Only one sign was given that Jesus is the Messiah. [Would people professing to understand scripture purposely pervert the word of God to push a violation of the Ten Commandments to embrace the worship of the sun –Sunday Worship?] "Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, 'Master, we desire to see a sign from You.' And He answered and said to them, 'A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.' " (Matthew 12:38-40).

What is faith? "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen." (Hebrews 11:1).

How can you obtain faith? "So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through (by) the Word of God." (Romans 10:17).

Should you live by faith? "Now it is written, 'The just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul does not delight in him.' " (Hebrews 10:38).

Is just having faith all you need? "My brethren, what good does it do, if anyone says that he has faith, and does not have works? Is faith able to save him?" (James 2:14).

Does Faith have Works? "But are you willing to understand, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20).

What kind of works might we need? "I exhort you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. Do not conform yourselves to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in order that you may prove what is well pleasing and good, and the perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2).

Will people criticize you because of your good works? "Having your way of life honest among the Gentiles so that although they speak against you as evil doers, through having witnessed good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12).

Lets examine how people came to believe that Jesus arose from the dead.

The Resurrection According to Matthew

"Now late on the [weekly] Sabbath, as the first of the week was drawing near, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to observe the sepulcher [The first day of the week had not yet begun, yet He had already arose!]. And in the morning suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat upon it. Now His appearance was as lightning, and His raiment white as snow. And for fear of Him, those who were keeping guard trembled, and became as dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid; for I know that you are seeking Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; for He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord Himself was lying. And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead. And behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him. Listen! I have told you.' And they quickly left the tombwith fear and great joy, and ran to tell it to His disciples. But as they were going to tell His disciples, all at once Jesus Himself met them, saying, 'Hail!' And they came to Him and held His feet, and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go, tell My brethren to go into Galilee, and there they shall see Me.' " (Matthew 28:1-10).

The Resurrection According to Mark

"Now when the Sabbath [The second Sabbath that week] had passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James; and Salome bought [carried] aromatic oils, so that they might come and anoint Him. And very early on the first of the week [Beginning the count to Pentecost], at the rising of the sun, they were coming to the tomb; And they were asking themselves, 'Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?' For it was a massive stone. But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. And after entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right, clothed in a white robe; and they were very frightened. But he said to them, 'Do not be afraid. You are seeking Jesus the Nazarene Who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He goes before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, as He said to you.' And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for tremblingand astonishment had seized them; and they did not say anything to anyone because they were afraid." (Mark 16:1-8).

The Resurrection According to Luke

"Now on the first of the week [Beginning the count to Pentecost], they came to the tomb at early dawn, bringing the spices that they had prepared; and certain others came with them. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb; And when they entered it, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass that while they were puzzling over this, suddenly two men in shining garments stood by them. And as they bowed their faces to the ground, being filled with fear, they said to them, 'Why are you seeking the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen: remember when He spoke to you while He was yet in Galilee, Saying, 'It is necessary for the Son of man to be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and to be crucified, and to arise the third day'?' Then they remembered His words; And after returning from the tomb, they related these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary, the mother of James, and the others with them, who told these things to the apostles. But their words appeared to them as idle talk, and they did not believe them. Then Peter rose up and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen clothes lying alone; and he went home wondering about the things that had come to pass." (Luke 24:1-12).

The Resurrection According to John

"Now on the first of the week [Counting towards Pentecost], while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb; and she saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.' As a result, Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. Now the two ran together, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; And he stooped down and saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not enter. Then Simon Peter came following him, and he went into the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying, And the napkin that had been on His head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had come to the tomb first, also went in and saw these things; and he believed [that the body of Jesus had been taken]. For they did not yet understandthe scripture which decreed that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their home." (John 20:1-10).

The Report of the Guard

"And as they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that were done. Then, after gathering together with the elders and taking counsel, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, Saying, 'Tell everyone that His disciples came by night and stole Him while you were sleeping. And if the governor hears of this, we will persuade him to release you from responsibility.' And they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this report has been spread abroad among the Jews to this day." (Matthew 28:11-15).

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene Recorded by Mark

"Now after Jesus had risen, early the first of the week He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and told it to those who had been with Him, who were grieving and weeping. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it." (Mark 16:9-11).

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene Recorded by John

"But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white who were sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. And they said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.' And after saying these things, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Thinking that He was the gardener, she said to Him, 'Sir, if you have carried Him off, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary.' Turning around, she said to Him, 'Rabboni'; that is to say, 'Teacher.' Jesus said to her, 'Do not touch Me, because I have not yet ascended to My Father. But go to My brethren and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.' Mary Magdalene came to the disciples, bringing word that she had seen the Lord, and that He had said these things to her." (John 20:11-18).

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples

"Now after these things, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking, going away into the country. And they went and told it to the rest; but they did not believe them either." (Mark 16:12-13).

