I love the old Resurrection hymns. A line from one came to mind as I sat down to write this morning. “Down in the grave HE lay, JESUS my Savior. Waiting another day, JESUS my LORD”
But was HE? Was JESUS really waiting in the tomb on Saturday?
I don’t think so. I believe Scripture shows us that although the rock still sealed the tomb that JESUS HIMSELF was elsewhere.
Ephesians 4: 8 "When HE ascended on high, HE led captives in HIS train and gave gifts to men." 9(What does "HE ascended" mean except that HE also descended to the lower, earthly regions (Hades)? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
JESUS tells us about this place HE descended to in Luke 16. It was a place with an upper chamber of rest and peace (called Paradise) and a lower chamber of heat and torture (Hades)
Why do I think HE was there before Resurrection Sunday?
Because on the cross, JESUS promised the thief who believed, “today (Friday, the day of the crucifixion) you will be with ME in Paradise.” Therefore, JESUS had to leave the tomb and descend to the center of the earth Friday afternoon. For HE is not a man that HE should lie.
What happened when JESUS descended to the center of the earth? HE got the keys of death and hell (Revelations 1:18) and led out the people in upper Hades (Paradise).
In the days of Paul, we are told that Paradise was no longer the upper chamber of Hell in the center of the earth, but rather in the highest (3rd or upper level) of heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:2 .. caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to Paradise.
In fact, when John was writing Revelations Paradise was already in GOD’s presence. (Revelation 2:7)
When did it happen? When JESUS entered into the heavens with HIS blood sacrifice HE brought with HIM all who were in Paradise and at that time Paradise was relocated to the 3rd heaven.
So Saturday was not a day of repose for JESUS but a very active one. What a Savior we have who ever lives to intercede for us.
Hugs
Sharon
But was HE? Was JESUS really waiting in the tomb on Saturday?
I don’t think so. I believe Scripture shows us that although the rock still sealed the tomb that JESUS HIMSELF was elsewhere.
Ephesians 4: 8 "When HE ascended on high, HE led captives in HIS train and gave gifts to men." 9(What does "HE ascended" mean except that HE also descended to the lower, earthly regions (Hades)? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)
JESUS tells us about this place HE descended to in Luke 16. It was a place with an upper chamber of rest and peace (called Paradise) and a lower chamber of heat and torture (Hades)
Why do I think HE was there before Resurrection Sunday?
Because on the cross, JESUS promised the thief who believed, “today (Friday, the day of the crucifixion) you will be with ME in Paradise.” Therefore, JESUS had to leave the tomb and descend to the center of the earth Friday afternoon. For HE is not a man that HE should lie.
What happened when JESUS descended to the center of the earth? HE got the keys of death and hell (Revelations 1:18) and led out the people in upper Hades (Paradise).
In the days of Paul, we are told that Paradise was no longer the upper chamber of Hell in the center of the earth, but rather in the highest (3rd or upper level) of heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:2 .. caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to Paradise.
In fact, when John was writing Revelations Paradise was already in GOD’s presence. (Revelation 2:7)
When did it happen? When JESUS entered into the heavens with HIS blood sacrifice HE brought with HIM all who were in Paradise and at that time Paradise was relocated to the 3rd heaven.
So Saturday was not a day of repose for JESUS but a very active one. What a Savior we have who ever lives to intercede for us.
Hugs
Sharon
No comments:
Post a Comment