4.4.26 ~ Can You Count to Three?

Today, Saturday 4/4/26, many will celebrate the day that Yeshua was visibly seen risen from the grave (John 20:1; Matt. 28:1–10; Luke 24:1–10)! The day after His resurrection, Yeshua would be out ministering to the doubts of His disciples, helping them realize that He is alive and that the purpose of His resurrection would be catalyzed by their lives. For the disciples closest to Yeshua and those who stood at a safe distance away, it was a time of doubt. The enemy was in hot pursuit. They were fearful for their lives, but just at the God-appointed time, their salvation appeared. 

Does that sound vaguely familiar? It should. Earlier this week, on the day after Passover—the 15th of the first month—the natural-born Israelites and those who joined them through the blood of the Lamb exited Egypt and headed toward the sea. In just a few days, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pharaoh would not be happy that he let the Israelites go; he felt betrayed, and he was hot (Ex. 14:5–9). Moses had told them that they would leave Egypt to go worship; now they had left and would not come back (Ex. 5:1; 7:16).

There was about to be doubt in the Israelite camp, coupled with fear! They would question why they were even where they were. The enemy was close and wanted them dead! And just at the God-appointed time, Yahweh told Moses to have the people stand still and see the salvation (Yeshua) of Yahweh (Ex. 14:13). The sea opened up, they crossed over on dry land, and the enemy was destroyed.

It is that time of year again when we have celebrated Passover and currently find ourselves in the seven days of Unleavened Bread and then Firstfruits. It is the time of death, burial, and resurrection. Amidst the excitement and celebration, there is also the reality of uncertainty and doubt. There is fear underneath our "never let them see you sweat" motif. We question so many things. Yet, ringing loud and clear over the rampant emotions, is the command to be still and see the Yeshua—the Salvation—of Yahweh.

Many of you are familiar with the "question of the day." It is my open-ended witnessing technique where each day I take a "question of the day" into my work world. Thursday, the day after our Passover seder, I shared my question with a couple of people. It was a different slant on how to broach the Easter versus Passover subject. Let me take you into the conversation...

I told "John" I would work this coming Sunday since I do not celebrate Easter. He looked kind of puzzled. I asked him if he could count to three. He smiled with a puzzled look. I took the pressure off and counted for him with my fingers to keep the moment lighthearted. I shared with him Jesus' words: that as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so too would Yeshua be in the earth for three days and three nights (Jon. 1:17; Matt. 12:40).

I asked how many hours are in three days and three nights. Immediately, he said, "72" (3 x 24 = 72). I congratulated him. We went through the Passion Week from six days prior to Passover (John 12:1) to Sunday, when Yeshua's tomb was identified as empty (John 20:1). I tied in the Exodus story with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 26), which was on the tenth day of the first month (Ex. 12:3; Zech. 9:9). And with each statement, I made sure he was tracking with me—he was. Keeping the conversation lighthearted, I asked him if he knew the days of the week beginning with the day Yeshua entered Jerusalem. He did. I asked him to count four days into the week starting with Shabbat, the seventh day. He landed on midweek—Wednesday. I looked at him inquisitively and puzzled. "Something does not make sense to me? Jesus—His Hebrew name is Yeshua—said He would be in the grave for 72 hours." I asked, "Without using an MP3 or Zip file, can you get 72 hours from Friday at 6:00 p.m., when He would have been taken down from the cross, to Sunday morning before sunrise?" He said, "No! That is crazy." He was batting 1.000%! In fact, he was shocked. With his calculations, he only got 36 hours (two nights, one day).

Our conversation opened up, and we both marveled at the religious system that surrounds us and how it has bamboozled us into missing Yahweh's appointed times. I left wishing him a happy Passover season and happy Resurrection Day—"See you after Sabbath, John!"

Later that day, I had another encounter with another individual, and we laughed our way through to the truth!

These simple witnessing opportunities beg the question: Can you count to three? If you are confused, you will want to watch the short teaching video that will blow your mind as to how far from the truth our Easter worship is from gospel accuracy. 

Facts are: Easter has pagan origins. Facts are: Easter bunnies and eggs have nothing to do with the Messiah's death, burial, and resurrection. Facts are: most of us know the facts but ignore them for reasons A, B, and C. Now we have to overcome our doubt, our fear, and the pursuit of the enemy, and figure out the best and most productive way to share the truth with a world that is desperate for truth! Even new math cannot deny the gospel truth of three days and three nights.

Enjoy your seven days of Unleavened Bread! 

Chag Sameach HaMatzah—Happy Feast of Unleavened Bread!

Shalom,
Alan