• FROM MY STUDY

    SPECIAL EASTER EDITION

    ARTICLE SIX

    PASTOR GARY

    APRIL 23, 2011

     

    WHAT HAPPENED WITH JESUS ON SATURDAY BETWEEN HIS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION?

     

    NISAN 15, 30 AD

     

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    What a week it has been for Jesus!  It began on Sunday with His triumphant entry into the City of Jerusalem and ended with His crucifixion and burial on Friday afternoon and evening.  But what about Saturday?  What happened with Jesus between His crucifixion and resurrection?  Anything?  Please note 1 Peter 3:18,19.

     

    “FOR CHRIST ALSO HATH ALSO SUFFERED FOR SINS, THE JUST FOR THE UNJUST, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD, BEING PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH, BUT QUICKENED BY THE SPIRIT:BY WHICH ALSO HE WENT AND PREACHED UNTO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON.”

     

    That text clearly tells us that Jesus “preached unto the spirits in prison.”  What does that mean?  Many good men have debated this down through the years, so please allow me to explain the development of the passage from a literal perspective.

     

    Our Lord had a real body (Matthew 26:26), soul (John 12:27), and spirit (Luke 23:46).  He was not God inhibiting man.  He was the true GOD-MAN!  When He died, He yielded His spirit to His Father according to Luke 23:46.  However, it seems evident that, at some point His spirit must have died.  That was probably when He was made sin for us and was forsaken by the Father (2 Corinthians 5:21; Mark 15:34).  The word “quickened” in reference to the “spirit” in 1 Peter 3:18 cannot mean resurrection, because resurrection has to do with the body alone and not the spirit.

     

    So, on the cross, Jesus suffered and died.  His body was put to death, and His spirit died when He was made sin for us.  But His spirit was made alive after He yielded it to the Father.  Then, according to 1 Peter 3:19, sometime between His death and His resurrection Jesus made a special “proclamation” to “the spirits in prison.”

     

    Now this raises two great questions: Who were the “spirits” that he visited?  What did He proclaim to them?

     

    In the New Testament, the word “spirits” is used to describe angels or demons, not human beings.  So according the proper biblical interpretation, when Jesus died He yielded His spirit to the Father and then, sometime between His death and His resurrection, He visited the realm of the dead, where He delivered a message to “spirit beings,” who, according to Jude 6, were fallen angels.  Somehow, these fallen angels were related to the period of time before the flood when they were disobedient to God (1 Peter 3:20).  Perhaps they resisted the work of Noah or even fed the people of that day lies so that they would not listen to Noah’s message.  For sure, they were wicked and sinful fallen spiritual beings.

     

    What did Jesus preach to them?  Peter does not give that answer. For sure, He was not giving them an invitation to get saved, because fallen angels do not have the privilege of being born again.  However, consider Colossians 2:14 and 15 which says:

     

    “BLOTTING OUT THE HANDWRITING OF ORDINANCES THAT WAS AGAINST US, WHICH WAS CONTRARY TO US, AND TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS; AND HAVING SPOILED PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS, HE MADE A SHEW OF THEM OPENLY, TRIUMPHING OVER THEM IN IT.”

     

    What does this text portray? It teaches that when Christ provided redemption on the cross, He spoiled the evil principalities and powers and in doing so, after His death and before His resurrection, He revealed to them that all  they may have attempted to prevent from happening, He completed in His perfect sacrifice.  In other words, He told them that the work of God’s salvation was accomplished, they were defeated, and there was nothing they could do about it.

     

    So, in a nutshell, when Jesus died physically, in His spirit He proclaimed the completion of redemption to those fallen angels who rebelled against God and had endeavored to mock and destroy the work of God.  This is just one more step Christ took to show His powerful divine work of salvation.

     

    So, on this Saturday as we go about our activities, let us remember that Jesus was still at work proclaiming the powerful redemption of God, thus reminding the wicked demons that they will be lost forever in the Lake of Fire.

     

    This has been a great week for us at FBC!  Our special Easter services were outstanding, and yesterday’s Good Friday service was exceptional with the church being nearly full for the entire three hours.  Without a doubt, God showered His blessings upon us.

     

    Now, tomorrow is the day of REAL VICTORY!  It is the day when we will celebrate the RESURRECTION OF CHRIST!  I cannot wait for us to get together and sing, “CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY, ALLELUIA.”  Wow!  My beloved brethren, JESUS IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN IN DEED!

     

    Have a godly day and Keep Looking UP! The Lord willing, I will see you tomorrow.