What was Jesus doing on Saturday between His death and resurrection? This question has been asked and answer in a number of ways over the years. I will not answer this question once and for all. But I think it is a good thought to have as we get ready for Easter.
One fact we know is that Jesus told the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) In Old Testament theology when a person died they went to "Hades." Hades, however, is not Hell. Hades was the "place of the dead." It is not purgatory. Rather, Hades was a two compartment location that held all the dead, believers and unbelievers. In the account Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus dying (Luke 16:19-31) He describes a place where the lost were and where the saved were. The rich man, being lost, was in torment while Lazarus, the saved man was in peace. So, we can be assured Jesus went to Hades after His death.
Some have tried to argue from 1 Peter 3:18-20 that Jesus went Hades, or Hell, to preach to them so they could have a second chance. This interpretation is flawed on many fronts. The passage says He "made a proclamation" to those in in Hades. This proclamation was not a second chance of the gospel. Rather, it was a declaration that the punishment for the lost was as sealed as the blessings of the saved. Jesus took the thief on the cross to this place of blessedness.
Ephesians 4:9-10 gives us a little more information about what was happening between Friday and Sunday. Here the Apostle Paul says, "He (Jesus) descended in the lower parts of the earth." Again, many various interpretations have been suggested for this phrase. But one possible interpretation is that Jesus descended in Hades. What appears to be true from this passage is that when Jesus left Hades He took with Him all the saved people who were waiting for their release. He emptied out the side of Hades that had held believers from Abel to then.
During Friday Jesus was waiting to demonstrate that He was ALIVE. Sunday morning was the day to fulfill Scripture and to demonstrate that He won! Today, as you move through the day, gain hope in anticipation of tomorrow morning, Easter Sunday. Unlike the women who came to the tomb to complete thew burial process and were shocked to find a resurrected Saviour, we will come to church tomorrow fully aware that He is no long among the dead ones. Rather, HE IS ALIVE.
Which Easter story will you celebrate? It seems the world has gone so much for the easter bunny, chocolate and eggs that the entire story of Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection has been lost. Speak to people today about what Easter is all about and most will not even know about Jesus’ resurrection. Like Santa Claus, the easter bunny has come front and center. Historically the concept of an easter bunny came from immigrants from Germany. We are told German Lutherans brought this tradition with them. Why they began to use the image of a bunny for easter is unclear. But, it has certainly become the dominate theme in our culture today.
Though we might add coloring eggs, hiding eggs, or eating chocolate to our Easter celebration, it must never replace the real message of Christ’s resurrection. How important is the resurrection of Jesus? In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul lists three reasons the resurrection is indispensable to our faith. In 15:12-13 Paul says if there is no resurrection then even Jesus did not rise from the dead. That would mean He is still in the tomb, dead like all other human religious leaders. Second, in 15:14 and 17 Paul says if Christ is not alive our faith is futile, vain, empty, and useless! Who wants to own something that is useless? No one. Thirdly, in 15:15 Paul says if Jesus is not alive then his witnesses are false witnesses. That is, if we preach He is alive and He isn’t, then we are just liars. Like telling people the easter bunny is real, when we know it isn’t, if we tell people Jesus is alive and He isn’t, we are just telling fables. It becomes yet just another false hope.
But, HE IS ALIVE! He did come forth from the tomb. He was triumphant over death, hell and Satan. That first of all Easter Sunday mornings the disciples came to the tomb sad and despondent to finish the task of burial. But, their gloom turned to great joy. They saw and heard the message, He is not here, He’s ALIVE. No longer would death hold Him.
In the Book Romans Paul says this, “…declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…” (Rom. 1:4) God assured us that His Son was His Son by bringing Him out from among the dead ones. He is ALIVE. Praise His name.
How many of you have ever tried to fool a person on their birthday with “never blow out” candles? You know the kind, the ones that can be blown out, but, soon reignite! No matter how many times they blow them out, the candle comes right back on. It is a fun trick to play on the unsuspecting.
Sunday we will look at the fact that we are light. The text says we not only walk in light, but that we ARE light. Now, we are not light in ourselves. We are simply a reflector of light. But, we are light and no longer darkness.
Remember the children’s song maybe you sang or taught to your children, “This little light of mine”? One verse says, “Don’t let Satan blow it out..” We are built like the “never blow out candle” in that Satan can look like he blew out our light. But, soon, it will reignite. As we stay close to the real Light our light can never permanently go out.
Sunday come to study with us the concept of us as light-bearers.
Today begins a new adventure for me. I will be writing some short thoughts about the messages coming on Sundays and to get you and I to think about how to live out our Christian lives.
We are talking about “walking” from Ephesians 5:1-17. Sunday we will be looking at “walking in the light.” The first question you must ask yourself is, “Am I in the light?” Then, you must ask, “Am I still in the light?”
Be reading Ephesians 5:1-17 to become familiar with what happens when we walk in the light.
Fell free to ask questions or make comments. Let’s make this as interactive as possible.
