What happened to Jesus after the crusifixion and before His resurrection?

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Permalink Reply by Ginnybee on February 3, 2009 at 4:37pm

Hi M.L.,

Thank you for this. One thing you said jumped at me, though. You stated, "Ephesians 4:8-10 also seems to indicate that Christ went to “paradise” (Luke 16:20; 23:43) and took to heaven all those who had believed in Him prior to His death." But, I thought about this passage that indicates Jesus did not ascend into the heavenly realm during those few days--Jesus spoke to his disciple and said, "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father..." (John 20:17). Therefore, I stand unable to think that Jesus went to paradise at that time. The rest of your statement makes much sense and I thank you. :)

Blessings!
GB

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Permalink Reply by Larry on February 3, 2009 at 7:26pm

The dead who believed in Christ prior to his death are those described in Matt 27:51-53. The time it took Christ to ascend to the Father and come back was very short ... ample time to lead the people in Paradise to Heaven. In fact in Matt 28:9, the two Marys clasped His feet (a very short time from John 20:17). But the fact is, no one knows what time really is. Some have said it's the measure of motion, but that doesn't work for it measures more than that. I have suggested it is the measure of entropy, but that doesn't work, for I have not considered relativity. The thing we do know is that God created time, so He is out of it. Since He is "out of His created time", he can do anything He wants and we have no way to measure it. So, we can not say He didn't have "time" to do anything.

Larry

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Permalink Reply by Ginnybee on February 4, 2009 at 5:47pm

Larry, I see what you are saying. But what I was asking was what happened before Jesus rose, not what might have happened afterward. M.L. said that he may have ascended into heaven during the three days prior to his resurrection. I was saying, He couln't have, unless Jesus lied about not yet ascending to the Father. And we know Jesus doesn't lie. The debate about how to define time is irrelevant here, because regardless of what Jesus was capable of doing, He professed that up to that particular point, He had not yet ascended.

thank you! :)

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Permalink Reply by Larry on February 5, 2009 at 9:37am

GB

Sorry I missed your point. Hades has two parts; torments and paradise. After His death on the cross, Jesus went to paradise Luke 23:43. There He preached to the sprits in prison (1 Peter 3:18-20).

Larry

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Permalink Reply by Ginnybee on February 4, 2009 at 5:56pm

Thank you for that, Ian. Very insightful! I'm not sure it identifies, however, what Christ experienced during those three days. You say He had birthing pains, but I say what kind, how was it, when were they, and where were they? Do you have a more precise explanation to share?

thanx!
GB

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Permalink Reply by Derek Hill on February 5, 2009 at 5:06am

Dear GinnyBear,
The only clear references that we have are in:
Luke 23.42,43 "Then he [the criminal who turned to Christ Jesus for salvation] said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."

John 20.30 "Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." Or as Luke adds in his account, Luke 23.46 "Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit." When He had said this, He breathed His last."

It is usually understood that when Jesus said, "It is finished" He was referring to His work of propitiation for sin on the cross.
He had borne the wrath of God for sin in His condemnation and crucifixion on behalf of the redeemed. There was therefore no need to suffer further, and He committed Himself into the hands of His Father, and breathed His last.
It is important to realize that the death of Jesus on the cross was the ransom for us sinners and that His death there provided full and complete satisfaction for sin before the Father. There was no need for Him to suffer further.

As to what happened to Jesus when He breathed His last, remember His words, "Father into Your hands I commit my spirit". So what Jesus expects is that He will be "in the hands of His Father." Therefore it is not necesary to imagine that He was empty, or suffering rather that he was enjoying the Presence of His Father in heaven.
In this context, I think we can also understand the position of the repentant criminal, he too would be "with Jesus in paradise" as Jesus had promised him.
I like to think that the visit to the spirits in prison would be very short, and that we should think of it more as a proclamation of His triumph rather than Jesus suffering there with them.

Jesus died on the Friday, the following day was the Sabbath, the day of rest, of cessation from work so that time could be spent in worship and rest, the next day, 'the first after the Sabbath' as it was called by the Jews, Jesus rose from the dead by taking His body to Himself again and continuing His work of salvation. I take it as a wonderful thing that Jesus rested that Sabbath day in the Presence of His Father. All His suffering over, now he rests. Can we not imagine the glory of the love shared between the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit during that day? The next day, the first day of the week, He will continue His work. And this day became known as the Lord's day, because on this day He rose from the dead, was declared to be the Son of God, and brought life and immortality to all who believe in Him.

There is a testimony by Ian McCormack who died and was taken into the presence of God, then was asked to return to tell us about it. He is a sincere Bible Believing Christian and is used powerfully by God in preaching the Gospel.

His video "A Glimpse of Eternity" has been on Christian TV channels. And I expect you can find it on the web. The reason why I mention it is because he describes his own experience while out of his body and this may help us to understand a little more.what it is like. Always with the caveat of course, we should only trust in God's Word. It is God's Word that gives us faith.

Hope this helps

Derek

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Permalink Reply by RoxChelseaGilmore on May 20, 2009 at 7:07am

He rose back from the dead

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