It was the third hour when they crucified him.”

This was when the process of crucifixion started with the scourging in the third hour (9:00 am). He was nailed to the cross at the sixth hour (noon).  He died at the ninth hour (3:00 pm). Normally those who were crucified were left on the crosses, according to some historians as long as nine days. Jesus suffered pain, thirst, torture, insects, crowd insults…it was supreme torture and humiliation.

There were many, many prophecies fulfilled in the crucifixion. You can read all about them in Psalm 22. It reads like an eyewitness account.

Mark 15:34
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"-- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

Psalm 22:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

When Jesus spoke these words from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", He was telling those who were listening to look at Psalm 22.  Since the scrolls were not numbered as the chapters and verses in our Bibles are today, they found portions of Scripture based on the first line of that particular passage or scroll.

“Father into your hands I commit my spirit.”
“..they did not break any bones.”

The breaking of bones was a way to hasten death. When they pierced Jesus’ side with a spear bringing a flow of blood and water it was proof of death. There was no need to break His bones.

Who were these holy people whose tombs were opened at the crucifixion? Could they be the prophets who were allowed to see the fulfillment of their prophecies??? Scripture says they longed to see what the disciples saw.  They came to life after Jesus' resurrection, at which time they appeared to people in the holy city.  Where were these tombs?  It doesn't say that the tombs were in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Could it be they came from the cave where the patriarchs were buried?  Could it be they came from where Jacob's sons were buried?

For details concerning the trials and a physician’s view of the crucifixion see the book The Journey of Jesus from the Manger to the Mansion.

Crucified bodies became the property of the state and were dumped in the garbage pile at Gehenna. Only by permission could the bodies be taken for proper burial. Joseph of Arimathea was rich, had great influence and many connections. He was also Mary’s great uncle, possibly a kinsman redeemer. This gave him legal standing to go to the Roman authorities and claim the body. He and Nicodemus were both members of the Sanhedrin.

Jesus was taken from the cross; His body was hurriedly anointed with some spices that Nicodemus had brought. The preparation that Joseph and Nicodemus did was an intended temporary measure.

They quickly placed Jesus in Joseph’s tomb before the Sabbath began at 6:00 pm. When unembalmed bodies were placed in tombs, spices, ointments and wrappings were temporarily put in place. After three days the stone would be rolled back and people could inspect the body to insure that the person was really dead and not just comatose. (the odor after three days would be more than enough to indicate death.) It was and still is in some places customary for a permanent preparation to be made three days after death. After the permanent preparations are taken care of the tomb is resealed and about one year later it is reopened. By this time the flesh would have decayed and fallen off the bones. The bones are then gathered and placed in ossuaries. The tomb can then be reused for another year with another body. This is why the women were in no hurry to go to the tomb before three days had expired. As another example of how this process worked we can read about what happened with Lazarus. Jesus planned the delay of four days to raise Lazarus. That is so there would be no doubt that Lazarus was indeed dead. The body would have been inspected and permanently prepared a day earlier, when three days had passed, the normal custom of the day.

It is only through learning of the burial customs of the day that we understand a great truth. Jesus was in the tomb three full days and three full nights validating proof of His messiahship, His only sign.

Matthew 12:38-40
Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, Teacher, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet: for as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus' validating proof of three days and three nights matters for only one main reason and probably several secondary reasons.  This proof matters because Jesus said it was the ONLY sign that He was who He said He was.  Also, when there appears to be a conflict between what Scripture says and what tradition says, Believers in Jesus should always be prepared to give an answer from Scripture to clear up any confusion.