Victory over death part 8

What did Jesus do today?

April 11, 2020

Today is Saturday. The day after Jesus died on the cross. Imagine the death, decay, and despair the followers of Jesus felt today.

But what did Jesus do? His earthly body was dead, but we know that He was busy accomplishing and completing the action started when He gave up His spirit.

Let me take a second to "put down" a poisonous idea. There are people who think Jesus was killed by the Jews. This is a lie, straight from the tongue of the devil. Jesus was very clear, “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.” [John 10:18 CEB] This is a key idea of the crucifixion: Jesus WANTED to give up His life. This is love in action.

So what was Jesus doing today? I am so glad you asked!!!

One possible explanation to Jesus’ activity on this day may start with, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” [Isaiah 53:5 NIV] Jesus demonstrated the true cost of sin. This was a legal exchange, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” [1 Peter 3:18 NIV] Paul put it this way, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” [Romans 3:25a NIV]

Rather than focusing on the legal theory, I want to point to a simple and stunning truth. Paul claims in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” [NIV] In other words, Jesus took the place we have earned and deserved. In exchange Jesus offers us His place. All because Jesus WANTED to substitute Himself for us by accepting the punishment and suffering our sins deserve. This is what theologians call “vicarious death.” In other word, Jesus suffered the whole of the right judgement against us in every way.

But wait, there is more! In the “Apostles’ Creed” most Christians confess that Jesus “descended into hell” (or “descended to the dead”). We read about this in Acts 2:24, “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” [NIV] Notice the “agony of death” part.

Paul testifies, “But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” [Romans 10:6 – 7 NIV] The “deep” in this verse is properly translated “the abyss” (The Greek says “tis katabesetai eis abusson”) In Hebrews 2:14 – 16 we learn Jesus shared fully in every human experience, except sin.

I am fond of the idea that Jesus substituted Himself for me. He took my deserved punishment for sin on the cross. Jesus literally went to Hell for me. SPOILER ALERT: When Jesus raises from the dead, literally and physically; He shatters the power of sin and death. Jesus crushes the power of Satan (see Hebrews 2:14).

Are you afraid of death? This COVID-19 pandemic is like a splash of ice cold water in the tepid reality of existence. The question is: do you want to exist or do you want to live? Many of us are existing. We eat, sleep, breath, work, and take up space just existing. God calls us to an abundant and eternal life in Jesus. 

This is the question mark of the cross. Will you have faith, the kind that changes the way you think and behave, in Jesus’ shed blood for your soul?