Where Did Jesus Go When He Died John Piper?

How Christ Fulfilled and Ended the Old Testament Regime

• When we perceive Jesus Christ in his appropriate relationship to the Old Testament, the magnificence of Jesus Christ becomes even more apparent.
• He has a fantastic relationship with everything that has been published.
• It should come as no surprise that this is the case, given that Jesus is known as the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14).
• Wouldn’t the Word of God embodied be the culmination and completion of the written word of God?
• Take a look at these brief statements as well as the texts that support their claims.
• 1.

All of Scripture bears witness to the deity of Christ.Moses wrote a letter to the people about Christ.The Scriptures are searched because you believe that in them you will find eternal life; and it is they who give witness about me….″If you believed Moses, you would believe me, since he wrote about me,″ says the author.

• (See also John 5:39 and 46.) 2.
• Regardless of whether or not there is an explicit prediction, all of the Scriptures are about Jesus Christ.
• In other words, there is a completeness of implication in all of Scripture that leads to Christ and is satisfied only after he has arrived and completed his work on the cross.
• It has been said that ″the significance of all Scriptures is revealed in Jesus’ death and resurrection″ (Graeme Goldsworthy, Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture, 54).
• And, beginning with Moses and all of the Prophets, he explained to them the things concerning himself that were written in all of the Scriptures.

(See also Luke 24:27) 3.Jesus came to fulfill all that had been written in the Law and the Prophets before to his birth.Even when it is not expressly prophetic, everything was pointing to him and his demise.He completes the task that the Law requires of him.″Do not believe that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.″ ″Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.″ True to my word, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one speck will be removed from the Law until it is fully implemented.″ (Matthew 5:17–18; Luke 5:17–18) 4.

Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises made to the people of Israel in the Old Testament.That is, if you have Christ, sooner or later you will receive both Christ himself and everything else that God promised to provide to those who believe in him.Because Jesus is the embodiment of all of God’s promises, they all come true.That is why we express our gratitude to God for his splendor by saying our Amen through him.(See 2 Corinthians 1:20 for further information.) 5.Christ was a perfect observant of the law.

1. 6.
2. And all of the punishments meted out to God’s wicked people were poured out on Jesus Christ.
3. As a result, it is now abundantly clear that the law is no longer the road to righteousness, but that Christ is.
4. The ultimate objective of the law is for us to turn to Christ for our righteousness, rather than to our compliance with the law.
5. Because Christ is the fulfillment of the law in terms of righteousness for everyone who believes in him.
6. (See also Romans 10:4) ″When you have Christ, you have all God promised through him,″ says the apostle Paul.

Because of this, nearly everything has altered as a result of the arrival of Christ: 1.The blood sacrifices were discontinued because Christ accomplished everything that they had been aiming toward.He was the one and only sacrifice for sins that could never be repeated.″He entered once and for all into the holy places, not by the blood of goats and calves but by the blood of his own blood, so achieving a permanent redemption,″ says Hebrews 9:12.2.The priesthood, which served as a barrier between worshipers and God, has been abolished.

The book of Hebrews 7:23–24, While there have been a large number of past priests who have died and been forbidden from continuing in their positions, he has retained his priesthood indefinitely since he continues to exist forever.Three, the physical temple has ceased to be the geographic focal point of religious activity.Christ himself is the focal point of worship at this point.

• He is the ″place,″ the ″tent,″ and the ″temple″ where we come face to face with the Almighty.
• As a result, Christianity does not have a geographic center, such as Mecca or Jerusalem.
• John 4:21, 23, and 24 It is written, ″Woman, trust me, the hour is coming in which neither you nor anyone else will worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem…
• However, believe me, the hour is coming, and it is now here, in which real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.″ The temple of his body was mentioned in John 2:19 and 21: ″’Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’…
• He was referring to the temple of his body.″ ″For when two or three are assembled in my name, there am I among them,″ says Jesus in Matthew 18:20.

4.The dietary rules that distinguished Israel from the rest of the world have been fulfilled and terminated in Christ.Mark 7:18–19, Mark 7:18–19, stated to them, ‘Do you not see that whatever enters a person from the outside cannot defile him?’…(Therefore, he proclaimed all meals to be pure.)″ (5) The creation of civil law on the basis of an ethnically rooted people, who are subject to direct divine authority, has come to an end.It is no longer possible to speak of the people of God as an united political entity, an ethnic group, or a nation-state; rather, they are exiles and sojourners among all ethnic groups and all nations.

