[Steve] Is it possible that 2 billion Christians
could be wrong about Easter? Did you know that there's a major contradiction
in the Easter story? Most believe that Jesus was crucified and
placed in the grave on a Friday afternoon - and then raised back to life on Easter Sunday,
a day and a half later. When you compare that to what Jesus Himself
said, you'll find there's a major discrepancy. Now what does the Bible say about how long
Jesus would be in the grave? Could identifying and understanding that disagreement
affect what you believe and even impact your eternal life? Stay tuned to Beyond Today as we confront
those questions, investigate the Easter tradition and discuss, "Three Days and Three Nights!" [Announcer] Join our host Steve Myers and
his guests, as they help you understand your future, on Beyond Today! [Steve] Even though there's a major inconsistency
in the Easter story, Easter Sunday is the most attended church service of the year by
Christians. People believe it recognizes Jesus coming
back to life - His resurrection. Do you attend services, but remain unaware
of a serious contradiction? This is something you need to understand:
There is a significant discrepancy in how the timing of the resurrection of Jesus is
counted. Understanding the facts may lead you to no
longer observe the Easter holiday. It can transform your perspective, and enhance
your faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I spoke with people on the street about their
viewpoint of the holiday and this contradiction. When you think of Easter, what's your favorite
Easter tradition? > Church and family. >> We get together with family, it's all about
family. All the holidays are all about family - as
far as I'm concerned. [Steve] If you had to say Easter represents
one thing, what do you think it would be? > Jesus. [Steve] Family is important but Jesus has
to be at the very center of any teaching on the resurrection. But here's a distressing thought. He Himself said: "Not everyone who says to
Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 7:21). Christ said that some people will call Him
Lord; recognize that He is the Savior; know that He rose from the grave, yet they will
not be given eternal life. Is it possible to believe in Jesus and still
be left out? Nobody wants to fall into that category. You see that's why this major discrepancy
between religion and the Bible, between Christianity and Christ over Jesus' resurrection is such
a very serious matter. Here's what it has to do with Easter: Most
Christians believe that Jesus' crucifixion, it took place on Good Friday. But, did you know that people demanded a miraculous
sign from Jesus to prove that He was truly the Messiah? They wouldn't trust that He was Savior without
proof. "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said
to Him, Teacher, we desire to see a sign or miracle from You [proving that You are what
You claim to be]" (Matthew 12:38, AMP). Jesus told them there would be proof He is
Savior; just one example, one piece of evidence, one proof - in fact, only one miraculous sign. That one sign would verify that Jesus was
the Christ, the true Messiah - God in the flesh. Now, believe it or not, it has something to
do with a giant fish. "Jesus answered, 'Evil and sinful people are
the ones who want to see a miracle for a sign. But no sign will be given to them, except
the sign of the prophet Jonah'" (Matthew 12:39, NCV). What was the sign of Jonah? Well He tells us in the very next verse: "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" (Matthew 12:40, NKJ). That was the sign - the one and only, the
one and only proof that Jesus gave that would show He was the promised Savior. > Jonah is like one of my favorite... [Steve] There's a connection there. It's kind of a weird one, but Jesus said,
like Jonah was in that great big fish for three days and three nights... > Yes. [Steve] Christ was going to be in the grave
for three days and three nights. > Well, the Holy Bible, basic instructions
before leaving Earth have a whole lot of parables. The Good Lord has a strong sense of irony. So you could take a Scripture from the Old
Testament and it will coincide with the New Testament because the Book is just perfection. [Steve] God's Word is perfection. We know that Jesus' Word is truth. We can rely on it. We can trust it. We can believe it. No reason to question it. So shouldn't what Jesus said about the one
and only sign - the lone proof that He is Savior affect you and how you worship? It should! But there's a dilemma; a clash between what
He said and what most Christians believe and practice. Now could what Jesus said disagree with what
you believe? It all relates to Jesus' crucifixion; that
big fish that swallowed Jonah and a specific miraculous sign. Jesus said: "Jonah was in the stomach of the
big fish for three days and three nights. In the same way, the Son of Man will be in
the grave three days and three nights" (Matthew 12:40, NCV). That seems pretty straight forward, doesn't
it? But here's the problem: How does a Good Friday
crucifixion and an Easter Sunday resurrection match with what Jesus said is the one proof
that He's the Savior? You see this traditional view would place
Jesus in the grave for only a day and a half. Yet the Bible is clear. Jesus died and His body was quickly placed
in the tomb late in the day, just before sundown when the Sabbath began. Now notice John 19:31: "Therefore, because
it was the Preparation Day, that [the] bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath
(for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken,
and that they might be taken away... But when they came to Jesus and saw that He
was already dead, they did not break His legs..." So soon after His death we're told, "So there
