Proof that Christ did not rise from the Grave on Sunday Morning
THE ONLY SIGN OF CHRIST JESUS' MESSIAHSHIP AND TIME IN THE GRAVE
Jesus gave just one sign of His Messiahship. This sign also involved His time in the grave and when He would be resurrected. Note Matt. 12:39-40.
Mt. 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas 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.
(KJV)
That was the only sign given! Jonah was buried in the great fish for three days and three nights just as our Savior was buried in the tomb in the heart of the earth for 72 hours. Also read Mark 8:31. The good Friday- Sunday morning Easter traditions requires only 36 hours. Half the time of the sign of Jonah. Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon is 24 hours plus about 12 or 13 more for Sunday at Sunrise. If extended to 72 hours from Friday afternoon, we would end up at Monday afternoon. The Easter eggs and Sunday sun rise traditions are borrowed from the Roman Empire. Note in Mark 7:7-8 God warns against using the traditions of men for true worship. Further note Mark 7:13. Read also John 2:18-21. Jesus said that AFTER three days He would rise again. Note Matt. 27:63.
Mt 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
(KJV)
The three days and nights in the grave for Jesus are clearly established by biblical evidence.
ESTABISHING THE TIME OF THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST
Jesus died when the official lamb of Israel was being sacrificed at the evening sacrifice in the Temple. Jesus is the true Lamb of Israel and ultimately all mankind. Note Luke 23:44-46.
Lu 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. {earth: or, land}
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.
(KJV)
The ninth hour is 3:00 p.m. Therefore Christ started the process of dying at 3:00 p.m. and was soon expired. So His death would have been between 3:00-4:00p.m., probably closer to 3:30 p.m. A longer account of His dying is revealed in Matt. 27:45-51. They would then have prepared His body for burial and put him in the heart of the earth somewhere between 3:30-5:30 p.m.
TWO SABBATHS MUST BE CONSIDERED TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMING CORRECTLY
The crucifixion week had more than one Sabbath. The annual high day Sabbath the Feast of Unleavened Bread and then later the weekly Sabbath. Note John 19:14 & 31.
John 19:14 And it was the preparation of the Passover, and about the sixth hour: and He saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!
John 19:31 The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation day, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
(KJV)
It was a desecration of the Holy Day to have this bloody execution above ground where all could see it. Therefore all the prisoners had to be buried before sunset. Sunset is 6:00 p.m. So Jesus body was put into the grave at say around 5:00 p.m., but definitely before 6:00 p.m. This annual Holy Day always follows the Passover , read John 19:41-42. See Num. 28:16-17.
John 19:41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
(KJV)
THEY CAME TO CHRIST TOMB AT DARKNESS AND HE WAS ALREADY GONE
When his followers arrived at the site of Jesus burial it was dark and Christ was already gone. So said the angels and their own eyes. Note John 20:1
John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
(KJV)
Further read Luke 24:1-3 and it is very clear that Jesus is resurrected long before daylight arrives and before Sunday sunrise. Christ was resurrected at the end of the Sabbath exactly 72 hours from His burial as He said himself. Note that from about 5:00 p.m. Wednesday to 5:00 p.m. Saturday is the required 72 hours. Christ was gone before Sunday sunrise arrived! See also Mark 16:2-6 , Matt 28:5-6.
Luke 24:18-21 does not alter any of the other verses. Contradictions do not exist in the biblical accounts. A deeper more thorough analysis always reveals the truth. Normally the seeming contradiction reveals additional information. Here they are referring to various events which included the setting of the guards at His tomb which occurred a day later.
Mark 16:9 may seem to contradict other verses on the sunrise issue. However if you remove the commas it then states that on the first day of the week Mary saw Jesus. Remember punctuation was added much later by translators and so were verses 9-20 of Mark 16. Further verses 9-20 of Mark are not in his writings. Scribes added this ending not the inspired Apostles.
CHRIST WAS PROPHESIED TO DIE IN THE MIDST OF THE WEEK
Jesus died on a Wednesday which is in the midst of the week with Thursday being the High Day. Note Dan 9:24-27. Exactly 72 hours existed with Christ being crucified on Wednesday not Friday. This Wednesday death and burial of Jesus and a Thursday annual Sabbath makes all prophetic events lock into place. In conclusion we can see that biblical evidence does not support a Sunday morning sunrise resurrection. This is simply a human tradition from the Roman Empire as they inherited it from previous worldly pagan societies. Remember it was DARK when witnesses visited the tomb of Christ and he was already risen hours before the visits. He was gone long before sunrise or daylight.
Remember he died for our sins on a Wednesday not a Friday. He was sacrificed in midst of the week.
Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate."
(NKJV)
Power pts.
1. Matt. 12:39-40
2. Mark 8:31
3. Mark 7:7-8
4. John 2:18-19
5. Matt. 27:63
6. Luke 23:44
7. Matt. 27:45-50
8. John 19:14 & 31
9. John 20:1-2
10. Luke 24:1-3
11. mark 16: 2 & 6
12. Mark 16:9
13. Daniel 9:27