Because of this, God’s will for states should not be drawn directly from theocratic order of the Old Testament but should be re-established from place to place and over time by means that are commensurate with God’s sovereign rule over all peoples and with the fact that genuine obedience, rooted as it is in faith in Christ, cannot be coerced through legal means.As a result, the state is founded in God, yet it is not a manifestation of God’s direct dominion.Romans 13:1 is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse of the book of Romans, and it is the first verse ″Let everyone be subject to the laws and regulations of the state.″ As a result, there is no authority apart from God, and the authorities that do exist were established by God.″ ″My kingdom is not of this world,″ says Jesus in John 18:36.

″If my kingdom had been on this planet, my servants would have been engaged in battle.″ Please join me in praising Christ for his miracles, which have wrought such dramatic transformations around the globe.

Where Did Jesus God When He Died?

• ″I thirst,″ Jesus declared towards the conclusion of His suffering on the cross.
• They responded by giving Him vinegar, and Jesus stated, ″It is completed.″ Then He surrendered His spirit (John 19:28-30).
• While the body of Jesus was laid to rest in a tomb, it is unclear where Christ’s spirit went after His death.
• This Bible study will go into the Scriptures to find the solution to the question.

Where did Jesus go when He went to Paradise?

• During His crucifixion, Jesus spoke to the thief who had placed his faith in Him, telling him, ″Today you will be with Me in Paradise″ (Luke 23:43).
• However, after Jesus died, He did not instantly go to the heavenly realm.
• The first time Jesus visited Mary after the resurrection, He informed her that He had not yet risen to the Father in glory (John 20:17).
• Considering that Christ’s spirit did not ascend to heaven until after His resurrection, where was He throughout the time that His body was in the tomb?
• In contrast to a theology textbook, the Bible does not provide us with all of the answers, but it does provide us with a number of clues.
• Please join me in searching for an answer to this riddle by studying the Bible together.

Sheol – The Realm of the Dead

• This section will look at certain passages from the Bible that speak about where individuals go after they die.
• When referring to the location where people go when they die, the Hebrew word ″sheol″ is commonly used throughout the Old Testament to describe it.
• Depending on the context, the King James Version will interpret this term as ″the grave,″ ″the pit,″ or ″hell.″ Other English versions simply transliterate the Hebrew and use the term ″sheol″ to describe the place of execution.
• The same term is used to describe the places where both believers and unbelievers ended up.
• As a result, ″sheol″ might be translated as ″the realm of the dead.″ The Old Testament doesn’t speak anything about heaven and hell, and neither does the New Testament.

What David Knew

David appears to have had some knowledge of what it might be like to live in a celestial afterlife.″As a result, my heart is pleased, and my glory rejoices; my flesh will likewise rest in the assurance of God.″ Because You will not abandon my soul to the depths of Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to be corrupted…″ (Psalm 16:9-11 – New King James Version).It appears from this verse that David was under the impression that his spirit would spend some time in ″sheol.″ However, this hint at his resurrection indicates that he would not remain in that state.God’s Holy One, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was also mentioned in this psalm, which David foretold about.

1. God (the Father) would not allow His Holy One (Jesus the Son) to be exposed to corruption, according to David’s words.
2. Jesus was raised from the dead before His flesh began to decompose.

What Job Knew

Job was aware of a coming redeemer and resurrection because he was righteous.He was well aware that his Redeemer (Jesus, the Son of God) would one day come to Earth to save him.Job knew that he would die and that his flesh would decay away, but he also knew that he would meet God in a whole new body after his death.″For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He will stand on the earth at the end of the age.

1. And even after my skin has been destroyed, I will still be able to see God in my flesh″ (Job 19:25-26 – English Standard Version).

The Rich Man and Lazarus

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells a tale about a rich man and a beggar called Lazarus, which provides light on the problem of wealth.When they both died, Lazarus was taken by angels to Abraham’s side, where he was comforted by the Prophet Abraham.The rich guy was condemned to a life of burning misery in Hades.It would appear that the world of the dead had been split in some way.

1. It was a place of comfort on one side and a place of pain on the other.
2. It would appear that the world of the dead had been split in some way.
3. It was a place of comfort on one side and a place of pain on the other.

• The spirits of individuals on each side could see and communicate with one another, but there was a huge chasm between them, and no one could pass from one side to the other.

Where did Jesus go?

According to the teachings of the New Testament, this section will examine where Jesus went when His corpse was in the tomb.

Ephesians 4:8-10 on Where Jesus Went

For this reason, according to Ephesians 4:8-10, ″when He climbed to the right hand of the Majesty on high, He brought captivity captive, and bestowed gifts to men.″ (Now that He has risen, what else could it be except that He has also fallen into the lower regions of the earth first?It is the same One who descended, as well as the One who ascended far beyond the skies, in order that He could fill all things)″ (KJV).It appears from this verse that, prior to His resurrection and ascension, Jesus descended into the lower regions of the earth.

