The period between Good Friday and Easter Sunday marks one of the most significant events in the Christian faith — the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion, while Easter celebrates His resurrection. However, the question remains: what exactly did Jesus do between these two pivotal moments in Christian history?
The period between Good Friday and Easter is known as the “three days” in Christian tradition, often referred to as the “Harrowing of Hell” in some theological circles. While the Bible does not provide a detailed day-by-day account of what happened during these three days, various passages offer insights into the events that occurred in this crucial span of time. These events have deep theological significance, and understanding what Jesus did during these days can help illuminate the mystery of His atoning sacrifice and the victory He achieved over sin and death.
This article explores the biblical and theological understanding of what Jesus did between His crucifixion and His resurrection, drawing from scripture and Christian tradition to answer this profound question.
The Death of Jesus on Good Friday
Before exploring what happened between Good Friday and Easter, it is essential to reflect on the events of Good Friday itself. On Good Friday, Christians observe the crucifixion of Jesus, marking the moment when Jesus willingly sacrificed His life for the sins of humanity. His death on the cross fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament, where the Messiah was predicted to suffer for the salvation of mankind.
Jesus’ death on the cross is understood by Christians as the ultimate act of atonement for sin. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus paid the penalty for human sin, offering reconciliation between God and humanity. The apostle Paul writes in Romans 5:8 (KJV):
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
This sacrificial death marked the beginning of a new covenant, in which humanity could receive forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Harrowing of Hell: Jesus’ Descent into Hades
One of the central theological questions regarding the period between Good Friday and Easter is what happened to Jesus’ soul after His death. The New Testament provides some clues, and Christian tradition has developed various interpretations.
In 1 Peter 3:18-20 (KJV), the apostle Peter writes:
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”
This passage is often interpreted as indicating that after His death, Jesus descended into Hades (the realm of the dead) to proclaim victory over sin and death. This event is commonly referred to as the “Harrowing of Hell.” The “spirits in prison” mentioned in 1 Peter are thought to refer to the souls of the deceased, specifically those who had died without receiving the salvation of God. The belief is that Jesus’ descent into Hades was an act of proclamation — a declaration of His victory over sin and death.
The concept of the Harrowing of Hell is also found in early Christian traditions, and some Christians believe that Jesus’ descent into Hades allowed Him to offer salvation even to those who had died before His crucifixion. This idea is not universally accepted in all Christian denominations, but it is a part of traditional Christian theology, particularly in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches.
Jesus’ Ministry to the Dead
In addition to the passage in 1 Peter, some theologians point to other scriptures that suggest Jesus continued His redemptive work even after His physical death. In Ephesians 4:8-10 (KJV), Paul writes:
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
This passage is commonly interpreted as describing Jesus’ descent into the “lower parts of the earth,” which is understood to be Hades or the realm of the dead. This passage, combined with the one from 1 Peter, suggests that Jesus’ work between His death and resurrection was not limited to His time on the cross but extended to the spiritual realm, where He proclaimed His victory over the forces of evil and death.
Theologically, this event demonstrates that Jesus’ sacrifice was not just for the living but also for those who had died, offering them the hope of salvation. The descent into Hades can be seen as a part of Jesus’ comprehensive mission to redeem humanity — past, present, and future.
The Burial of Jesus
After Jesus’ death, His body was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb. This event is recorded in all four Gospels. The burial of Jesus is significant for several reasons. It confirms His physical death and ensures that there was no confusion about the reality of His sacrifice. Jesus’ burial also fulfills Old Testament prophecy, particularly the prophecy in Isaiah 53:9, which states:
“And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Jewish council who had become a secret disciple of Jesus. The tomb was sealed with a large stone, and guards were placed outside to prevent any interference with the body. This burial was essential because it set the stage for Jesus’ resurrection, which was to take place on the third day.
While the body of Jesus was in the tomb, His followers, particularly the apostles, were likely in a state of mourning and confusion. The Gospels record that they were devastated by Jesus’ death, not fully understanding the necessity of His sacrifice or the meaning of the resurrection that was to come.
The Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday
On the third day after His death, which corresponds to Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead. The resurrection is the cornerstone of Christian belief, as it confirms the victory of Jesus over sin and death. It is a victory that offers the promise of eternal life to all who believe in Him.
The resurrection of Jesus is described in the Gospels, where it is stated that early in the morning, women followers of Jesus, including Mary Magdalene, went to the tomb and discovered that the stone had been rolled away. An angel appeared to them, declaring:
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6, KJV)
The resurrection of Jesus was not just a return to life but a transformation into a new and glorified body. This resurrection is considered a demonstration of Jesus’ divine power and a guarantee of the resurrection that believers will experience at the end of time. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (KJV), Paul writes:
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Conclusion
Between Good Friday and Easter, the Bible records that Jesus underwent a profound journey — from His death on the cross to His descent into Hades and finally to His resurrection. These events hold deep theological significance, illustrating the complete and total victory that Jesus achieved over sin, death, and the forces of evil.
While the Bible does not offer a detailed day-by-day account of what Jesus did during the three days, the concept of the “Harrowing of Hell” and the theological implications of His descent into the realm of the dead add depth to our understanding of His work during this period. The resurrection on Easter Sunday is the culmination of Jesus’ redemptive mission, confirming His victory and offering the hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him.
The period between Good Friday and Easter represents the heart of the Christian gospel — the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the foundation of Christian faith and the source of hope for all believers.
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