vax2:tod (03/23/83)
David and others: The statement in Matthew 12:40 that Jesus would be three days and three nights in the tomb is according to Jewish calendar methods. Jews count days from evening to morning, i.e. from sun down to sun down, not from morning to evening as is more common in this culture. This is why Genesis 1 & 2 says "there was evening and there was morning" while describing creation. Furthermore, any part of a day is counted as a full day. Thus Jesus was in the tomb for three days as follows: Friday before Sundown - 1 day Friday after Sundown - Saturday Sundown - 1 day Saturday after Sundown - Sunday morning - 1 day I don't know why it says three nights. Prehaps one of the Jews on this network could explain Jewish calendars and time counting further. I'm sure the answer lies there somewhere. Tod K. Johnson