Why Did the Resurrection Take Place When It Did?

If it really happened why not simply resurrect directly from the cross the second he died so others could witness.

God works in mysterious ways.

Interesting question

So that his death was not in question. Perhaps more importantly, three days satisfies Biblical signs of the Messiah. As Jesus's message was faith, a gaudy (haha) display would be counter-productive.

rhinefire said:

If it really happened why not simply resurrect directly from the cross the second he died so others could witness.

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The same reason that Jesus waited 3 days to resurrect Lazarus.

"In early Jewish law, only after three days was the witness to a person's death accepted." (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary [Intervarsity Press, 1993], p 81)"

rhinefire said:

If it really happened why not simply resurrect directly from the cross the second he died so others could witness.

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1. The point of the ressurection was NOT to convince people of his ressurection, it was to start the church, raise him to the right hand of God, and establish his kingdom in heaven to later come to earth.
2. the 3 days law that phattonex pointed out.

rhinefire said:

If it really happened why not simply resurrect directly from the cross the second he died so others could witness.

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Well, as others have noted, the 3 days was necessary to confirm death.

But I dispute your premises, "if it happened" and that if "others could witness" that more would have believed - consider how many miracles Jesus performed in the presence of those "others" and how little impact that had with those who demanded to see some "sign" of His claims.
The religious rulers and others persistently demanded of Him a sign; He gave them many proving who He was and they still refused to believe.
They saw the empty tomb. They saw the radical changes in the lives of His disciples. They saw them perform miracles too and still refused to believe.
The issue isn't proof. There's plenty available to anyone with a heart to believe. The issue is they don't want to believe and will refuse to believe regardless what manner of proof is presented to them.

Repeatedly throughout the bible is the admonition not to seek for signs, evidences, or other "proofs" - and that for the simple reason that such demands for "proof" before one will believe are themselves proof they have no intention of believing, which was repeatedly born out throughout the bible and still is today by those who refuse to believe in the bible itself.

It's no different today - most people, regardless what they know, how much they've heard or read or been told will simply refuse to believe.

The resurrection took place on the day it did to coincide with the "Feasts of Firstfruits" (the same calendar day of the year that Noah's Ark came to rest on the Mountains of Ararat.

There are seven annual "Feasts" of the Lord" (aka the "Feasts of Israel"). See Leviticus chapter 23, etc.

Jesus fulfilled "Passover" during the crucifixion. He was the slain "Passover Lamb".

He also fulfilled the Feast of Unleavened Bread (leaven = sin, and he was sinless - unleavened), and the Feasts of Weeks (Pentecost) was fulfilled in Acts chapter 2.

So, Jesus and the Holy Spirit fulfilled the "Spring Feasts" during his first incarnation, and is expected to fulfill the "Fall Feasts" (Feast of Tabernacles, etc.) when he returns.

More on all this in the link below.

The Prophetic Feasts of Israel

rhinefire said:

If it really happened why not simply resurrect directly from the cross the second he died so others could witness.

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Why did I go shopping today and not yesterday?

Why did the event need proof?

I don't believe Jesus was trying to prove anything nor did he have to.

I don't think he had skeptics on his mind.....