The contradiction is in the Bible. I respect the Bible enough to read it as it is, and not twist the meanings around in order to fit my preconceived idea. You're not even reading the Bible here, but making up a completely new Gospel.
Mark is clear on the dating. Matthew is also clear on the dating. We can start in Chapter 27, verse 62. This is after the happening of the crucifixion. It says that the next day, which is the day after the Preparation day, (so Matthew is talking about the Sabbath, which is Saturday), some people have a problem with the tomb. Here, were are being told once again that Jesus is killed on Friday. The next chapter follows up that the day after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb. So even clearer in Matthew, we have Jesus dying on Friday, guards being placed in front of the tomb on Saturday, and Jesus already having been risen on Sunday.
1. Matthew proves more than one Sabbath had past when the women came to the tomb:
Mat 28:1 Now after the Sabbath(s), [plural in the Greek] as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
Here's an interlinear reading from ISA. Notice how both renderings of "sabbath" are in the plural:
http://postimage.org/
Ironclad proof two separate individual sabbaths (Thursday-High Sabbath and Saturday-weekly Sabbath) had passed by the time the tomb was found empty! This is supported by points 2 and 3 below.
Luke is just as clear as well. Chapter 23 states Jesus was crucified on the Preparation day (a Friday), the next day is the Sabbath. It was exactly because of that that the women, who made the spices to anoint Jesus did not do so immediately. But they in fact did it the very next day (or were going to). And then on Sunday, the first day of the week, the day after the Sabbath, they go to the tomb.
With Luke, there is no wiggle room. Jesus dies on Friday. The women want to anoint Jesus right away, but can't because it becomes the Sabbath and follow the commandment. The very next day though, they go to the tomb. The story in Luke would make no sense if the women rested on the Sabbath, but then waited a couple of days to anoint Jesus.
2. It would if they rested on a High Sabbath on Thursday (First Day of Unleavened Bread/ Day after Passover--Joh 19:31), purchased and prepared the spices on Friday and rested on the weekly Sabbath. Just as recorded by Luke 23:54-56 and Mark 16:1!
Mar_16:1 Now when the Sabbath was past,[FDULB-First Day of Unleavened Bread-Thursday after sunset] Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him.
Luk 23:54 That day was the Preparation, [Friday] and the Sabbath drew near.
Luk 23:55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.
Luk 23:56 Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath [Friday Sunset to Sat sunset] according to the commandment.
The Gospels are clear. There were two preparation days (Wed-Passover and Friday) and two sabbaths (Thur-FDULB and Saturday)! between Christ's burial and resurrection. The true scenario (Wed to Sunday/burial-resurrection w/high sabbath and weekly sabbath in between) reconciles it, but your scenario (Friday to Sunday/Burial-resurrection), which is unsupported by scripture, does not. It would require a preparing of the spices on Saturday after sunset before they were even purchased [day of preparation-Friday] which is highly illogical.
Each of these Gospels make it clear that Jesus died on Friday, placed in the tomb before the Sabbath, and was raised by Sunday. That is not three days and three nights.
3. You're operating under the assumption the preparation day spoke of in the gospels is always a Friday. It isn't. A "preparation day" can be any day before a High Day which can fall on any day of the week.
Joh 19:31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day) the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
It specifically states
the preparation day was the day Christ was crucified--Passover which was Wednesday. The day after was a High Day- Thursday- not the weekly Sabbath- Saturday. This is also supported by points 1 and 2 above.
