How long did Jesus spend in the grave?

The answer to this seemingly simple question is a matter of heated debate in some circles. The dilemma comes from an apparent discrepancy in Scripture. Matthew 12:40 says, “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.” But if Jesus was buried late Friday afternoon and rose early Sunday morning, as other Bible passages indicate, He spent barely a day and a half in the grave!

Building on a literal interpretation of this one verse, some Christians have posed alternative ideas about when Jesus was actually crucified. Does the Bible provide enough clues to determine which theory is correct?

Dr. Torres carefully delineates the literal theory and its plausibility, thoughtfully considering the Scriptures involved. He generates a timeline for the literal 72 hours, which shows that the Last Supper would have had to occur in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

After pointing out difficulties in the literal hypothesis, the author gives the biblical solution to the dilemma from the writings of Dr. Luke. Dr. Torres lays out the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection as described in the third Gospel. He concludes that “we are not dealing with a literal seventy-two-hour period, but rather, a biblically inclusive reckoning.”

This sharing book ends with an appeal to reach out to the only One who transcends the grave. If you have questions about this topic or know someone who does, Jesus in the Heart of the Earth provides the biblical answers you need.