Jesus’ Amazing Journey Where was Jesus between the cross & the resurrection?

Demonstrating our lack of understanding… Why did Jesus die on the cross? To pay the price for our sins. Why did Jesus rise from the dead? ???

Jesus’ Amazing Journey ?

Luke 23:40b-43 "Don’t you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he 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."

Jesus’ Amazing Journey Paradise

John 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’"

Jesus’ Amazing Journey Paradise But where?

Luke 16: "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. …"The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ "But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot…”

Heaven Paradise Heaven & Paradise compared & contrasted A place of the righteous dead No contact of the spirits of the evil departed Supervised by God the Father Physical location not related to Earth (for now) A place of the righteous dead. Contact & awareness of the evil departed. Supervised by Abraham, Beneath the Earth’s surface somewhere (back then, at least).

What is “Sheol” ? Old Testament concept -- “The place of the dead.” Paradise Hell Has two compartments – Paradise (the place of the righteous dead), and Hell (the place of the unrighteous dead). Is always represented as beneath the earth’s surface. Greek word is “Hades”

Matthew 12:40 “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Jesus’ Amazing Journey SHEOL Paradise Hell

I Peter 3: ¶ For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,

Ephesians 4: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: "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? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Jesus’ Amazing Journey SHEOL Paradise Hell DESCENDDESCEND To preach Return LEADOUTLEADOUT

Observations: What happened to Paradise? It split. Heaven now serves in place of Paradise. Hell is now the only destination below. Beware of those who try to make Jesus a “weakling” who suffered torment from demons in hell. Jesus paid the full penalty of our sins at the cross (“It is finished”). He didn’t need to suffer in Hell for us.

So what? What does it mean to me? Jesus has conquered death. Jesus has conquered death. Jesus understands all of our suffering. Jesus understands all of our suffering.

Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Revelation 2:8-10 "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again… Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

So what? What does it mean to me? Jesus has conquered death. Jesus has conquered death. Jesus understands all of our suffering. Jesus understands all of our suffering.