There are two major reasons I believe that Jesus died on Friday and rose on Sunday that people aren’t talking about, and I have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to them.

First, Luke 23 says Jesus died on the preparation day. The Greek word translated “preparation” is paraskeuē, a term also used for Friday. I believe that supports the Friday crucifixion.

Second, in Luke 24, the disciples, while relating the story of the crucifixion, say that today is the third day since these events occurred. That would be late Sunday afternoon.

Those who teach that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday or Thursday because they take the three-days-and-three-nights passage in Matthew 12:40 literally and do not use inclusive reckoning cannot answer these two points.

Besides this, the Sabbath on which Jesus lay in the tomb was a high Sabbath, an annual Sabbath day. The seventh-day Sabbath fell on the same day of the week.

Those who teach that Jesus rose on Saturday night before the Sabbath ended must also contend with Mark 16:9, which says Jesus rose early on the first day of the week.

I think the evidence is conclusive.