First there is Good Friday, the great day where Jesus humiliated Satan and his demons, paying the price that set us free. And, of course we celebrate Easter (Resurrection) Sunday, when the hope of eternal life, and victory over death was revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ, as heaven’s door swung open. But, in between is Saturday, when many mourn, others feel lost, and some are simply nonplussed.
And yet, what a great day, for it is when Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, ransacked Sheol, death, and sin, and humiliated hell. The righteous dead were set free, the dead believers arose, and the strong man was completely defeated. A day to reflect, a day to rejoice, a day of meditation, and also Ransack Saturday. There is a grace now released, that sees resurrection life follow, causing death to fall away from our lives, and situations, bringing new hope, new life.
Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:8-10)
And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. (Revelation 1:17-18)
Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:50-53)
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him:
I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’
“Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. (Acts 2:23-32)
by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, (1 Peter 3:19)
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