of Daniel. He died in the middle and between two thieves. He is also in the middle between us and the Father Yahuweh! And thus we haggle with this one with full days and part days combinations to do justice to the cause. My choice of version as above is not infallible as neither I or any other were witnesses when He arose! I thought that 3 full days and three full nights are adamant and perhaps they are or not. I rest my case here!
April 18, 2012 @ 9:14 pm
Plan A
Jesus said to Nicodemus plainly that he would be lifted up and EGW says that meant on the cross. Jesus came to this world willingly knowing what his fate would be. There are so many references in the Bible to his crucifixion that I don’t see a way around it. As far was what God’s original intention was-well that was for Adam and Eve not to sin in the first place. The plan B was for Jesus to come as a sacrifice. Satan invented His death and he willingly offered himself. God simply knew ahead of time what the devil would do and put it in prophecy. We can’t speculate on what God was thinking. What we do know is that he came and offered His life. I’m thankful. I think it’s easy to get lost in details that aren’t of much importance..perhaps??
June 6, 2012 @ 9:10 pm
Plan B
I don’t agree with your plan A and then B for Jesus’ death. There’s nothing in prophecy that says he’d be sacrificed on the temple altar by a priest. Jesus told Nicodemus how he would die and told the disciples he would be crucified. The Old Testament prophecies point to his humiliation-being whipped, beard plucked out and crucified with the “engraven on the palms of my hands” for one example from Isaiah. I have to say that God’s plan A was for all the people to accept him as Messiah; that is clear from the Bible and because of His foreknowledge he knew what they would do. As far as God’s plan A to make Him a sacrifice on the altar with a high priest officiating is nothing other than speculation. (Idaho)
June 6, 2012 @ 9:11 pm
Thank you for your comments. When others contribute thoughts it brings fresh thinking to the subject and helps us progress towards the best understanding.
You may be correct. Certainly God did not foreordain that people should sin and reject the Messiah. It seems that He adapts His ways to man’s actions which He would do if He is honoring man’s free will.
Here are a few thoughts. The reasons (and I think they are reasonable) that I suggest that plan A for Jesus’ death was not crucifixion are:
* “The wages of sin is death …” (Rom 6:23) not crucifixion.
* God did not invent crucifixion, the Romans did. To say God did would totally distort the truth of God’s character.
* No sacrificial lamb (all of which pointed to Jesus’ death) was ever nailed to a cross. They were all killed in a humane manner.
* Abraham laid his son Isaac on an altar for the sacrifice. This was the clearest picture we have of what the Divine Father and Son would go through.
Here are some related thoughts. The sanctuaries on earth including the temple at the time of Jesus’ death were models of the true sanctuary in heaven. (Heb 8:2). The sacrifices in the earthly tabernacle were pointing to the true sacrifice of the heavenly system which it would seem should take place on a corresponding altar of sacrifice in the heavenly sanctuary. Actually, the cross of Calvary on earth ended up being the altar of sacrifice of the heavenly sanctuary.
“Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?” (Acts 7:49)
January 15, 2013 @ 9:14 pm
Reference to Plan A in Old Testament
Actually, Jose, there is a possible reference to Plan A in Psalms where it is speaking of the Messiah and then makes reference to binding the sacrifice to the altar:
“Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.” (Psa 118:26-27)
January 26, 2015 @ 9:11 pm
the cross was never a set back but it was a set up that we may be saved.
the power of God is never in theology bt in revelation and truth