Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Similarly, the prophecy of the Lord Jesus suffering for our sins is clearly outlined in Isaiah 53:
Isaiah 53:4-5
“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted.
But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Many other prophecies about Jesus are written plainly in the Old Testament—including those about His second coming. But the prophecy about Him staying in the tomb for three days is not directly written. That mystery required divine revelation by the Holy Spirit to be understood.
Jesus Himself said everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled:
Luke 24:44-46
“He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’
Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.’”
So where exactly was it prophesied that Christ would remain in the grave for three days?
Without the revelation of the Holy Spirit, no one would have known. Not even Jesus’ disciples understood this at first—let alone the Pharisees. But the Holy Spirit Himself later revealed the mystery to us, and showed us where the prophecy was hidden in Scripture.
Matthew 12:39-40
“He answered, ‘A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.’”
Do you see? The life of Jonah was a prophetic shadow of Jesus Christ, revealing His three-day burial. And who could have known that? Not even Jonah himself was aware!
If Jonah’s life carried such a deep mystery about Christ—what about the life of Joseph, or Moses, or Job, or Daniel? Each of their stories holds prophetic truths, and we need the Holy Spirit to unlock them. Truly, without the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand anything in Scripture.
John 14:26
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Again, Jesus desired to reveal even more spiritual truths to us—things of heaven—but because of our lack of faith, He held back.
John 3:12
“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?”
However, Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will take what belongs to Christ and reveal it to us:
John 16:14
“He will glorify Me because it is from Me that He will receive what He will make known to you.”
Do you now see how important it is to have the Holy Spirit?
But the question is: Do you have Him?
And even if you do—is He fully dwelling in you and filling your life?
May the Lord help us!
If you haven’t yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, the door of grace is still open. But it will not remain open forever. Repent with a sincere heart, turn away from sin, and seek the true baptism—immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ, as taught in:
Acts 2:38
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
And He will give you the gift of the Holy Spirit freely, just as He promised to all who believe in Him.
Maranatha.
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