Jesus' Actions Between Crucifixion and Resurrection

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I would say that Jesus did at least two things in the period between the cross and the resurrection number one and we'll consider these uh each in a moment but I'll just summarize number one Jesus preached a message of condemnation and judgment to imprisoned spirits and then number two Jesus preached a message of freedom and Liberation to those who had died in the faith and were waiting for the completion of their salvation which was accomplished by the finished work of Jesus on the cross. [00:03:34]

We know from verse 19 that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison we don't exactly know when but in all probability this was the preaching of um a proclamation but it wasn't evangelism friends not all preaching is evangelism and I don't think Jesus was was preaching salvation to these demonic spirits no he preached a message of judgment and final condemnation in light of his finished work on the cross you see in doing this there was a completion in Jesus's triumph over evil. [00:06:11]

Peter did not say that Jesus preached the gospel of Salvation to these imprisoned Spirits instead Jesus proclaimed to them his ultimate triumph over evil now that was bad news for them but but it would be good news it would be comfort an encouragement to the suffering Christians that Peter first wrote to so that's the one instance now here's the second instance of something that Jesus did in that period uh this is in 1 Peter chap 4: 6 where Jesus preached a message of Liberation to those who had died in faith. [00:07:10]

This refers to the righteous Dead who know and live on in constant awareness of the reality of Eternity and they're rewarded by that awareness by the fact that they live according to God in the spirit now again previously the verse I just read you is from 1 Peter chapter 4 previously in chapter 3 Peter spoke about how Jesus preached to the spirits in prison apparently at the same time or related time Jesus preached a message of Salvation to the faithful dead in Abraham's bosom. [00:08:04]

You see these people who died in faith were anticip IP ating the work of the Messiah for them and we shouldn't think that this was an offering of a second chance no this was the completion of Salvation to those who had already been faithful to God you could say in the first chance that they had you you could even say this that in some sense Jesus shut down the part of Hades that was a place of blessing and comfort and refreshment the place that Jesus called the bosom of ab Abraham in Luke 16. [00:08:57]

Jesus did not stay in Hades the Bible says that he went there but he did not stay there Jesus after his death on the cross could not did not remain in Hades and according to what Peter said in Acts chap 2 starting at verse it was impossible for him to remain there because he was God's holy one and God said I'm not going to let my Holy One see Decay or corruption in any way so that's number one that Jesus did not do he did not stay in Hades. [00:11:06]

Friends when Jesus died on the cross at the end of his suffering shortly before he yielded his life to his God and Father Jesus said it is finished and the sense of that word in the original language is completely fulfilled paid in full Jesus Paid all the penalty that sin death God the father God's righteousness all that Jesus Paid everything that needed to be paid at the cross there was nothing left over for him to pay in Hades so the price was already paid at the cross. [00:12:09]

Jesus went there as a Victor to announce Triumph and judgment over to the disobedient spirits and to set free those who have been waiting for his finished work those in the if you want to say the good part of Hades so Liz thank you so much for that question I'm glad that we could deal with it and uh I'm going to give some attention now to the questions coming in on the live chat but before I do may I ask students does anybody want to come say say hi to our YouTube audience. [00:12:54]

The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus defeated Death At The Cross but it's worth it to ask how how did that work what is it that he defeated and I'll give you maybe one of the best understandings that I've heard is Jesus defeated death because death overstepped its bounds in coming after Jesus death had no claim on Jesus because he was sinless he was born with a sinless nature just like Adam and Eve were initially created without a sinless nature. [00:16:43]

Death had no claim over a sinless life and therefore Jesus was able to sort of turn the principle of death against itself and Conquer over death that's why the Bible says that Jesus is the first fruits of the Resurrection uh he's the Trailblazer the runner and all God's people all those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ in who he is and what he did especially what he did at the cross and in his resurrection those people are born Again by God's spirit and they will share in the glory of Jesus's resurrection. [00:18:01]

There is clear evidence from Jewish writings from that General time that this expression X number of days and X number of nights was a figure of speech that could refer to any portion of a day or a night one could refer to the same event happening three days and three nights and happening on the third day without any contradiction because it was a figure of speech now we're familiar with figures of speech we use them all the time. [00:26:50]

This demonstrates how in Jesus's day the phrase three days and three nights did not necessarily mean a full 72-hour period but a period that included at least the portion of three days and three nights now there may be other good reasons for challenging the traditional chronology of the Revelation uh uh excuse me of the crucifixion of Jesus saying that Jesus was crucified on Thursday instead of Friday but listen friends you got to listen to me on this and I think the the the evidence on this is very sound. [00:28:58]

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