Saturday in Sheol!

For Saturday, April 19, 2025:

John 19:28a NLT: “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished.”

With the sins of the world now heaped upon him, Jesus knew that his earthly mission was completed. It was time to move on. He would take the world’s sins to Sheol, the place of the dead. But he would not remain there. He would be resurrected on the third day!

The concept of resurrection was still fairly new to the Hebrew people. In fact, some Jews didn’t believe in any life after this life. Those who believed that it was possible recalled Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus, both restored by the command of Jesus. But Jesus himself was a public figure, well known by everyone. His death was documented by Roman soldiers, whose business was death. Jesus returning from the dead would be eyewitness evidence that death was not the end! Theology would be rewritten!

Returning on the third day fulfills prophecy. Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Saturday was the Sabbath when no work could be done. Best to lay low that day. And on Sunday, he rose again!

Friends, there is life after this life! Jesus proved it, and believers all want to be a part of it. Jesus will go ahead to prepare your place in eternity. Use his name when you get there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Sunday's Coming!

For Saturday, March 30, 2024:

Mark 15:43 NLT: “Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)”

It was still Friday when Joseph of Arimathea, secretly a believer, asked for Jesus’ body. When a soldier confirmed the death, Pilate granted his request. There was just enough time to place Jesus’ body in Joseph’s tomb, and secure it before the weekend. At sundown, it would be the Sabbath, and no more work could be done.

Nowadays we count a new day when the sun rises. But in the Hebrew culture, a new day began at sunset. So Jesus died on a Friday, day one. His body lay in the grave for the Sabbath, day two. And on Sunday, day three, the tomb was discovered empty. He is risen, just as was prophesied!

But what happened on the Sabbath, the in-between day? The Bible tells us that Jesus went to the place of the dead, Sheol or Hades, not to be confused with the lake of fire or hell. This would be Jesus’ spirit, his eternal essence, as the body had not yet been resurrected. There are many conflicting theories as to what occurred that day, but I don’t find most of them to be credible. Since the second day is the Sabbath, we could simply count it as a day of rest and devotion to Jesus and our Lord. Nothing on that in-between day is a redeeming ordinance. The real action was on Friday when Jesus died for our sins, and on Sunday when the bodily resurrection took place.

It seems that all the bad stuff happened during the previous week, and all the good stuff occurred from Resurrection Sunday forward. S. M. Lockridge gave us a famous sermon, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!” Our worldly walk looks much brighter knowing that in spite of all we might think is wrong, God is still in charge, and Sunday’s coming for us all!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

I believe in Jesus Christ...

March 14, 2011 Monday Message:

“I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” from the Apostle’s Creed

The Apostles Creed, a statement of faith used by many denominations, can be studied in three parts. Last week we talked about God the Father, and next week we’ll move on to the Holy Spirit and everything else (at least that’s what I call it). But this week we’re in the middle - Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

Saying, “I believe in Jesus Christ,” implies way more than is written. It’s not just believing that Jesus was real, that he actually walked on earth. It’s believing that Jesus is who the Bible says he is. Simon Peter stated it best: "You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:16

This creed goes on to list some unique and notable events in the life of Christ; significant yes, but this is certainly not an exhaustive list.

We believe in Mary’s super-natural conception and the virgin birth of Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14, where it also names Jesus, “Immanuel – God with us.”

We believe Jesus suffered under the Roman Perfect (Governor) Pontius Pilate. We believe Jesus died on the cross - no heartbeat, no breathing – dead by all our earthly standards. He was placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea.

Next, the version of the Apostle’s Creed on the ELCA web site says, “He descended to the dead,” but explains that the traditional reading is “hell.” From Hebrew to Aramaic to Greek to English, there’s a bit of confusion here, as different religions, different cultures and different times held different understandings of life after death. For example, “sheol” (Hebrew) or “hades” (Greek) sometimes means “pit (hell),” “grave,” or “abyss (separation).” So it can mean “place of the dead,” but not necessarily a bad place. When a Greek citizen died, they were said to be “sleeping.” And the Bible says that the dead will rise again, meaning, in a way, that they weren’t really dead in the first place. See the potential confusion?

So did Jesus go anywhere during the 3 days he was “dead?” The truth is we don’t really know, but he may not have gone anywhere. I’ve had people tell me that Jesus had to duke it out with Satan, to let him know who’s the boss. Others say that Jesus personally delivered the sins of the world to hell, where all evil belongs. Still others say that because Jesus had the sins on the world upon him, he was temporarily sentenced to the lake of fire.

Personally, I don’t buy any of it. Reformed Theology teaches that Jesus took the sins of the world upon himself, and in the great exchange, covered the people with his righteousness. Since Jesus was a lamb without blemish, he was a sufficient sacrifice to pay for the sins of the whole world. And that’s all that was necessary. When Jesus spoke from the cross, “It is finished,” the mission was indeed complete. Jesus had fulfilled his greatest purpose in coming to earth – to redeem mankind. John 19:30a

Death has no hold on the Son of God, and we believe Jesus walked away from it all. The women found the tomb empty, but over the next 40 days about 600 people saw our Lord walking around and heard him speak the Good News. Then they watched in awe as Jesus was taken into the clouds, returning to the Father. We believe he will return again (with fire in his eyes and a sword in his hand, riding a white horse – don’t make me sing the whole song!). That will be the time of judgment, and Jesus will be in charge.

Next week we’ll move on to the Holy Spirit and remainder of the Apostle’s Creed.

Blessings,

Norton Lawellin