I can agree to disagree with you on several things. Here's something on 3 days and 3 nights which may help others with this question.
Jesus' own words (recorded in Matthew 12:40) attest without doubt that he would be buried (be in the heart of the earth) for 3 days and 3 nights.
“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. “
Mark 15:42,43 mention Jesus' death and burial on the day before a sabbath;
42. And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43. Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
John 20:1 (cp. also Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1) mentions, that the grave was already empty on the first day of the week (Sunday).
•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.
•Matthew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
•Mark 16 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
•Luke 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them
A correct understanding will be obvious from a careful consideration of the time references made in Scripture. Again and again there is mention made about the Feast of Passover or Feast of Unleavened Bread. From the records it is clearly seen that Jesus Christ died on the day before the beginning of this Feast (the preparation day). Since the first day of the Feast was a sabbath, and since the days began in biblical reckoning with sunset, there was some hurry necessary in the burial of Jesus.
Mark 15:42 mentions this situation, and states that the next day was a sabbath.
John 19:31 has reference to the exact same point, but it gives another very important truth about this upcoming sabbath -- this was not the regular sabbath but this sabbath was a high sabbath. It was not the weekly sabbath but it was the first day of the 7 day long Feast of Unleavened Bread of which the first and last days were high sabbaths or holy convocations. The beginning of this feast was always on the 15th Nisan, no matter which day of the week it might be (cp. Leviticus 23:6-8). Thus Jesus Christ died in the afternoon of the 14th Nisan and was buried the same day shortly before sunset, just before the beginning of the feast , the beginning of this high sabbath day.
All 4 Gospels do have references and mention that the grave was already empty at the beginning of the 1st day of the week (our Sunday), which means that Christ had already been risen by that time. According to his own words, he was to be buried for 3 days and 3 nights (a complete period of 3 x 24 hours according to our normal reckoning of time). Thus, we can see that he was buried late afternoon on the 14th Nisan, and he was risen from the dead late afternoon on the 17th Nisan. The records in the gospels do not mention any other events between his resurrection and the events that took place early on the first day of the week when the women came to the grave and found it to be empty. This indicates that Jesus must have been risen from the dead late Saturday afternoon, shortly before sunset which marked the beginning of the 1st day of the week.
Counting backwards now, we can easily recognize that Jesus Christ died on Wednesday, 14th Nisan, on the day before this special sabbath, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and he was buried before sunset that day. Exactly 3 days and 3 nights later, he rose from the dead. He was 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth, just as he had said. And he was also raised from the dead "on the 3rd day" still since Saturday had not yet passed.
Wednesday – 14th Nisan Buried – NOT Friday
Thursday –15th
Friday – 16th
Sabbath – 17th Nisan
The contradiction exists only if one takes the mentioned "sabbath" to be the regular weekly sabbath by not taking into account what John 19:31 so clearly states with additional information about this sabbath being a high sabbath. Such assumption puts the crucifixion and death and burial of Jesus on a Friday, which causes all the problems and makes Jesus to look like a liar. As soon as one recognizes that the sabbath was a high sabbath, the first day of the 7 day Feast of Unleavened Bread, the 15th Nisan, which could be on any day of the week according to the calendar, the problem and contradiction disappears.
However, one does clearly see that the traditional teaching is in contradiction to the truth revealed in God's Word. Whom do we want to believe?
John 19:31…the Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, 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…
Now...I'm not a roofer, but I can easily understand this.
Lyndon
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Jesus NEVER said that He would be "buried" for three days and three nights. Where did He ever say such a thing? You made that up. He said He would be "In the heart of the earth" for three days and three nights. He did not say that he would be "burried" for that time, or even "dead" for that time. Remember this is "the sign of JONAH." WAS JONAH D-E-A-D? I'll write a paper on this went I get good and ready to write a paper on this and not before. Sorry.
Ray
