DAY 1
According to Mark’s Gospel, he endured the torment of crucifixion for some six hours from the third hour, at approximately 9 am, until his death at the ninth hour, corresponding to about 3 pm. According to Jewish Calendar, Passover had just taken place, and Jesus was crucified on the Wednesday of that same week.
Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples (Matthew 26:19-20; Mark 14:16-17; Luke 22:13-15). That very evening Judas betrayed him. Jesus began his journey as the Passover Lamb for our sins.
How do you fit three days in the tomb when you count from Good Friday to Easter Sunday?
The Pharisees said to Pilate, “This deceiver said while he was yet alive, “After three days: I will rise again. Command therefore, that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day.
(Mt. 27:63-64).
Jesus himself said, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).
On the eve of his crucifixion, he was placed in the tomb. He was entombed just before the sunset when the “high (Sabbath) day,” the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, began. There were two Sabbaths. A High Sabbath, associated with Passover, and the regular Sabbath on Saturday.
NOTE: The original Greek in which the Gospels were written also plainly tells us that two Sabbath days were involved in these accounts. In Matthew 28:1, where Matthew writes that the women went to the tomb “after the Sabbath,” the word Sabbath here is actually plural and should be translated “Sabbaths.”
HOW LONG WAS JESUS REALLY IN THE TOMB?
You might be surprised to know that Jesus was crucified on a Wednesday, died and placed in a borrowed tomb on Wednesday evening at the beginning of High Sabbath. Jewish Calendar considered Wednesday evening to Thursday evening as one complete day, then Thursday evening to Friday evening was the second complete day. The third day was Friday evening to Saturday evening and this was considered the weekly Sabbath according to Jewish Calendar. After the Sabbath, scripture tells us that the women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body as is the tradition with the dead. They arrived in the early dawn on the first day of the week, which according to the Jewish Calendar is Sunday morning. That was when they discovered the massive stoned that blocked the tomb’s entrance had been rolled away, an angel standing there and the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen from the dead before Sunday morning. Hallelujah!
Mark 16 Verses 1- 7
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
FACT; WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE EASTER BUNNY AND JESUS?
According to History.com, Easter eggs represent Jesus’ resurrection. However, this association came much later when Roman Catholicism became the dominant religion in Germany in the 15th century and merged with already ingrained pagan beliefs. The first Easter Bunny legend was documented in the 1500s.
DAY 2 – WALKING THROUGH THE RESURRECTION
Jesus compared his death to Jonah, who was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights.
Jesus himself said, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).
Jonah had related his ordeal not only in terms of having been swallowed by the great fish but also as having been “at the roots of the mountains” (Jonah 2:6); that is, Jonah stated that “the earth with its bars was around” him in the confines of Sheol (Jonah 2:6), because he was physically dead in the belly of the great fish. Jonah was not in the ground (the grave), but his body was under water and his soul was separated from his body, and in the heart of the earth (and thus in Sheol). The account of Jonah enables us to understand that Sheol includes some location “in the heart of the earth” as Jesus said (or to use Jonah’s words, “at the roots of the mountains”). Thus Jesus entered the same place as Jonah (Sheol/Hades) for three days and three nights.
There is a teaching that has been claimed as heresy because it says that Jesus went to Hell while his body was resting in the tomb. It appears that according to scripture, there is “some” truth to this teaching. Although, teachers today have not told the story with accuracy and so it’s been earmarked as a false teaching. We have been lazy in explaining the truth. Scheol or Hades, is actually a specific place, but today in our modern world, we have replaced it with the word “Hell”. This is inaccurate because Scheol/Hades is not the same place as Hell. Jesus did not go into hell but he did go into Scheol/Hades while his body was in the tomb. This is why Jesus referenced Jonah and being in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. Read on to discover more….
Based on Jesus’s words to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43, some Christians believe, that after his death, Jesus went to heaven to be in the presence of the Father. But Luke 23:43 doesn’t say that Jesus would be in the presence of God; it says he would be in the same place as the thief (“Today you will be with me in paradise”), Based on the Old Testament and Luke 16, it seems likely that the now-repentant thief would be at Abraham’s side, a place of comfort and rest for the righteous dead, which Jesus here calls “paradise.”
