Jesus contrasted His death and resurrection to Jonah in the belly of the great fish. “For just 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” (Matthew 12:40 ESV). The early church saw this being “in the belly of a great fish” and analogy to Jesus’ descent into Hell (Hades) when His body was in the grave. The grave could not hold Him, because of who He was. Hades vomited Him out as the fish had Jonah. But this did not happen, until He had defeated, and broken the bars of the deep underworld.
““Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54b–55 NIV).
