For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures 1Corinthians15:3-4
Why the third day?
Without getting into technical debates about whether this is a literal 72 hour period or 3 days or parts thereof, the bottom line is that in the OT three days is a framework that appears often and that the three day period comes to symbolise a breakthrough or climactic event after the period of struggle and uncertainty.
Here are some examples:
* Abraham travelled for 3 days with Isaac before coming to the place of sacrifice - where Isaac is spared!
* The baker and winetaster had dreams that Joseph interpreted and these dreams were fulfilled on Pharaoh's birthday three days later.
* Joseph kept his brothers in prison for three days before allowing them to return home to fetch Benjamin.
* The Israelites prepared for three days at Sinai before Moses went up to receive the law.
* Three days after David wasn't allowed to fight for the Philistines he returned to Ziklag and found they had been raided by the Amelikites.
* Jonah was in the belly of the fish for 3 days.
* A sick Hezekiah waited for 3 days to hear whether God would grant him extra life.
* Esther fasted and prayed for 3 days before going to the king.
These examples illustrate the point that three days had become symbolic of a period of waiting and then a dramatic event - often involving salvation would take place.
This is not unlike the symbolism of 40 days which is a period of testing and preparation. Today is Ash Wednesday and maybe it is good to start the 40 days of Lent with the assurance that He rose on the third day. There is a clear salvation event at the end of our wait!
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Theo Groeneveld theo @ emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at emmdev[dot]blogspot[dot]com/
