3342.-Christ in the Grave by J. C. H.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, Cal. · Feb 7, 1911

3342.—Christ in the Grave

By J. C. H.

Was Christ in the grave three days and three nights? If not, what will we do with Matt. 12: 40? J. C. H.

If by three days and three nights is meant seventy-two hours, no. If by the term is meant a little of one day, the whole of the next, a part of the next, yes. Matt. 12: 40 does not say that Christ would be in the grave. Nowhere are we told that "the heart of the earth" means the grave. It is much better to understand the term "heart of the earth" to refer to the great central power in the earth—the Roman. Jesus was arrested on what would be our Thursday night. He then said, "This is your hour, and the power of darkness." From that time He was in the hands of the powers of earth, in the very heart of the powers of earth. This period of three days of persecution and death ended with the resurrection.