Every Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus — the moment when He rose from the dead in glorious victory over sin and death. But have you ever wondered what happened between the cross and the empty tomb?
What was Jesus doing during those three days?
Let’s take a closer look at what Scripture tells us. Though we don’t have every detail, the Bible gives us enough to paint a meaningful picture of what took place in those powerful in-between moments.
1. Jesus Truly Died
First and foremost, Jesus didn’t just “appear” to die — He actually died. The Roman soldiers confirmed it. His body was taken down from the cross, wrapped, and placed in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea (Luke 23:50–56).
He died bearing the full weight of our sin.
When He cried, “It is finished,” (John 19:30), the work of atonement was completed — but the story wasn’t over yet.
2. Jesus Descended to the Place of the Dead
The Apostle’s Creed says, “He descended to the dead.” Older versions say, “He descended into hell,” though that phrase can be misleading in our modern context. The Bible refers to a place called Sheol (in Hebrew) or Hades (in Greek) — the realm of the dead. It wasn’t the final hell (Gehenna), but rather the temporary holding place for souls before Christ’s resurrection.
Ephesians 4:9 says, “He descended into the lower earthly regions.”
1 Peter 3:18–20 tells us He preached to “the spirits in prison.”
So what was Jesus doing there?
3. He Proclaimed Victory and Set Captives Free
There’s good reason to believe that Jesus entered the realm of the dead to proclaim His victory — not to suffer, but to declare that death had been defeated.
In Luke 16, Jesus had already described Sheol as having two sides: one of torment (where the rich man was) and one of comfort (Abraham’s bosom, where Lazarus rested). It’s likely that Jesus went to the side of the righteous — those who had trusted God under the Old Covenant — and led them into freedom.
Ephesians 4:8 says, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive.”
Colossians 2:15 says He “disarmed the powers and authorities… triumphing over them.”
What a powerful picture! Jesus wasn’t lying in a tomb doing nothing — He was shaking the foundations of the spiritual world.
4. Resurrection Sunday: The Great Victory
On the third day, Jesus rose again. His body was glorified, His scars visible, and His power on full display. He walked out of the tomb, appearing to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and over 500 others in the days that followed (1 Corinthians 15:6).
In a stunning verse often overlooked, Matthew 27:52–53 tells us that when Jesus died, “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people… were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection.”
In other words, Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t just a personal triumph — it was the beginning of a resurrection movement!
So What Does This Mean for Us?
- Death has lost its sting. Jesus went into the grave — and came out the other side.
- The righteous dead are no longer held. Because of Jesus, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).
- We serve a victorious Saviour. Jesus didn’t just defeat death for Himself — He did it for us.
This three-day journey from cross to resurrection shows us that even when it seems like God is silent, He’s still at work. In your darkest hour, you can trust that Jesus is present — and victory is coming.
Let’s Remember This:
Jesus didn’t just die for you.
He descended for you.
He declared victory for you.
And He rose for you.
If this stirred your heart, feel free to share it with a friend or worship team member. And if you’ve got questions, let’s keep the conversation going in the comments or over email. The gospel is deeper and more powerful than we can imagine — and we’re only scratching the surface.
