CE: Three days and three nights
📆 Three Days and Three Nights
What did Jesus mean when He said He would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights? Let’s find out!
🌙 Two Ways to Count Days
In the Bible, we find two different ways to count time:
🕰️ 1. Full Days and Nights (Like in Matthew)
Matthew 12:40 says:
“Just like Jonah was in the big fish for three days and three nights, Jesus would be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.”
This means:
- One full day (sun up to sun down) and one full night (sun down to sun up) count as one “day and night.” This is how the Romans counted.
So the days are:
- Thursday (day) and Thursday night (that’s Day 1)
- Friday (day) and Friday night (that’s Day 2)
- Saturday (day) and Saturday night (that’s Day 3)
Jesus rose Sunday morning, so Sunday is not counted as a full day.
But guess what? That’s not the only way the Bible counts days!
📜 2. Hebrew Way of Counting Days (Like in Luke)
Luke 24:7 says:
“The Son of Man must be given to sinners, die on a cross, and rise on the third day.”
In the Hebrew way of counting time, any part of a day counts as a full day. So:
- Friday afternoon = Day 1
- Saturday all day = Day 2
- Early Sunday morning = Day 3
Even though Sunday morning was short, it still counts as a day! That’s how the Hebrews counted time.
❤️ The Heart of the Earth
Jesus said He would be in the heart of the earth. That doesn’t just mean He was in a tomb—it means He entered into the wickedness and deception of the world as Judas planned to betray him.
💔 Wednesday night: Judas betrayed Him. Jesus felt the sorrow of the world’s sin start to press on Him.
That night, he was already entering the “heart of the earth”— The betrayal already weighed on him, but it was not counted since it was not a full night.
✏️ Activity Page
1. ✅ True or Not True?
Circle T or N
- Jesus was in the tomb for exactly 3 full days and nights. T / N
- Hebrew people count any part of a day as a full day. T / N
- Jesus felt the sadness of the world starting Wednesday night. T / N
2. 🧩 Fill in the Blank:
“Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for __ days and __ nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth.”
(Matthew 12:40)
3. 🕊️ What Do These Mean?
Match the picture with the idea:
| Picture | Idea |
|---|---|
| 🌞 | Day |
| 🌙 | Night |
| 💔 | Sadness in the world |
| ✝️ | Jesus’ love and rescue |
4. 📅 Color and Trace the Timeline!
Color the three days:
- Thursday: Jesus is betrayed by Judas (❤️)
- Friday: Jesus dies on the cross (✝️)
- Saturday: Jesus rests in the tomb (🕯️)
- Sunday: Jesus rises again! (🌅)
Draw a big heart over all of them to show His love for us!
🎨 Coloring Page Idea
Title: “Three Days and Three Nights”
What to Draw:
- A big heart representing “the heart of the earth” with Jesus inside praying.
- A tomb with a stone rolled in front.
- A sun and moon to show day and night.
- An empty tomb on Sunday with light shining out!
