The question of where Jesus went between His death and resurrection touches on one of the most profound mysteries of our faith, what the Messiah accomplished during those three days.

The historical debate surrounding this topic highlights the importance of carefully examining Scripture to understand this crucial period between the cross and the empty tomb. The concept appears in the Apostles’ Creed’s phrase “He descended into hell,” but as we’ll explore, this requires careful interpretation of the biblical text and understanding of the original languages.

Biblical Insight

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The Scripture provides several key passages that help us understand where Jesus went between His death and resurrection. Let’s examine them carefully:

First, 1 Peter 3:18-20 tells us that Jesus, “having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit… went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison.” This passage reveals that after His death, Jesus was actively engaged in a ministry of proclamation. The Greek word used here for “proclamation” (κήρυξεν/keruxen) implies a triumphant announcement rather than preaching for conversion. This suggests Jesus wasn’t suffering during this time but declaring His victory.

Ephesians 4:8-10 provides another crucial insight when Paul writes that Jesus “descended into the lower parts of the earth.” The Greek term κατώτερα (katōtera) refers to regions below, which in first-century Jewish understanding would have been associated with Sheol or Hades – the realm of the dead, not a place of torment. This descent wasn’t a journey into suffering but rather demonstrated Christ’s complete victory over death in all its domains.

The apostle Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, quoting Psalm 16:10 in Acts 2:27, provides additional context: “For You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.” This prophecy, fulfilled in Jesus, shows that while His body lay in the tomb, His Soul/Spirit descended to Hades but was not abandoned there. This was not a defeat but part of His complete victory over death in all its aspects.

Practical Wisdom

Understanding Jesus’ descent carries profound implications for our faith journey. His descent into the realm of the dead demonstrates that there is no place beyond His reach, no darkness He hasn’t penetrated with His light. When we face our darkest moments, we can take comfort knowing that Jesus has gone before us, conquering every realm that might try to claim authority over us.

This truth should strengthen our confidence in approaching God through the Messiah. Jesus’ descent and subsequent resurrection prove His complete victory over sin and death. When we struggle with guilt or fear, we can remember that Jesus’ journey into death’s domain wasn’t a defeat but part of His triumphant victory. This gives us confidence to repent of our sins, knowing that His blood has already secured our forgiveness and victory over death.

Moreover, this understanding should impact how we view death itself. For believers, death has lost its sting because Jesus has transformed it from a terminus into a transition. His descent shows that even death itself is under His authority, giving us hope and peace in the face of our own mortality.

Clearing up misunderstandings

A common misconception is that Jesus suffered in hell during these three days. This misunderstanding often stems from conflating different biblical terms for the afterlife. The “hell” mentioned in the Apostles’ Creed (descendit ad inferos in Latin) refers to the realm of the dead (Hades/Sheol), not the place of eternal punishment (Gehenna). Jesus’ words on the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), confirm that His atoning suffering was completed there.

Another misconception is that Jesus needed to suffer more to complete our salvation after His death on the cross. This undermines the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. His descent was not about additional suffering but about proclaiming His victory and releasing those held captive by death. His statement to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43), indicates that He remained in control and authority even in death.

Conclusion

Jesus’ descent between His death and resurrection reveals the comprehensive nature of His victory over death and sin. Rather than a period of suffering, it was a time of triumphant proclamation and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. This truth should fill us with hope and confidence, knowing that our Savior’s authority extends over every realm, including death itself. His descent and resurrection assure us that nothing can separate us from His love and that He has truly conquered all.

Did you know?

The Greek word for “prison” in 1 Peter 3:19, “φυλακή” (phylakē), is the same word used for the prison where Peter was later imprisoned in Acts. This linguistic connection emphasizes that just as Peter was physically imprisoned but later freed, Jesus’ descent was about liberation, not confinement, demonstrating His authority over all forms of bondage.