11/05/08

Where did Jesus go Between the Cross and the Resurrection?

Author: Roger Barrier

Dear Roger,

My question is where did Jesus go for the 3 days and 3 nights? Did He in fact go to hell and take my sins. I shudder to think that would have happened as being without His Father on the cross with my sins laid on Him is so painful, I just can't comprehend He had to spend that time in hell to save me as well. On the other hand did He spend this time in Heaven with God to get Him ready for the 40 days on earth? I have heard it explained both ways.
God Bless you and Julie

Dear V,

No one knows for certain where Jesus was during those three days between His crucifixion and resurrection. Therefore, we can only speculate.
However a rather enigmatic verse in 1 Peter 3:18-20 gives a little insight: “For Christ died for sins once for all … to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built….”

Jesus preaching to “the spirits in prison” seems to intimate that the people who died before the crucifixion (especially the people who lived in the days of Noah) were given a second chance to repent when Christ preached the gospel to them during the three days between the crucifixion and resurrection!

Another verse or two in the Bible corroborating this idea in 1 Peter would have made the above interpretation much more palatable. But, since Peter is the only one who refers to this concept—and he left so many unanswered questions—I don’t believe a definitive declaration is possible,

The earliest reference outside of the Bible as to what Jesus might have been doing during those three days and nights was formulated in the 4th century A.D. when the Apostles’ Creed was agreed upon by the church leaders. The Apostles’ Creed attempted to simplify the basic truths of the Christian faith. I have shared below a copy of the Apostles’ Creed so you can be cognizant of its existence. Notice the reference to “He descended into hell”. This obviously comes from 1 Peter but Leaves too much to the imagination.

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
“Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
“He descended into hell.
“The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.”

By the way, I have never heard the idea that Jesus spent the three days and nights in Heaven getting ready for His next assignment of 40 days on earth before His ascension. Thanks for sharing that.

By the way again, if I were to have to choose among the conjectures regarding those three days, I lean in the direction that Jesus did preach to the spirits in Hell during that special time.

By the way again and again, your question has multiple implications in the theological realm. If First Peter truly means that some received a second chance then Hebrews 9:27-28 will need some explaining: “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, … “

By the way again and again and again, a careful reading of Romans Two is interpreted by some to mean that Paul is describing the way to Heaven for people who die without ever hearing of the gospel of Christ. I have wondered about this issue a lot as I have wrestled with the fairness of God condemning people to Hell who have never heard about Jesus Christ. The idea here seems to be that some will be judged according to how well they have lived up to the “Light” that they did have. But that is another question for another time.

By the way again and again and again and again, I am not espousing any of the above any of the above ideas and possible interpretations as my personal beliefs. I have simply tried to introduce you to some of the complexities of finding an accurate answer to your question.

Finally, I grieved with you as you described your personal feelings about the suffering of Christ for our sins. The pain He suffered in that divine transaction is incomprehensible. While we grieve for Him, we also feel such a deep-seated sense of gratitude for His work on the cross and for whatever He was accomplishing during those three days in His life.

I hope this helps.
Love, Roger