The Day Between

1 Peter 3:18-20   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, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

Where did Christ go the day between his crucifixion and resurrection? Many think he descended into hell. I am not an educated scholar, and not qualified to take on that debate, but from my understanding he did not. He may have descended in to Sheol (the place where the dead lie awaiting final judgement), but Hell is reserved in the future tense as punishment for eternity. Where did He go; what does it matter when had paid your sin debt in full at the cross? Your sins had been atoned for in the shedding of Holy blood; the perfect sacrifice for a fallen society. God became fully man and died an unfathomable death to provide you the opportunity to dwell with Him for eternity.

Today was the Sabbath 2000 years ago; no believing Jew could do anything but morn and remain idle in what had happened. They were torn and confused over the events that had just taken place. They had not the gift of the Holy Spirit placed in them yet for the understanding that would come to them as a result of it. The apostles had abandoned Him in his greatest time of need; their pain must have been great. Today was a great day of morning 2000 years ago. Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly. They had to be questioning every thing that they had experienced the last couple of years; today would be a great day to put yourself in their shoes.

We all mourn differently. We all will come to a place where we are faced with life when we loose someone that is close to us. As Christians we are to morn for the personal loss we feel, but to rejoice in the hope of eternity for those that have passed. If they are believers in Christ; they have passed into paradise; no more pain of these bodies trapped in sin for eternity. Your future and mine changed 2000 years ago; your destiny awaits you at the foot of the cross. This day between is a day to morn the pain of death; but tomorrow is a day to rejoice for resurrection.