1 Peter 3:18-20a on Where Jesus Went

″For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who had before been rebellious,″ reads 1 Peter 3:18-20a.(NKJV).Apparently after Jesus was crucified, His spirit went out and preached to ″the spirits in prison″ of people who had been disobedient, as indicated in this passage.

What We Know

• After His bodily death, Jesus’ spirit descended (Ephesians 4:9) to ″Paradise,″ as described in Luke 23:43.
• Until this point, when someone died, they were all sent to ″sheol″ (the land of the dead).
• A place of comfort with Abraham was reserved for Godly believers
• a place of pain was reserved for the ungodly.

With Him when He ascended into heaven, He took the souls of those who had lived good lives.One of the most plausible explanations is that after Jesus died, His soul joined Abraham and the other believers on the pleasant side of sheol, which He designated as ″Paradise,″ according to certain scholars.Jesus, while awaiting His resurrection, preached to the souls of the disobedient (1 Peter 3:19-20a), who were immersed in the flames on the other side of the grave (1 Peter 3:19-20a).As a result, when Jesus arose from the grave, he ″captured captives″ by taking the souls of those who had lived holy lives with Him (Ephesians 4:8).

Summary

• The short version is that everyone died and was buried before the resurrection of Jesus, and they all went to sheol (the realm of the dead) to await God’s Son’s death, burial, and resurrection. The souls that perished were cast into Hades, where they will remain until the judgment of the Great White Throne occurs (Revelation 20:11-14). People who had been rescued were transported to a region of comfort known as Paradise (also known as Abraham’s bosom). Because of their guilt, they could not enter directly into the presence of God until the blood of Jesus had been shed to atone for and cover their transgression. Be a result, Jesus Christ is referred to as the ″firstfruits″ of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:20). Christ, on the other hand, has risen from the grave and has become the firstfruits of those who have slept. For, just as death was brought about by man, so too was the resurrection of the dead brought about by man. In the same way that everyone dies in Adam, everyone will be brought alive in Christ. Then there are the firstfruits, which are Christ
• after that there are those who are Christ’s at his coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 — King James Version The righteous souls in Paradise were the prisoners who were set free by Jesus when He ascended to the throne of glory. It has been centuries since the souls of the saved have been sent directly to paradise when they die. However, until the Rapture occurs, the dead are only spirits. After the Rapture, they (we) will not be able to get new bodies (1 Corinthians 15:51-54
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). When Jesus died on the cross, He was taken to ″Abraham’s bosom,″ also known as Paradise, in sheol (hell). But He didn’t hang around for long! If you enjoyed this, you may be interested in the following: Temptation on the Cross
• Joy on the Cross
• He Is Risen
• Christ is risen from the dead.
• What is the location of the skull at Golgotha? What is the location of Christ’s grave at The Garden Tomb?

He Descended into Hell?

Joseph purchased a linen shroud, and after lowering him to the ground, he covered him in the linen shroud and placed him in a tomb that had been carved out of solid rock.And he rolled a stone on the tomb’s entrance to seal it off for good.(Matthew 15:46) We’re all aware that Jesus passed away.″’Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’″ says the speaker.

1. And it was after saying this that he took his last breath″ (Luke 23:46).
2. What occurred, though, when he passed away?
3. Even while we know that his body was interred in Joseph’s tomb, we don’t know what happened to his soul.

• When we think about death and the afterlife, we not only gain a better understanding of biblical doctrine, but we also gain great encouragement for ourselves, for we must confront death and strive to do so without dread.

What Is Death?

To begin with, what precisely is death and how does it occur?In death, there is a division between things that should be joined together.Fundamentally, it is a state of being separated from God.According to Ephesians 2:1–2, ″You were dead in your trespasses and sins,″ which means ″dead in your former way of life.″ It is to be dead, to be enslaved to evil spirits, to be alienated from God, and to be offspring of his wrath to continue to live in sin.

1. It is an estrangement, a hostility, and an alienation from the life and hope of the living God when this form of separation occurs.
2. To put it another way, by nature, we are all born dead, and it is this death that Jesus experienced throughout his agonizing death on the cross..
3. Death, on the other hand, is more than merely being separated from God.

• Death also signifies the disconnection of the soul from the physical body.
• Death shatters the bond that God created between embodied souls and ensouled bodies, and death is the tearing apart of that union.
• The question is, what happens to these two halves once they’ve been separated?
• Psalm 16:10 provides us with a window into the teaching of the Bible.

