Three Nights: The Perfect Plan of Redemption

Day 6 – Sunday – He Is Risen! A New Life Dawns

Matthew 12:40 NKJV For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Happy Resurrection Day, BAC Fellowship family!

I always love revisit the Passion Week as Easter approaches, and I love digging into the timings. Today we celebrate the glorious morning when Jesus rose from the dead, the day that completes the “three days and three nights” and brings new life to all who believe.

1. Resurrection Morning (Sunday, Nisan 18)

Scriptures:

• Matthew 28:1-6 ” Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it… And the angel… said… ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.’”
• Mark 16:1-6 “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices… And very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen… But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away… And… a young man… said… ‘He is risen!”
• Luke 24:1-6 “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they… came to the tomb bringing the spices… And they found the stone rolled away… Two men stood by them in shining garments… ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!’”
• John 20:1-2 “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away… Then she ran and came to Simon Peter…”

It was Sunday, Nisan 18. The women came very early in the morning with the spices they had prepared on Friday. They found the large stone already rolled away and the tomb empty. Angels announced the wonderful news: “He is not here; for He is risen!”

2. The Timeline of Resurrection Sunday:

Jesus rose sometime after the Saturday Sabbath ended (sundown on Nisan 17) but before the women arrived (around 5–6 AM). The exact moment is not recorded — the Gospels simply show that the tomb was already empty when the angel rolled back the stone.

Here is what happened that glorious day:

• Pre-dawn (~3–5 AM): Resurrection (Pre-Dawn): Jesus rises sometime after Saturday’s Sabbath ends (~6 PM, Nisan 17) but before the women arrive “very early” (Mark 16:2, ~5-6 AM). Exact moment unstated, but the tomb was empty when the women later checked (Luke 24:3).
• Dawn (~5–6 AM): “As the first day began to dawn” (Matthew 28:1), an angel descends, causing a “great earthquake,” He rolls back the stone, and sits on it (Matt 28:2). Guards quake and flee (Matthew 28:4) as the seal is broken, the tomb opens.
• Early morning: Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome come “very early” with spices (Mark 16:2, Luke 24:1), they are worried about the stone (Mark 16:3). They find it rolled away, enter, and hear from angels: “He is risen!” (Luke 24:6, Matt 28:6). John 20:1 notes Mary Magdalene’s solo trip “while it was still dark,” she was possibly first, then with others (harmonized accounts).
• Later that morning: Jesus appeared to the other women (Matthew 28:9-10)
• Afternoon (~2–4 PM): Jesus walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, explained the Scriptures to them, and revealed Himself at supper (Luke 24:13-35).
• Evening (~6–8 PM): Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples in a locked room, showed them His hands and side, ate fish with them, and gave them peace (John 20:19-23; Luke 24:36-43).

3. The Saints Who Rose

Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”

The tombs that opened on Wednesday at Jesus’ death now released the saints after His resurrection. They appeared in Jerusalem as powerful witnesses to what God had done.

4. One Angel or Two?

The Gospels mention one angel in some accounts and two in others, you have to know this is not a contradiction. Two angels were likely present. Matthew and Mark focus on the main angel who rolled the stone or spoke first, while Luke and John mention both. Different eyewitness perspectives simply highlight different details, but the message is the same in every Gospel: “He is risen!”

• Matthew 28:2-5 (“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone… And the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid… He is not here; for He is risen…’”
  • Count: One angel, descends, rolls the stone, speaks.
• Mark 16:5-6 “And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side… And he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed… He is risen…’”
  • Count: One “young man” (implied angel, white robe), inside, speaking.
• Luke 24:4-6 “And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments… ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!’”
  • Count: Two “men” (angels, shining garments), appear suddenly, speak.
• John 20:11-12 “But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping… and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”
  • Count: Two angels are inside and are seen by Mary Magdalene after Peter and John leave.

Harmonising the Accounts: –

• The timing:
  • Matthew: Angel rolls stone pre-dawn (Matt 28:2), speaks to women at dawn (Matt 28:5).
  • Mark: Women enter, see one angel inside (Mark 16:5).
  • Luke: Two angels appear as women puzzle (Luke 24:4).
  • John: Mary sees two angels later, after running to Peter in (John 20:2, 11-12).
• To explain this: –
  • Likely two angels were present; Matthew and Mark focus on the one who speaks or is most visible (outside or inside), while Luke and John note both.
  • Differences reflect eyewitness angles: Matthew sees the stone-roller, Mark the greeter, Luke and John the pair inside. No contradiction its just selective focus.
• “One voice or two, the message rings, ‘He is risen!’”