Following his death for sin, then, Jesus journeys to Hades, to the City of Death, I can picture Jesus ripping its gates off the hinges. He liberates Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, John the Baptist, and the rest of the Old Testament faithful, ransoming them from the power of Sheol (Psalm 49:15; 86:13; 89:48). They had waited there for so long, not having received what was promised, so that their spirits would be made perfect along with the saints of the new covenant (Hebrews 11:39–40; 12:23).
After his resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven and brings the ransomed dead with him, so that now paradise is no longer down near the place of torment, but is up in the third heaven, the highest heaven, where God dwells (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
Now, in the church age, when the righteous die, they aren’t merely carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom; they depart to be with Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:23). The wicked, however, remain in Hades in torment, until the final judgment, when Hades gives up the dead who dwell there, and they are judged according to their deeds, and then Death and Hades are thrown into hell, into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13–15)
Interesting huh?
FACT; WHAT WAS THE ACTUAL DATE OF JESUS’ DEATH ON THE CROSS?
Also according to Humphreys and Waddington, the lunar Jewish calendar leaves only two plausible dates within the reign of Pontius Pilate for Jesus’ death, and both of these would have been a 14 Nisan as specified in the Gospel of John: Friday 7 April AD 30, and Friday 3 April AD 33. Even more, scholars prefer a date in AD 33, If the events recorded in the gospels took place in AD 33, then this day, April 23, is the probable date. He was placed in the tomb on Wednesday, and rose at the end of Sabbath, Saturday by sundown, before Sunday morning,
DAY 3 — WALKING THROUGH THE RESURRECTION
Friday at sundown, according to Jewish Calendar, was the beginning of the third day that Christ laid in the tomb. We know that Jesus was laying in the tomb on Friday because scripture tells us that after the Sabbath the Women came with spices to anoint Jesus’ Body. Luke 23:55-56: Mark 16:1: “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.” The Sabbath was finished on Saturday evening.
HE has RISEN! Jesus rose in the darkness after the Sabbath (Saturday) before Sunday morning. The third day was the Sabbath. It started Friday evening and ended Saturday evening according to the Jewish Calendar.
John 20:7 tells us that the napkin that was placed over the face of Jesus in the tomb was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Is that significant? It was Hebrew tradition the folded napkin had to do with the master and servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. If a napkin was thrown on the table in a ball, it meant the master was done his meal. However, if the master got up from the table, folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, “I’m not finished yet.” The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!” He (the master, Jesus) is coming back! Hallelujah!
What I’m about to share is not because I’m an expert. As a matter of fact, there is nothing in this article that has anything to do with the merit of being a graduate of a Christian psychology program. The only reason I’m sharing this is due to extremely profound personal experiences that have given me insight and understanding about myself and healing, through the eyes of Jesus.
Five Things Judging Does: 1) Hurts other people 2) Elevates your own self above others (3) Keeps wrong perspectives 4) Perpetuates negativity in your life (5) Unknowingly, you’re also judging yourself.
Philippians 4:8 says, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Colossians 3:16 tells us, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. — I believe your answer is not only found in the Word of God, but also through the Word of God dwelling within you.
1) Take a compassionate viewpoint. It’s really hard to do this. The closer the person is to you, the more hurtful it is, and this makes it even more challenging. Realize that those who judge, are hurting and responding from the soul. (mind, will and emotions) They haven’t tapped into what their own insecurity is, their own pride and so their perception is skewed. Their judgement is a knee-jerk reaction from their soul.
What if someone is trying to lovingly correct me? In every case, words of kindness that indicate your value and worth will come before words of correction. Correction feels like you’re being guided and encouraged. Judgement is different because it’s an accusation and usually comes from someone else’s perception or point of view.
“Everyday Miracles” is a brand new song! I want to thank Life 100.3 Ontario’s Christian Super Station in Barrie Ontario for sponsoring this song. The song was produced by Andy Horrocks at AME Studios. I’m so excited for you to hear it next week when the Lyric Video is released.
Only God could have done this! Now Wings to Victory Radio Devotionals are airing on radio stations from UK, Ireland and New York. Just look at the map with all those lights showing the listening audience is across the map. Wings to Victory Radio Devotionals now has its own website. Please stop by, visit, enjoy some devotionals and encouraging radio devotionals. 
Laurie is releasing a brand new song entitled “Everyday Miracles” to Christian radio on June 25th, through Bridge Music Promotions.
Don’t miss Laurie’s Live Facebook appearances. so be sure to join her 
