✝️ The Mystery of Holy Saturday: Unlocking the Journey Between the Cross and the Tomb ✨
Have you ever wondered what happened during the Silence of Saturday?
On Friday, Jesus cried, “It is finished,” and died. On Sunday, the stone rolled away, and He rose. But between those two earth-shattering events, there was a pause.
For the disciples, it was a time of crushing grief. But for Jesus, it wasn’t a nap.
While His body lay cold in Joseph’s tomb, His spirit was on a mission. The Apostles’ Creed says, “He descended into hell.” This phrase has confused Christians for centuries. Did Jesus burn in flames? Did He fight Satan in a wrestling match?
Where was Jesus for three days?
The answer reveals the completeness of His victory. He didn’t go to hell to suffer; He went to conquer. He turned the “holding cell” of death into a parade ground of triumph.
Part I: Paradise, Not Punishment 📜
“Today You Will Be With Me” 🕊️
The first clue comes from the Cross itself. When the thief next to Him repented, Jesus didn’t say, “I’ll see you in three days.” He said:
“Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” —Luke 23:43 (KJV)
This proves Jesus did not go to the Lake of Fire (Gehenna) to be tortured. He went to Paradise.
Scripture does not provide a full map of the unseen realm, yet Jesus’s parable in Luke 16 clearly shows a real distinction between the place of comfort (“Abraham’s bosom”) and the place of torment within Hades (the realm of the dead). Jesus went to the place of comfort.
The Prophecy of the Soul ⚓
David prophesied this moment in Psalm 16:
“For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” —Psalm 16:10 (KJV)
In the KJV, the word “hell” here translates the Hebrew Sheol (Greek Hades), not the final Gehenna. It simply means the grave or the realm of the disembodied. Peter quotes this in Acts 2 to prove that Jesus really died—His human soul truly went to Hades—but He was not abandoned there.
Part II: Proclaiming Victory to the Spirits 🗣️
The Mysterious Sermon 📢
While Jesus was in Paradise, Scripture indicates another aspect of His journey.
“By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison…” —1 Peter 3:19 (KJV)
Most conservative interpreters understand these “spirits” as the fallen angels bound since the days of Noah (see Genesis 6).
This was not an evangelistic appeal; it was a proclamation. Jesus marched into the darkest dungeon of the universe to announce, “I have won.” This does not contradict His presence in Paradise; it highlights the scope of His victory over all realms.
For more on these bound spirits, read Why Are 4 Fallen Angels Bound in the Euphrates?.
Leading Captivity Captive ⛓️
When Jesus left Hades, He didn’t leave alone. Ephesians 4:8 says:
“When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” —Ephesians 4:8 (KJV)
Many theologians understand this to mean that Christ brought the righteous dead out of Hades and into Heaven. Before the Cross, the way to the Throne was not fully open. Jesus unlocked the doors.
Part III: 3 Common Misconceptions About Jesus’ Descent 💡
Misconception 1: Jesus suffered in Hell to pay for our sins.
- Correction: This is a dangerous error. The payment for sin was finished on the Cross. When Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the debt was paid. His suffering ended at that moment. What followed in the grave was not torment, but triumph.
Misconception 2: Jesus gave people a “second chance” to be saved.
- Correction: Hebrews 9:27 says, “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” There is no salvation after death. Jesus proclaimed victory to the spirits, not an invitation.
Misconception 3: “Hell” always means fire.
- Correction: We must distinguish between Hades (temporary) and Gehenna (eternal). Hades is the waiting place; Gehenna is the final Lake of Fire described in Revelation 20. No one is in the Lake of Fire yet.
For more on the reality of Hell, read 5 Shocking Biblical Facts About Hell.
Conclusion: He Holds the Keys 🗝️
Where was Jesus for three days? He was dismantling the power of death from the inside out.
He walked into the grave as a corpse and walked out as a King. And on His way out, He grabbed the keys.
“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” —Revelation 1:18 (KJV)
Because He descended, you don’t have to fear the grave. Through death, He destroyed him that had the power of death—that is, the devil (Hebrews 2:14).
Reflection: Do you fear death? Let the truth of Christ’s victory in the underworld give you confidence that He is Lord over every realm.