they laid Jesus, because of the Jews' Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby" (John 19:32-42). Did you catch that contradiction in the story? If Christ was in the grave on Friday night
- that's Good Friday, so that's one night. And then Saturday day, is one day. Then Saturday night, is two nights. And then Sunday morning, He was supposed to
be resurrected, which is just like two days and two nights. And it doesn't seem to add up. > I agree, but you know, I believe in the
Lord, so I'm not going to try and figure out how all that works, honestly. [Steve] Is it really that hard to figure out? If you want to prove if Easter represents
Jesus' resurrection from the dead, all you have to do is count correctly. Add the days and the nights between a late-afternoon
Good Friday crucifixion to an Easter Sunday morning resurrection. And you know, it doesn't compute. Yet Jesus said the proof that He was the Messiah
was that He would be in the tomb three days and three nights. Now something's obviously wrong with the traditional
Good Friday–Easter Sunday timing. It simply doesn't work, no matter how hard
you try. And if these days don't add up; then we don't
have a Savior. I'd like to give more detail on this important
subject, so we've prepared a new Bible study aid which we're offering you today, Easter:
The Rest of the Story. It goes into greater detail and explains what's
missing in Easter traditions. You can receive a free copy of this essential
study aid by calling: 1-888-886-8632. That's 1-888-886-8632. We only have a limited number of copies of
Easter: The Rest of the Story available in print. Once we run out, it's only be available on
our website. So give us a call now - we'll be glad to send
this special, free study aid right to your home. You really need this important information. It will help you better understand the key
to Jesus' resurrection. So, be sure to call us free: 1-888-886-8632
or visit our website at BeyondToday.tv, and request your free study aid. If you live outside North America, write us
at the address shown on your screen - for your copy of Easter: The Rest of the Story
[Beyond Today, PO Box 541027, Cincinnati, OH 45254]. One of the most dramatic and encouraging events
of all time is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus said the only evidence that He is the
promised Messiah would be that He would be in the grave three days and three nights. Yet, Good Friday to Easter Sunday just doesn't
add up. God the Father once said: "This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5). We can ask ourselves: Am I listening? Jesus said three days and three nights. Now if He wasn't dead in the grave three days
and three nights, He can't be your Savior. That was the miraculous sign - the only validation
of who He is. Are we listening to Christ? If He was crucified on Friday and then put
in the grave on Friday night, that's one night. And then, Saturday would be one day. Saturday night would be two nights. And then by Sunday morning, He was already
resurrected. Does that seem to add up? > It doesn't add up, no. [Steve] Try as we may, this major contradiction
in the Easter story just doesn't stack up right. The Good Friday to Easter Sunday timing comes
out at most at two nights and one day. So, we're short another night and two more
days! Yet Jesus said He would be in the tomb for
those three days and three nights. If we say something different, aren't we calling
Him an impostor, a fraud and even a liar? It doesn't seem to add up, does it? > No, not at all. [Steve] Okay, I've got a problem then. If I believe in Jesus, and it doesn't add
up, what does that tell me? >> Somebody wrong. Who wrong? You don't want to tell the church that they're
wrong, but somebody wrong. > Yeah, or their teaching, its there's too
many religions going out here, or sayings or something, because I don't understand. [Steve] Don't feel bad if you don't understand
- the fact is, the math just doesn't add up. So either tradition has to be wrong or Jesus
made a mistake! That's definitely a difficult predicament. Now most theologians and religious scholars,
they know it's a problem. Your pastor or your priest probably knows
it's a troubling issue. So what do they do about it? Well most try to work around the conflict
by arguing that any part of a day or night could count as a full day or full night. So they feel that "parts" are good enough. Do you think that fits then with what Christ
said, if it's Friday, like Friday night - one night, Saturday day - one day... > Yeah, it's a little bit of a, I mean, it's
three days. It's Friday, Saturday, Sunday but, you know... [Steve] Well, it's a common belief, that the
final few minutes of Friday afternoon were the first day - that would be our representation
of our sunshine, our block - and Friday night then would have been the first night. Then Saturday day would be the second day. Then Saturday night would be the second night. And then the first few minutes of Sunday morning,
that was the third day. Now that may sound reasonable, but wait. The trouble is, it still doesn't work. This adds up to three days and just two nights,
not the three days and three nights like Jesus said. And there's also another problem: John 20:1
tells us that "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 from the tomb." Well, did you catch that? The Bible says it was still dark when Mary
went to the tomb early Sunday morning and found it empty. Jesus was already resurrected well before
daybreak. So He wasn't in the tomb for any of the daylight
portion of Sunday, so none of this can be counted as a day. So what does that leave us with? At the very most, we've got parts of days
on Friday, Friday night, Saturday day, Saturday night, but that totals a full day, a part
of another, a full night and most of another - and that's still not what Jesus said. It doesn't match how long He said He would
