This is my second Third Day post and the reason for this one is Cleopas and his statement in Luke 24:21. It is Holy Week 2026, and I have been reading the last Chapters in Luke and the Songs of Ascent, more on that in another post. Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him and had been telling His disciples for some time. Cleopas heard and had his doubts so he was leaving Jerusalem and going the wrong direction; not towards Galilee. Jesus went and got him.
Cleopas, in his conversation with Jesus, reveals the perfect mix of knowledge, emotions, and paradigms that all of the disciples were dealing with. If I remove our well-written Bible, 2,000 years of study, and the Holy Spirit I can say I would be in the same position as His disciples were in. I believe Jesus wanted the disciples in Galilee so they would be safe and feel safe. Did the disciples have to stay in Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, no. Yes, Passover was a different story, but even the Children in Egypt were changing location after eating the lamb.
In doing this study I found another group of people who knew about the “Third Day”. The chief priest had gone to Pilate in Matthew 27:64 and had fears for the third day after He was sacrificed. Even with the story from the guards, they did not change.
The links make a good study for Jesus telling His disciples (all of them not just the Twelve) about His death and Resurrection. He also used the story of Jonah, check “three days” for that reference. These are NIV, so change the translation preference at the top, but they seem to share the same verses.
BibleGateway – Keyword Search: third day Luke
BibleGateway – Keyword Search: third day Matthew
He has risen! He has risen indeed!