What Is Three Days?
Can we fit three days between Friday evening and Sunday morning? The general belief among “Christians” is that Christ meant
parts of three days: part of Friday, all of Saturday, part of Sunday. But is that what He said?
One of the most important rules of biblical interpretation is to allow the Bible to interpret itself. The Bible often explains its
symbols and defines its terms. Is there a biblical definition of what constitutes a “day” and a “night”? Yes, there is!
Jesus Himself supplies the definition in John 11:9-10:
Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But
if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.
The plain meaning is that He recognized the twelve hours of daylight to form a “day,” and the corresponding twelve hours of
darkness He called “night.” Thus three days and three nights would be made up of six twelve-hour periods or 72 hours.
This is the same method He uses in the Old Testament’in fact, in the very first chapter of the Bible! “God called the light Day, and
the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day. . . . So the evening and the morning were the
second day. . . . So the evening and the morning were the third day” (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13). Here are three days and three nights so
clearly defined anyone can understand!
What about the sign of Jonah? Was the prophet in the great fish’s belly for a complete 72 hours? The marginal note in Bullinger’s
Companion Bible for Jonah 1:17 reads: “Three days and three nights. The Hebrew idiom ‘three days’ can be used for parts of three
days (and even of years): but not when the word ‘nights’ is added” (our emphasis). By the addition of “nights,” the expression
becomes more specific, precluding the idea of “parts” of days!
The differing expressions Christ used help to define “three days” even further. We already know “three days and three nights”
refers to a 72-hour period. What about the other phrases? Do they mean the same?
é Jesus said He would rise “the third day.” This narrows that period to no less than 48 hours and no more than 72 hours from His
burial.
é He also said “in three days” He would rise. The outer limit for the duration of His stay “in the heart of the earth” could be no
more than 72 hours.
é Two other times it is said that He would rise “after three days,” meaning He must be in the grave at least 72 hours and not a
second less!
When we compile all of these factors, we can reach only one definite conclusion: Jesus Christ was in the tomb of Joseph of
Arimathea exactly 72 hours to the second! If He was resurrected either earlier or later, we have no Savior because the only sign
He gave would have failed!
He would be a fraud!
But we have assurance that “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). What God prophesies comes to pass (Isaiah 46:9-11).
In this instance, His Word was fulfilled to the very second!
Five homemade gifts for Christmas
Check out these 10 easy homemade gift ideas for Christmas, a birthday, or any occasion. Using these ideas, you can give everyone
you know a homemade gift this year.
1. Potpourri Filled Glass Jar
For Teens and adults
Approximate Time Required: An hour or less
Materials Needed
Glass jar
Fake leaves
Scented potpourri
Battery operated tea light
Holiday ribbon
Scissors
Instructions
1. With any medium to large clean jar, line medium assorted autumn fake leaves around the inside of the jar so there are no blank
spaces.
2. Put any spice or holiday (fall) scented potpourri inside to the neck of the jar.
3. Add battery operated tea light.
4. Add festive ribbon around the neck of the jar.
Tips and Tricks
At night, turn off all the lights and turn the tea light inside of the jar, it will illuminate the whole room and also fill the air with the
warm aroma.
2. Photo ornament (using an old CD.)
Materials Needed:
Old CD
Felt
Photo
Craft Glue
Ribbon
Scissors
Instructions:
Trace around the CD onto a piece of felt. Cut out the felt circle.
Cut a 10-inch piece of ribbon. Tie the ribbon into a loop. Put a dab of glue onto the back of the CD towards the outside edge. Press
the ribbon loop into the glue to make the hanger.
Spread glue over the entire back of the CD. Center the felt circle on glue and gently press. This will cover any writing and the
ribbon ends, and it will be the back of your ornament.
Cut around the figure in the picture you are using. You can cut it into a rectangle shape, circle, or whatever you want. For a fancy
edge, use pinking sheers!
Trace the picture onto a piece of felt. Cut out the shape, making it about 1/2-inch wider than the picture. Glue the photo onto the
piece of felt so you can see the felt on all sides. Glue this onto the center of the CD, making sure you cover the hole completely.
3. Candy wreath Craft
Make a wreath using hard, wrapped candies, ribbon, and a hanger! A fun decoration that you can eat.
Materials Needed:
Wire Hanger
Wrapped Candy
Regular or Curling Ribbon
Wire Cutters
Scissors
Instructions:
Straighten the hanger and then cut off a piece about 12-inches long. Bend that piece into a circle shape that is about 5-inches
across. Overlap the ends and twist them together. Of course, you can adjust the size of your circle as much as you like. I used
about 50 wrapped candies on my 5-inch wreath so you will need more if you make it bigger and less if you make it smaller.
Once you have the wreath base made, you can add the candy! You can use any kind of wrapped candy you like, anything from
traditional peppermint rounds to suckers. About 50 of them should fill your wreath nicely, but this number can vary a bit from
person to person because of how close they are tied together and the size of the candies used.
Cut the ribbon into pieces about 8-inches long. Take 1 piece of candy and tie it to the center of a piece of ribbon. Then, use the
ribbon to tie the candy tightly onto the wreath. You can either cut off the extra ribbon or leave it. The ends can be curled to add a
nice touch to your wreath. Continue this process until you have the wreath as full of candy as you like.
To hang your wreath, cut a piece of ribbon and tie it around the wreath and into a loop. You can even eat the candy by simply
unwrapping it, leaving the wrapper attached to the wreath!
4. Cookies in a Jar
These cookie mixes in mason jars make fun and unique gifts and are sure to be a big hit with everyone you give one to!
Follow the steps below to make your own cookies in a jar. Start out by gathering the basic supplies you will need. Then pick a
recipe and gather together those ingredients. Finally, you can fill and decorate the jar. Don’t forget to print out a recipe gift card to
include with the cookies in a jar.
Gathering Supplies
Start off by gathering these basic supplies. You will use the same basic supplies no matter what recipe you choose.
Quart Size Canning Jars with Lids
Scrap Fabric
Ribbon
Glue
Paper
Recipe and Required Ingredients (below)
Filling the Jar
Follow these simple instructions when you are ready to start filling your jars with the cookie ingredients.
Thoroughly wash and dry the jars and lids.
Pick a recipe of your choice and gather your ingredients. Fill the jar from the recipe you choose & add a label on it. That’s it!
5. Blooming Flower Pen
Materials Needed:
Pen
Silk or Plastic Flower with Stem
Green Floral Tape
Scissors
Instructions:
Hold the flower next to the pen and clip the flower stem so it is about 2-inches up from the tip of the pen. The flower should sit on
the end of the pen. Remove and leaves. While holding the flower stem tightly against the pen, wrap the entire length of the pen
with floral tape. This will secure the pen and flower together. With the floral tape you do not need tape or glue
