So, where did Jesus go when he died? Simple answer:
Jesus didn’t go anywhere when he died. He was dead in the tomb.
We read in Isaiah’s prophecy that Jesus “
poured out His soul unto death,” that His soul was made “an offering for sin.” (Isaiah 53:12,
10.) Then again we read, “Thou wilt
not leave my soul in Sheol [
meaning the grave (sometimes mistranslated hell)]; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10.) The Apostle Peter quoted this same prophesy in Acts 2:27 (NKJV), “For You will
not leave my (Jesus’) soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption,” Acts 2:27 (NKJV). These two verses prove the equivalency that sheol (Hebrew) = hades (Greek). But what is the condition of death or sheol or hades?
Jesus’ friend, Lazarus, was ill. Jesus said to his disciples, “‘Our friend
Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.’ Then His disciples said, ‘Lord, if he sleeps he will get well,’” John 11:11,12 (NKJV). Jesus finally spoke plainly, and said, “
Lazarus is dead,” John 11:14.
The
sleep of death is explained in the Old Testament, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is
no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in the grave (Sheol) where you are going,” Ecclesiastes 9:10. Jesus was in the grave, in the “sleep of death,” (sheol or hades) parts of three days.
It states in Ephesians 1:20 that it took God’s mighty power to raise Jesus from the dead, and set him at His own right hand. What a joy to know that
Jesus did not remain in the death-state but was raised the firstborn from the dead. Because of this, we all have the hope of a resurrection in due time. (John 5:25-29; 1 Corinthians 15)
In summary, the man Christ Jesus, our Savior, died at 33½ years, was dead, buried in the grave for parts of three days, and was resurrected on the third day.
2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (WEB)
6 Therefore we are
always confident and
know that while we are
at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We
are courageous, I say, and
are willing rather to be
absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
Philippians 1:21-24 (EWEB) 21 For to me
to live is Christ, and
to die is gain. 22 But
if I live on in the flesh, this will bring fruit from my work; yet
I don’t know what I will choose. 23 But I am
hard pressed between the two, having the
desire to depart and be with Christ, which is
far better. 24 Yet to
remain in the flesh is
more needful for your sake.
2 Peter 1:13-14 (WEB) 13 I think it right, as long as
I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that the
putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
Acts 7:59 (WEB) 59 They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, “Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit!
Luke 23:46 (WEB) 46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father,
into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:43 (WEB) 43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”
1 Corinthians 14:32 (WEB) 32
The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
Hebrews 12:23 (WEB) to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to
the spirits of just men made perfect
1 Peter 3:18-19 (EWEB) 18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh,
but made alive in the spirit, 19 in whom he also went and
preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the ship was being built.
Revelation 22:6 (WEB) The Lord God of the
spirits of the prophets sent his angel to show to his bondservants the things which must happen soon.
What was
the reason for Lord Jesus giving this example?
Luke 16:20-31 (WEB)
20 A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was taken to his gate, full of sores, 21 and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22
The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried. 23
In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom. 24 He cried and said, ‘
Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’
25 “But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But here he is now comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that no one may cross over from there to us.’
27 “He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house; 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’
30 “He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’”