The Third Day

2022-05-20

...and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:4)

How was the resurrection on the third day an Old Testament fulfilled? What is the significance of the third day?

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

The Lord is the fulfillment of Israel here in Hosea. Israel being “torn” and “smitten” fell on the Savior, Jesus Christ. We all are healed, bound, revived, raised up, and live in Him.

Consider Esther, who was as good as dead before the king, going to him unannounced (Esther 4:11-17). She was saved by the extending of his scepter, and she lived. This was after three days and nights of the people fasting for her:

Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. (Esther 5:1-2)

The Lord Jesus Christ also obtained favor in the sight of His Father, and He rose again.

Likewise, the prophet Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, as good as dead:

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:17)

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: 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. (Matthew 12:39-40)

This “sign of the prophet Jonas” was quite the sign, as it truly affirms that Jesus was the Son of God.