Jesus was to be in the tomb for “Three whole nights and three whole days” and to “rise after three [whole] days” (Mark 8:31). We see no reason to figure this as any less than a full 72 hours. On the other hand, if He was to be raised from the dead “in three days” (John 2:19), this does not seem unreasonable to assume that the time period was exactly 72 hours. After all, God is a God of exactness. He does everything right on schedule. Nothing is accidental with Him.