″You will not consign my soul to Sheol, nor will you allow your holy one to be corrupted.″ ″God created human beings to be embodied souls and ensouled bodies,″ God says.Death shatters this bond to pieces.″ When a human being dies prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus, the regular explanation of what happened is directed to us by this scripture.In addition to the spirit being abandoned ″to Sheol,″ the body also saw degeneration or decay.Interestingly, Peter informs us that David predicted the resurrection of Christ when he wrote this psalm, saying, ″that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see decay″ (note that Peter interprets the second verse as a reference to Jesus’s body or flesh).As a result, before to Jesus, when a person died, their souls were often sent to Sheol (or Hades) and their bodies (flesh) rotted.

The latter is something we’re all familiar with, while the former is a little more difficult to grasp.A brief look at the Bible will reveal why Peter believes David’s prophesy in Psalm 16 is such excellent news for the world.

What Is Sheol?

Sheol is the location of the souls of the deceased in the Old Testament, including both the good (such as Jacob in Genesis 37:35 and Samuel in 1 Samuel 28:13–14) and the wicked (such as Abel in 1 Samuel 28:13–14).(Psalm 31:17).The Hebrew name Sheol is translated as Hades in the New Testament, and the descriptions of Sheol in both the Old and New Testaments exhibit some similarities to the description of Hades in Greek mythology, as well.It is located under the surface of the earth (Numbers 16:30–33), and it resembles a city with gates (Isaiah 38:10) and bars (Numbers 16:30–33).

1. (Job 17:16).
2. In this country of darkness, the shadowy spirits of mankind can be found, as can be found in any other area of gloom (Isaiah 14:9; 26:14).
3. In Psalm 88:12, it is described as a region of forgetfulness, where no labor is done and where there is no knowledge to be found (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

• The most essential aspect of Sheol is that it is a realm where no one praises God (Psalm 6:5, 88:10–11, 115:17, Isaiah 38:18, among other passages).
• When it comes to the New Testament, Luke 16:19–31 has the most detailed picture of the afterlife of any passage.
• From there, we learn that the biblical Sheol is divided into two compartments, similar to the Hades of Greek mythology, namely, Hades proper (where the wealthy man is transferred, according to Luke 16:23), and ″Abraham’s bosom″ (where the angels carry Lazarus, Luke 16:22).
• Hades proper is a region of agony, where the souls of those who are imprisoned there suffer from the heat of the fire.

While Abraham’s bosom is within hearing distance of Hades, it is separated from it by ″a huge gap″ (Luke 16:26), and it serves as a haven of solace and repose, similar to the Greek Elysium.While there is still a lot of uncertainty, the image is starting to take form.In Sheol/Hades, all deceased souls are sent, but Sheol is separated into two different sections, one for the virtuous and another for the evil.They remained in Sheol with Abraham, and though they were cut off from the land of the living (and, as a result, from Yahweh’s worship on earth), they were not tortured in the same way that the wicked were, as the wicked were.

Where Did Jesus Go When He Died?

In the aftermath of his atoning death for sin, Jesus travels to Hades, the City of Death, and pulls the gates off their hinges.As a result, what can we infer about Jesus’ whereabouts on Holy Saturday from this?Several Christians believe that following Jesus’ death, his soul was taken up into heaven to be in the presence of the Father, in accordance with Jesus’ words to the thief on the cross recorded in Luke 23:43.In contrast, the passage in Luke 23:43 states that Jesus would be in the presence of the thief (″Today, you will be with me in paradise″), and based on the Old Testament and Luke 16, it appears likely that the now-repentant thief would be at Abraham’s side, in a place of comfort and rest for the righteous dead, which Jesus refers to as ″paradise″ in this passage.

1. Following his death on the cross for sin, Jesus travels to Hades, the City of Death, and pulls the gates off their hinges in a show of defiance.
2. John the Baptist and the rest of the Old Testament faithful are ransomed from Sheol’s power by him.
3. He also liberates Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the rest of the Old Testament faithful (Psalm 49:15; 86:13; 89:48).

• Heb.
• 11:39–40; 12:23 explains that they had waited there for so long, without having received what had been promised, in order for their souls to be made complete along with the believers of the new covenant.
• After his resurrection, Jesus ascends to heaven and takes the ransomed dead with him, so that paradise is no longer down near the place of torment, but is now up in the third heaven, the highest heaven, where God dwells (2 Corinthians 12:2–4).
• When the righteous die in the church age, they are no longer simply carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom, but are taken to be with Christ, which is far better (2 Corinthians 15:51–53).