On the Road to Emmaus

"And behold, on the same day, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, which was about sixty furlongs from Jerusalem. And they were talking with one another about all the things that had taken place. And it came to pass, as they were talking and reasoning, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them; But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, 'What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you walk, and why are you downcast in countenance?' Then the one named Cleopas answered and said to Him, 'Are You only traveling through Jerusalem, and have not known of the things that have happened in these days?' And He said to them, 'What things?' And they said to Him, 'The things concerningJesus the Nazarean, a Man Who was a prophet, Who was mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him up to the judgment of death, and crucified Him. And we were hoping that He was the One Who would redeem Israel. But besides all these things, as of today, the third day has already passed since these things took place. And also, certain women from among us astonished us, after they went to the tomb early; For when they did not find His body, they came to us, declaring that they had indeed seen a vision of angels, who said, 'He is living.' And some of those with us went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they did not see Him.' Then He said to them, 'O foolish and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into His glory?' And beginning with Moses, and from all the prophets, He interpreted to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. And as they approached the village where they were going, He appeared to be going on farther. But they constrained Him, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is declining.' And He entered in as if to stay with them. And it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it; and after breaking it, He gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He disappeared from them. And they said to one another, 'Did not our hearts burn within us as He was speaking to us on the road, while He was opening the Scriptures to us?' And they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the elevenand those with them assembled together, Saying, 'In truth, the Lord has risen! And He has appeared to Simon.' Then they related the things that had happened to them on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread." (Luke 24:13-35).

Jesus Appears to His Disciples as Witnessed by Luke

"Now as they were telling these things, Jesus Himself stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be to you.' But they were terrified and filled with fear, thinking that they beheld a spirit apparition. Then He said to them, 'Why are you troubled? And why do doubts come up in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I. Touch Me and see for yourselves; for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see Me having.' And after saying this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they were still disbelieving and wondering for joy, He said to them, 'Do you have anything here to eat?' Then they gave Him part of a broiled fish and a piece of honeycomb. And He took these and ate in their presence. And He said to them, 'These are the words that I spoke to you when I was yet with you, that all the things which were written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, And said to them, 'According as it is written, it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day. And in His name, repentance and remission of sins should be preached to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. For you are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you; but remain in the city of Jerusalem until you have been clothed with power from on high.' " (Luke 24:36-49).

Jesus Appears to the Disciples as Witnessed by John

"Afterwards, as evening was drawing near that day, the first of the week [counting towards Pentecost], and the doors were shut where the disciples had assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be to you.' And after saying this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced because they had seen the Lord. Therefore, Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be to you. As the Father sent Me, I am also sending you.' And after saying this, He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. Those whose sins you shall remit, they are remitted to them; and those whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.' " (John 20:19-23).

Jesus and Thomas

"But Thomas, called Didymus, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. Then the other disciples said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger into the nail marks, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe at all.' Now after eight days [This becomes the about the second day of the week.], His disciples again were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus came after the doors were shut, and stood in the midst and said, 'Peace be to you.' Then He said to Thomas, 'Put forth your finger, and see My hands; and reach out your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.' And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and My God.' Jesus said to him, 'Because you have seen Me, Thomas, you have believed; blessed are the ones who have not seen, but have believed.' " (John 20:24-29).

The Great Commission Reported by Matthew

"Now the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them to meet Him. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even until the completion of the age.' Amen." (Matthew 28:16-20).

The Great Commission Reported by Mark

"Afterwards, as they were sitting to eat, He appeared to the eleven and reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but the one who does not believe shall be condemned. And these signs shall follow those who believe: in My name they shall cast out demons; they shall speak with new languages; They shall remove serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them in any way; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.' After speaking to them, the Lord was indeed then taken up into heaven, and He sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the Word by the signs that followed. Amen." (Mark 16:14-20).

The Ascension

"Then He led them out as far as Bethany; and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. And it came to pass that as He was blessing them, He was separated from them and was carried up into heaven. And after worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." (Luke 24:50-53).

Where specifically did Jesus ascend to? (Hebrews 10:12) "But He, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God."

What position does Jesus fill? (Hebrews 8:1) "Now here is a summary of the things being discussed: We have such a High PriestWho sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens."

The Purpose of These Writings

Now then, Jesus did many other miracles in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these have been written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, you may have life through His name." (John 20:30-31).

Matthew 12:38-40, Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Master, we desire to see a sign from You." 39 And He answered and said to them, "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale three days and three nights, in like manner the Son of man shall be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights."

[Do false ministers intentionally pervert the word of God for Sunday worship?] "©" 2025, Ekklesia Church of God ─ New Covenant Saints, Rev 14:12.

As Jonah Was: "in the belly of the great fish three days and three nights." Matthew 12:38-42.

A Chart to Understand Seventy-two Hours in the Heart of the Earth (three days & three nights).

Jewish historic documentation verifies that "Jesus' passion (suffering) began in a 'Wednesday' that is the day He was arrested and crucified."