Jesus’ descent into hell

Right before Jesus died on the cross he said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). When he died, his body and soul separated. His body remained on earth, while his soul went to heaven.

On Easter Sunday morning Jesus’ body and soul were reunited in Joseph’s tomb. Then the Lord descended into hell. 1 Peter 3:18-20 states: “ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.”

Jesus did not descend into hell to suffer for the sins of the world or to offer people who had died a second chance at being saved. He descended into hell to “make proclamation” of his victory over sin, death and hell. It was a triumphal event. Colossians 2:13-15 alludes to that: “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

In the Garden of Eden God had prophesied his Son’s victory over Satan (Genesis 3:15). When Jesus descended into hell, he proclaimed that victory.