Esther before Ahasuerus (Xerxes) - Artemisia Gentileschi 1620s
At the beginning of the story of the Wedding at Cana, we see the phrase ‘on the third day’. This phrase occurs at certain points in the Bible.
When it is used in a story, it normally means there is something significant about to happen. It’s like the Bible is saying, ‘pay attention’.
Esther and the King
Esther 5 v 1 - 2
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
This verse relates to Esther approaching the King to petition him.
This is a key point in her story, and is a life and death decision. If the King did not invite her to come to him, he had every right to execute her. Esther fearlessly approached him, but he showed favour to her, and subsequently listened to her petition.
The Cloud and the Lightning
Exodus 19 v 16 - 19
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
This is where they meet the One who rescued them from Egypt at Mt Sinai. God’s presence fills the mountain and it is covered in a cloud. There is thunder and lightning. And an accompanying trumpet which grew louder and louder.
This is a key point in the story of the Children of Israel and it happened on the third day.
Abraham and Isaac
Genesis 22 v 3-5
Abraham, Isaac and two servants head out. God has asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. On the third day, Abraham sees the place where he will do this and leaves the two servants behind.
Here we see, God is testing Abraham. Will Abraham trust Him and confirm that God is still his Lord? Or will Abraham place his own desires above God’s command?
Abraham, unlike Adam, trusted God. He goes through with God’s plan, who then tells Abraham to hold back from sacrificing Isaac. And instead provides a ram.
This key event in the life of Abraham happened ‘on the third day’.
From these stories, we see there is a link between the phrase, on the third day, and key moments within a story.
Jesus’ Death and the Three Days?
I used to think that for Jesus to die and be resurrected after three days, he must have died on Maundy Thursday and not Good Friday. This would then mean at least 72 hours had past to make up the three days.
This is clearly unbiblical, but I struggled with how to match up the Gospel accounts and a modern calendar. It made little sense to me.
However, I understand the way the Semitic mind counted days was different to us modern people.
So if an event happened during the first 24 hours, that event would have been considered to be ‘one day’. The next day would then be two days after the event, even though it may not have even been 48 hours since the event had occurred.
The following sunrise would bring about the third day. Counting the days like this would rarely mean three days would constitute 72 hours.
So Jesus died on Good Friday or Day 1. He then is in the tomb on Easter Saturday, which is Day 2. Christ is resurrected on Easter Sunday, which is the third day. So in the Jewish mind, that was three days.
Wedding at Cana
By using the phrase, on the third day, John could be saying that this wedding is a key event in Jesus’ life.
He could also be referencing the three days between the death and resurrection of Jesus. Again which is the key event in Jesus’ incarnation.
So is John linking the resurrection and this wedding? Is John saying, that the Gospel is actually part of a wedding ceremony?
Is he saying that the death of Jesus is the ‘bride price’ to obtaining the hand of His Bride, the Church?
Really appreciate and enjoying this series. Straight after reading it, I was in the book of Hosea 6:2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Come on that’s amazing!!!