WAS THE SIGN OF JONAH FULFILLED?

QUESTIONS OF THE BIBLE

"Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.  All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul,the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”  Matthew 12:22:24 NIV

The Pharisees heard about Jesus casting out demons and demanded that Jesus perform a sign.  
The Pharisees also wanted a sign from him in Jerusalem at Passover in  John 2:23-25.

"Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”

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."  Matthew 12:38:40 NIV  (New International Version)

The sign of Jonah fulfillment began at 3pm when Jesus died on the cross and went to the heart of the earth.  There was a great earthquake shaking the Temple Mount, tearing the curtain to the Holy of Holies, and opening tombs of the saints.  This must have made a big impact on the unbelieving teachers and Pharisees.  This marked the beginning of the 3 days and 3 nights.  

Also, Peter talks about what Jesus did in the heart of the earth.  Read: I Peter 3:19.

"At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock.  At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.  One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.  At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.  They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.   Matthew 27:45-56  NLT  (New Living Translation)

The Sign of Jonah was fulfilled early Sunday morning when an huge earthquake rattled the sleeping residents of Jerusalem.  The quake rolled away the stone and revealed an empty tomb. Jesus the Messiah was resurrected.  
This marks the end of the three days and three nights.  The people of Jerusalem counted any period of daytime or nighttime as one day or one night. 

"The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross.  He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying.  Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”

The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.      Matthew 28:1-8 CEV  (Contemporary English Version)

Sunday, on the road to Emmaus we find an eye witnesses account of the three days.

"That same day two of Jesus’ followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.  They were talking about everything that had happened.  Luke 24:13-14  NCV 

"The one named Cleopas answered, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?”

Jesus said to them, “What are you talking about?”

They said, “About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did many powerful things before God and all the people.  Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.  But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened.  And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb,  but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive!  So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus.”  Luke 24:18-24  NCV  (New Century Version)

If SUNDAY afternoon is the THIRD DAY since these things happened; then when was Jesus Crucified?