The Resurrection Timeline That Actually Makes Sense
Why Skeptics Are Right to Question The Good Friday to Easter Sunday Timeline—and What the Bible Actually Says
At our seder meal last week, I asked my three-year-old granddaughter if she could count to three. She smiled shyly, then proudly declared, “One… two… three!”
So here’s my question:
If a three-year-old can count to three, why can’t the Church?
For centuries, we've been told that Jesus (Yeshua) died on Good Friday and rose on Easter Sunday. But let’s do the math: from Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning is barely two nights and one full day. That’s not three days and three nights—not even close.
And skeptics know it.
Atheists, Jewish scholars, and logical thinkers look at this and say, “See? Your own Scriptures don’t even add up.”
And you know what? They’d be right—if Good Friday were true.
But what if it’s not?
Tradition vs. Truth
Before you search for another hour-long YouTube breakdown trying to justify a Friday crucifixion, let’s look at what Yeshua Himself actually said:
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Yonah. For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so shall the Son of Aḏam be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
— Matthew 12:39-40
Not just “three days” in a poetic sense.
Three days and three nights—literally.
So if Jesus said it, we should believe it.
And if our traditions don’t align with His words, then it’s our traditions that need correcting—not the other way around.
The Problem with Good Friday
The Good Friday to Easter Sunday narrative simply doesn’t line up with Jesus’ own timeline. No matter how you spin it, twist it, or stretch it, you won’t get three full days and nights. And saying “Well, I just believe it” isn’t enough for the skeptic, the atheist, or the Jewish person who demands evidence based on something concrete beyond faith alone.
The Bible Does Have a Perfect Answer
Thankfully, a three-day and three-night timeline from crucifixion to resurrection makes perfect sense and can be understood through Elohim’s Biblical calendar, as outlined in the Bible.
Let’s Talk About Passover
Passover isn’t set on a specific weekday—it's tied to the Biblical calendar, which begins with the sighting of the new moon in the spring, as Elohim ordained. That means Passover shifts across our Gregorian calendar from year to year.
Yeshua died on Passover, fulfilling the role of the Passover Lamb, just as foretold.
But here’s the key: there's another important day within the Feast of Unleavened Bread called First Fruits.
Yom Habikkurim: The Day of First Fruits: The Key to the Resurrection
On the Day of First Fruits, Yom Habikurim in Hebrew, the Israelites would bring the first sheaves of barley to the priest, who would wave them before Elohim, asking for His blessing on the rest of the barley harvest (Leviticus 23:10-14).
Now, catch this:
Yeshua rose on the Day of First Fruits, at the end of the Sabbath, just as the first day of the week began. He became the first fruits of the resurrection, just like Paul said:
“But in fact Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:20
And Matthew records something truly astounding after Yeshua’s death:
“The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
— Matthew 27:52-53
Just like the High Priest would remain in seclusion until offering the First Fruits to God, Yeshua, our eternal High Priest, did not let Mary touch Him after His resurrection until He had ascended to the Heavenly Throne Room to present the first fruits of the resurrected saints as an offering:
“Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father… But go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My Elohim and your Elohim.’”
— John 20:17
Later, He appears again—this time allowing His disciples to touch Him, confirming He had fulfilled that priestly offering.
No More Calendar Gymnastics
When we align Yeshua’s death and resurrection with the appointed times set by Elohim in the Bible, the three days and three nights narrative falls perfectly into place.
No more theological acrobatics.
No more intellectual embarrassment.
Just perfectly aligned truth.
As the saying goes:
Elohim plays chess while most of the Church is still playing checkers.
Today Is the Real Resurrection Day
As of today—April 20th—it is the actual Day of First Fruits on the Biblical calendar.
This is the true anniversary of the day Yeshua rose from the dead!
So today, celebrate not only the resurrection of our Messiah, but also consider sowing a First Fruits offering—asking Elohim to bless the coming harvest in your life, whether it's in your family, ministry, health, or finances.
Truth doesn’t need tradition to prop it up.
When we return to the calendar Elohim established, we don’t have to make extra days, hour-long explainer videos, or excuses—we get to the point of perfect fulfillment the way Elohim designed it from the beginning.
He is risen—right on time.
Shalom and Happy First Fruits!