5. What Jesus Did on Sunday, Nisan 18 (The First Day He Arose)

The resurrection was not the end of the story; it was just the beginning of many wonderful appearances as ill show in our next study. Jesus did not rise and then disappear.

On that very first day, He personally met with different people in different places, bringing comfort, proof, and commissioning.

Here are the key Scriptures that record what happened:

• Matthew 28:1-10 – The resurrection is implied (“He is risen”), and Jesus appears to the women (vv. 9-10).
• Mark 16:1-9 – The resurrection is implied (“He is risen”), and Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene (v. 9).
• Luke 24:1-39 – The resurrection is implied (“He is risen”), Jesus appears to two disciples on the Emmaus road (vv. 13-15), and later to the gathered disciples (vv. 36-39).
• John 20:1-19 – The tomb is found empty (v. 1), Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (vv. 14-18), and then to the disciples that evening (v. 19).

Timeline of Jesus’ Actions on Resurrection Sunday (Nisan 18)

• Pre-Dawn (~3–5 AM)

Jesus rose from the dead sometime after the Saturday Sabbath ended at sundown (~6 PM on Nisan 17), but before the women arrived very early in the morning (Mark 16:2, around 5–6 AM). The Gospels do not record the exact moment. When the angel later rolled back the stone (Matthew 28:2-4), the tomb was already empty. “He is risen, as He said” (Matthew 28:6) marks His first great victory; He had conquered death.

• Dawn (~5–6 AM)

An angel descended from heaven, causing a great earthquake. The angel rolled back the stone and sat on it. The Roman guards shook with fear and became like dead men (Matthew 28:2-4). Jesus did not need the stone moved to leave the tomb; He later entered locked rooms (John 20:19). The stone was rolled away so the women could see that He was risen.

• Morning (~6–9 AM)

Mary Magdalene arrived at the tomb while it was still dark (John 20:1). She found the stone rolled away, ran to tell Peter and John (John 20:2), and then returned. Jesus appeared to her alone (John 20:14-18; Mark 16:9). In this tender first sighting He said, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father… go tell My brethren” (John 20:17).

A little later, as Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were leaving the tomb (Matthew 28:8), Jesus met them on the way (Matthew 28:9-10). They worshipped Him, and He said, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee” (Matthew 28:10). Joy exploded in their hearts.

• Afternoon (~2–4 PM)

Two disciples (one named Cleopas) were walking the seven miles to Emmaus (Luke 24:13). Jesus joined them, though they did not recognise Him at first. He explained the Scriptures to them (Luke 24:15-27), then revealed Himself when He broke bread at supper (Luke 24:30-31). They immediately rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others (Luke 24:33).

• Evening (~6–8 PM)

While the Emmaus disciples were telling the eleven what had happened (Luke 24:33-35), Jesus suddenly appeared in the locked room where the disciples were gathered (John 20:19; Luke 24:36). He said, “Peace be to you,” showed them His hands and His side, and ate a piece of fish to prove He was not a ghost (Luke 24:39-43). Their fear turned to awe and great joy.

Summary of His Day

In five key moments on that first Resurrection Sunday, Jesus rose, left the tomb, appeared to Mary Magdalene, then to the other women, then to the two on the Emmaus road, and finally to the eleven disciples. He comforted them, taught them from the Scriptures, proved His bodily resurrection, and commissioned them, all before nightfall.

What we get from this is powerful: He rose. He walked. He spoke. The chains of death were shattered.

What This Means for Us

Jesus’ resurrection on the third day fulfils His own words. It breaks the power of death (1 Corinthians 15:20) and launches the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The women came looking for a dead body but met the living Saviour. The disciples moved from fear to joy. Because He lives, we have forgiveness, hope, and the promise of eternal life.

He is risen indeed!

The three nights are complete. The Lamb who was slain now lives forever. A new life dawns for all who trust in Him.