be in the tomb. So, if it doesn't add up, we've got to think,
either Jesus' words were not true, He misspoke, or was He mislead - which is really another
way of saying He lied, or the Good Friday to Easter Sunday timing is not biblical or
accurate. That brings us to a difficult question: Should
you go by tradition or the Word of our Lord? Matthew 12:40, Christ was very specific in
saying three days and three nights. The Bible itself even tells us exactly what
that means: "...God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness
He called Night" (Genesis 1:4-5). No uncertainty here - God defined exactly
what a night is and precisely what a day is - it's not a matter of parts or a matter of
hours. God's Holy Word itself says that Jesus died
and was resurrected to become our Savior exactly according to Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Should it change your life? Should it change the way you worship? Does it really matter how we worship God,
then? > Wow, now that's a tricky question. >> That's it. It really don't matter. > I don't think so. As long as you do... >> There is a correct way of doing just about
everything. [Steve] Does it really matter, do you think
it really matters how we worship God? > No, it don't matter. >> So I think there is a correct way of worshipping
the Lord. [Steve] Don't you want to worship God in the
way that He appreciates - the correct way? Then it really does matter. You don't want to be like those Christ describes
as practicing a useless or a vain way of worship (Matthew 15:8). Nobody wants to deny Christ. If we don't believe what Jesus said, or if
we try to give it our own interpretation, isn't that exactly what we're doing - denying
Christ? We'd be saying that Jesus didn't know what
He was talking about. That the only sign that Jesus said would prove
that He was the Savior, really was just a lie. The scenario of Good Friday to Easter Sunday
does contradict the Word of our Lord and Savior. It denies that Jesus fulfilled the sign of
the Messiah. Notice 1 John 2:22 "Who is a liar but he who
denies that Jesus is the Christ?... Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father
either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also." So we have a choice. Let's be sure to acknowledge the Son of God. There's more to the story, but first let me
remind you about our free offer today, Easter: The Rest of the Story. We have prepared this brand new Bible study
aid to help you better understand the critical information we've covered in today's program. We have it for a limited time as a printed
publication; then it will only be available on our website. So be sure to call us today to get your free
copy! Now when you request, Easter: The Rest of
the Story we will also send you a free subscription to our Beyond Today magazine. Beyond Today magazine not only gives insight
into world events and the difficult times you live in but also brings a vision of a
positive and hopeful future. Thanks to the support of members of the United
Church of God and our generous viewers, we provide all our materials absolutely free
of charge. So, be sure to call us now - toll free: 1-888-886-8632. That's 1-888-886-8632. Or, write us at the address on your screen. You can also read, Easter: The Rest of the
Story and Beyond Today magazine online at BeyondToday.tv [Beyond Today, PO Box 541027,
Cincinnati, OH 45254]. We know we can't fit three days and three
nights between a Friday afternoon crucifixion and an Easter Sunday. So what's the truth? When was Jesus crucified and then resurrected? Well here are the facts - right from your
Bible: Jesus was actually crucified on a Wednesday and was resurrected at the end of the Saturday
Sabbath. Now you can verify this - but it's going to
take an open mind and an open Bible. Here's something surprising: The week that
Jesus was crucified actually had two Sabbaths in it. Remember John 19:31? It tells us: "Therefore, because it was the
Preparation Day, that [the] bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for
that Sabbath was a high day)." Most think this is talking about the regular
weekly Sabbath day, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. That's why most assume that Jesus died and
was buried on Friday - on Good Friday. But that's not true. The Bible talks about two kinds of Sabbath
days - the normal weekly Sabbath day that falls every seventh day of the week and seven
annual Sabbath days that could fall on any day of the week. The Sabbath that began at sundown immediately
after Jesus was entombed was one of these annual Sabbath days. It wasn't a Friday at all. The Bible says that "that Sabbath was a high
day." Now that's a term used to show the difference
between the seven annual Sabbath days - the high days, and the regular weekly Sabbath
day. So what was this "high day" that came right
after Jesus was buried? Well remember Jesus kept the Passover with
His disciples, then He was arrested later that night. Next He was crucified. Finally He was quickly placed in the tomb
- just as the sun was setting to begin that "high day" - that high Sabbath day. Now that was the first day of the Feast of
Unleavened Bread. The annual Holy Day of Unleavened Bread that
year was observed from Wednesday evening until Thursday evening. Then came Friday sunset to Saturday sunset,
the normal weekly Sabbath was then observed after that. Facts show that Jesus died near 3 p.m. on
Wednesday and was buried just before sunset that day. Now, let's see if the math works out: We have a Wednesday sunset to a Thursday sunset. So that's one day and one night. Then we have a Thursday sunset to a Friday
sunset. So we have two days and two nights. Then we have the Friday sunset to Saturday
sunset. We have three days and three nights. It does add up! Jesus Christ was in the grave three days and
three nights - just as He said. He came back to life at the exact time He
