There are prophecies the Messiah would be raised from the dead, but where is the resurrection of Jesus prophecy in the Old Testament? Is there an Old Testament prophecy of resurrection on the third day? Read or listen to this chapter from A Father Offers His Son for answers.



Table of contentsJonah Is a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old TestamentJonah’s “Death”Jonah’s BurialJonah Was "Raised" on the Third DayHosea Contains a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old TestamentIsrael: God’s SonThe Veil and Jesus’ Body TornIsaac Is a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old Testament



Psalm 16 is a messianic psalm, which means that even though David wrote it, we can read it as though Jesus is speaking. In verse 10, he says, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” Peter quotes this verse in Acts 2:27, and Paul quotes it in Acts 13:35 as prophecies of Jesus’ resurrection. Isaiah 53:10 also prophesies of Jesus’ resurrection:



Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;He has put Him to grief.When You make His soul an offering for sin,He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.



Jesus did not have physical children (seed), but He has spiritual children. Isaiah says He will see these children after He has been killed—“bruised… put to grief… [made] an offering.” Jesus would die, but the Father would “prolong His days,” referring to His resurrection.



While most Christians know it was prophesied that Jesus would be raised from the dead on the third day, few Christians can find the prophecy in the Old Testament. Why is that? When Jesus fulfilled prophecies, the New Testament often quotes the Old Testament verse that contains the prophecy. For example:



Matthew 1:22-23 references Isaiah 7:14—“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translates as, ‘God with us.’”Matthew 2:5-6 references Micah 5:2—So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’”In John 13:18, Jesus referenced Psalm 41:9—“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’”



The difficulty with the resurrection is the New Testament does not quote any Old Testament verse identifying the prophecy that it would take place on the third day. Is it possible there is no such prophecy? No:



In Luke 24:46, Jesus said, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”In 1 Corinthians 15:4, Paul said, “[Jesus] was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”



Jesus said, “It is written” in the Old Testament that He would “rise [on] the third day.” Paul said “the Scriptures” prophesied, not just that Jesus would be raised, but on “the third day.” Where is this prophecy? There are three possibilities.



Jonah Is a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old Testament



The Book of Jonah was written about 760 BC. Almost eight centuries before Jesus was born, Jonah served as an amazing “sign” of His death, burial, and resurrection. When the religious leaders asked for a sign in Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus rebuked them saying:



“An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”



Jesus said Jonah served as a “sign” of His death, burial, and resurrection.