The resurrection season has hit me in a different and more powerful way than ever before. Perhaps it's because my life is in a crossroad of sorts. Thankfully, I can see sprouts of new direction, causing excitement for all the new adventures God has in store for my entire family. Nevertheless, we cannot embrace and appreciate the new without lying to rest the old.
In this, it occurred to me that there was some unfinished business when Jesus died, which needed attending to while He was in the grave in order to lie to rest the Old Testament prophecies. Once accomplished, His resurrection would set the captives free, paving the way for victory and ushering in the New Covenant.
There are many passages of Scriptures scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments that remind me of pieces to a puzzle. Which on their own, are hard to comprehend, but once put together, build a beautiful picture (in my opinion is but a glimpse) of all that was accomplished in these three days and three nights.
I fully acknowledge my limited perspective, yet I hope it serves to encourage you to think about these things in greater depth, bringing added understanding and a new level of faith and obedience to the things of God. Thank you in advance for staying with me through this lengthy read. (I cut it down as much as I could. J)
Let's begin in the Old Testament book of Psalms. These passages are prophetic quotes by King David concerning the words and thoughts of the coming Messiah -- followed by the road to the cross, ending in the doctrinal letters of the New Testament. After which, I will do my best to put these pieces together in a thought-provoking manner that will instill a new appreciation for the tremendous power of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"Therefore my [Jesus] heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." Psalm 16:9-10
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Psalm 22:1
"You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive; Psalm 68:18
Jesus speaks of Abraham's Bosom and Hades –
"So it was that the begger died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom…then he said. ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five bothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to Him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent. 'But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'" Luke 16:22-23,27-31
Jesus on the cross –
"Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, ‘If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deed; but this Man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.' And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43
"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Matthew 27:46
Death – Resurrection – Ascension
"Jesus, when He had cried out again with aloud voice, yielded up His Spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many." Matthew 27:50-53
Peter preaches to the Masses on the day of Pentecost, 10 days after the ascension –
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth…"Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it, for David says, concerning Him, ‘….Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." Acts 2:22a-23-25,27
Paul speaking to church of Ephesus –
"But to each one grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: ‘when He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men'. (Now this, "He ascended"-what does it mean but that He first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above the heavens, that He might fill all things.)" Ephesians 4:7-10
Peter writing to all the churches spread throughout Asia Minor –
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water." 1 Peter 3:18-20
Are you still with me? Whew – what a journey; I am almost done.
I'm not sure about you, but my mind was spinning with "what if" and "does that mean" kind of thoughts. When did Jesus go to Hades to preach to the disobedient spirits, if not after his death? After all, he rejoiced because he knew that His Father would not leave his soul in Hades. When did Jesus "lead captivity captive" Who were these captives – could they be the saints that died in faith of the coming Messiah? Are these the saints kept in Abraham's bosom until the resurrection? Remember Jesus told the thief who came to faith that he would be with Him in Paradise – is Paradise another name for Abraham's bosom? Did he need three full days and nights to accomplish this task? Is that why it was prophesied that Jesus would be in the grave for this exact amount of time?
What about the tormented souls in Hades – are these among the disobedient spirits (fallen angels) kept in prison until the great white throne judgment?
What about the many that came out of the graves just after the resurrection of Jesus – are these the captives led out of Abraham's bosom and did they ascend into heaven forty days later as Jesus did?
Okay, maybe this is more than a thought or two, and we have only begun to scratch the surface. We didn't even touch on the why Jesus had to die – and how he traveled down the road to Emmaus with the doubting disciples who were heading away from the cross because they didn't understand. And yet Jesus, in his loving character, walked them through the reason he had to suffer, die, and rise again. It wasn't until he broke bread with them that they recognized him and remembered all he had said before his death. Once again, their hearts rejoiced and they returned to the holy city in full assurance of faith and belief in their risen Savior.
I am amazed that Abraham's prophetic word rings true today; they will not believe though One rise from the dead. But those that do, are a part of the first resurrection; from Jesus til the end of all things when those who are in Hades will be called forth for the great white throne judgement -- which is the second resurrection. Revelation tells us to be sure we are a part of the first resurrection...
Now I leave you with your thoughts – please feel free to share then with me
Happy Resurrection Day!