claimed He would. The angel at the empty tomb confirmed it:
"Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said"
(Matthew 28:5-6, NIV). Biblical evidence reveals the Good Friday
to Easter Sunday tradition just doesn't stack up. Sadly, many mistakenly believe that Jesus
somehow changed the day of worship from the Saturday Sabbath to Sunday. But, that too is untrue. I hope you'll take the time to look at the
details recorded in the Bible and compare your practice with Jesus' own words. Now if you do, your life will change for the
better - even the day you worship. Now if you do believe - remember that Jesus
said, "Follow me " (John 12:26). He expects: "true worshipers will worship
the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." (John 4:23) God is seeking you. Let's be sure we're seeking Him. Isn't it time to take a more meaningful approach
to religion than the holidays? There is a much more important alternative
- a way to worship Him in spirit and in truth. It's not found in Easter or in any other man-made
holiday, but instead worshiping on His days, the Holy Days of God. I hope you'll learn more about it by ordering
our brand new, free Bible study guide Easter: The Rest of the Story and your free subscription
to Beyond Today magazine. Call us toll free: 1-888 -886-8632. That's 1-888-886-8632. Or, you can read both online at BeyondToday.tv. Now we've been talking about the resurrection
of Christ and three days and three nights. To discuss this a little bit more in-depth,
I'm joined by fellow hosts, Darris McNeely and Gary Petty. Now, talking about these three days and three
nights, many of the people we spoke to on the street weren't sure that it really mattered
that much. But you think about it, what's at stake? [Darris] What's at stake is at the heart of
what Jesus was talking about when He made the comment, as the only sign that He would
be the Messiah, was a connection with an event with Jonah at a time of the Assyrian Empire
- Nineveh - and a time of judgment. And I think therein lies a missing key that
people have about this, that Jesus was talking about something that was so important and
so vital, that it really pertains to a matter of who He is and our relationship with Him. If we can believe these matters, then we believe
that there is a God who is in control of this world and is going to bring it into judgment
for all things. And the sign that Christ was the Messiah with
this, keys into that exact point. [Steve] So there's a lot at stake when you
get down to it. [Gary] Oh yes. In fact you talk about relationship, you know
we think about it where, as Christian we are always saying: Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Savior. If Jesus is Lord, that means He is your master,
and that mean we have to know what He taught and live by what He taught. And if He said three days and three nights,
and He is my Lord, He meant three days and nights. [Steve] And probably good to look into what
else did He say that I need to make sure I am following if I claim to be His disciple. [Gary] Yes. [Steve] I think that's the challenge then. If we see that it really doesn't add up, and
people begin to realize that, our viewers are looking at it and saying, wow it doesn't
add up, what do I do now? What is the next step that I should take as
I begin to understand this? [Darris] It's accepting God's Word as what
it says and making an action upon it. And in this case, it is a matter of accepting
Jesus Christ as the Messiah, as the Son of God who was resurrected and that makes all
the difference. And that requires us to submit ourselves in
a sense, kneel before God, before Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as our Lord and our Savior;
and remove ourselves from the critiques, the historical criticisms and the... frankly foolishness
that surrounds the discussion of who Jesus Christ was and the reality that what He said
happened, did happen. And it happened exactly as He said that it
would happen. [Gary] That hard thing is tradition. Not all traditions are bad, but any time a
tradition goes against the Scripture, it's time to doubt, and remove the tradition. And it's hard to do but it's what we must
do. [Steve] And once we begin to understand that
this is a part of the gospel message. This is the truth of the gospel of the Kingdom
of God. And it is possible to change how you live. It is possible to remove these non-Christian,
unbiblical traditions from your life. I hope you'll make a commitment to God for
the sake of your future. The United Church of God has hundreds of congregations
across the United States and around the world, with caring pastors who can help you in your
Christian journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. So go to BeyondToday.tv - click on the "Contact"
tab to find a congregation near you. Call one of our pastors and share your story. We're looking forward to hearing from you. Isn't it time to be sure that what you believe
and practice is based on the Word of God? Make that commitment to worship God according
to biblical truth rather than human tradition. You'll need to take a look and take time to
look into the Bible and really get to know the true God. Honor Him the way that He wants to be honored,
not through the traditions of man-made holidays. Instead, worship Him on His days. Check out the Holy Days of God, the biblical
days of worship and follow Christ. Read your Bible and discover them for yourself. Now, we appreciate you watching and don't
forget our free offers, and be sure to tell your family and friends about Beyond Today. Tune in again next week and join us in praying,
"Thy Kingdom come." For Beyond Today, I'm Steve Myers. Thanks for watching. Announcer: For the free literature offered
on today's program, go online to BeyondToday.tv. Please join us again next week on Beyond Today!
