Three Days and Three Nights

THE HEART OF THE EARTH

As Jonah was thrown overboard into the sea, so Christ was "betrayed, " - "delivered into the hands of sinful men" (Luke 24:7), "delivered unto the Gentiles" (Lk 18:32), rejected, abandoned, forsaken of God (Luke 17:20; Matt. 27:46; Mark 15:34; Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50). As Jonah was swallowed by the great fish, so Christ was swallowed by the evil which surrounded Him. He was left to battle with Satan and all the demons of Hell, and with men under the control of demons.

Verses which specify "the third day" include those things which Christ must suffer, not simply his death. The whole process of humiliation was included in this "belly of the whale" experience. (Matt. 16:21, Mk. 8:31, Mk. 9:12, Lk. 9:22, Lk. 17:25)

To the mob near the garden, Jesus said, " This is your hour, and the power of darkness" (Luke 22:53). "Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners" (Matthew 26:46.) "The hour" begins with the kiss of Judas.

From the kiss of Judas on Thursday, to the earthquake just before dawn on Sunday - "three days and three nights" without the protection of His Father - left in the heart of the earth.

NIGHT: Thursday night: taken and tried DAY: Friday: scourged and crucified.
NIGHT: Friday night: Sleeping in death DAY: Sabbath: Sleeping in death.
NIGHT: Saturday night: Sleeping in death. DAY: Sunday at dawn: Raised from the dead.

Awesome proofs (taken from the internet)
If Christ died at 3pm on the 14th day of Nissan, at the very time when the lambs for the Passover feast were being sacrificed in the Temple. Christ "the Lamb of God" is called "our Passover" (1Cor. 5:7). In fulfillment of the type He must also present Himself in Heaven (the true Temple), before the Father's throne on the 16th day of Nissan, the "Firstfruits" of a harvest to follow.

If (Christ) the Lamb was sacrificed on Wednesday (the 14th), and the Passover fell on Thursday (the 15th), then the ceremony of the firstfruits must take place on Friday (the 16th). Yet the Wednesday to Sabbath afternoon scenario has Christ still asleep in the tomb on Friday. He is not raised until late on Sabbath afternoon, which would have been the 17th day of Nissan - to late for the Feast of Firstfruits.