(Philippians 1:23).But the wicked remain in Hades in torment until the final judgment, when Hades releases the souls of the dead who dwell there and they are judged in accordance with their deeds, and then Death and Hades are thrown into hell, where they will burn for an eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:13–15).

Good News for Us

In what ways does this have ramifications for Holy Week?Christ’s journey to Hades indicates that he was, in fact, created in the same manner as we are.Along with bearing God’s wrath on our behalf, he had to undergo death, which was the severance of his spirit from his physical body.In Luke 23:50–53, his body was in Joseph’s tomb, and his spirit had been in Sheol, which means ″in the depths of the ground,″ for three days (Matthew 12:40).

1. The celestial choir and the saints of old come together in worship of the Lamb when we die.
2. However, as Psalm 16 makes clear, Jesus is not only like to us, but also apart from us.
3. However, unlike our bodies, Jesus’ body did not deteriorate after burial.

• Jesus’ soul was taken to Hades, just as the souls of the Old Testament saints were, but it was not abandoned there.
• As the firstfruits of the resurrection harvest, God resurrected him from the grave and rejoined his soul with his now-glorified body, making him the firstfruits of the resurrection crop.
• The good news is that those who belong to Christ have bypassed the country of forgetfulness, where no one sings praises to the Lord anymore.
• As an alternative, when we die, we unite with the heavenly choir and the saints of old to sing praises to the Lamb who was killed on the cross for our sakes and the salvation of all mankind.

The Lord has risen from the dead.The Lord has certainly risen from the dead.

Did Jesus Spend Saturday in Hell?

″He was crucified, died, and was buried,″ according to the Apostles’ Creed.He was sent into the depths of hell.Jesus Christ resurrected from the grave on the third day.″ This sentence can be interpreted in a variety of ways.I merely want to contemplate the conventional interpretation that Christ went to the land of the dead in order to preach the gospel to Old Testament saints in order to set them free to enjoy the fullness of the experience of eternity.

1. This is the viewpoint expressed in the Catholic Catechism, as well as by many Protestants.
2. This does not appear to be what the New Testament teaches, in my opinion.
3. The majority of the argument is based on two verses in 1 Peter.

• Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that he might reconcile us to God, being put to death in the flesh but raised to life in the spirit, (19) in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison, (20) because they had previously refused to obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being built, in which a few, namely, eight people, were brought safely through the water, It takes them by surprise when you do not join them in the same river of debauchery, and they denounce you; (5) but they will give account to him who is ready to judge both the living and the dead.
• (1 Peter 3:18-20) (6) For this reason, the gospel was preached even to the dead, so that, even though they were judged in the body, as humans are, they may live in the spirit, as God does.″ 1 Peter 4:4-6 (New International Version) In reference to 1 Peter 3:19, I interpret these words to signify that Christ, via the voice of Noah, went and spoke to that generation, whose spirits are now ″in jail,″ that is, in hell, according to my interpretation.
• So, Peter does not claim that Christ preached to them while they were imprisoned, as some have suggested.
• He claims that he preached to them once before, during the days of Noah, and that they are now in prison as a result.

In light of what Peter said earlier about the spirit of Christ speaking through the prophets of old, I believe this is the more natural interpretation of the verse that is being promoted.They examined and investigated thoroughly, trying to determine who or when the Spirit of Christ in them was suggesting when he foretold the sufferings of Christ and the future glories that were to be yours, in order to bring you to this salvation that was to be yours.(10:10–11; 1 Peter 1:10–11) In reference to 1 Peter 4:6, I interpret the phrase ″preached to the dead″ to refer to individuals who have died after having heard the gospel preached to them.His remarks do not include the act of preaching to them after they have died.According to J.

N.D.Kelly, the context implies this type of understanding: There is a good chance that they were subjected to scoffing queries from pagan neighbors as well as worrisome questions from one another, such as, ″What is the point of your becoming Christians if you are going to die like other men?″ The writer’s response is that, far from being ineffective, the preaching of Christ and his gospel to those who have since died had just this goal in mind: that, despite the fact that they appeared to be condemned according to human reckoning, they would in reality enjoy life forever.″ Peter and Jude are both mentioned in A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and Jude (175).As a result, I believe that there is no textual basis in the New Testament for the assertion that Christ spent the time between Good Friday and Easter teaching to people who were imprisoned in hell or the underworld.There is a textual foundation for Jesus’ statement that he would be with the repentant thief in Paradise ″today″ (Luke 23:43), and one does not get the idea that he is referring to a faulty location from which the thief must subsequently be released via more preaching and admonition.For these and other reasons, I believe it is preferable to remove the phrase ″he fell into hell″ from the Apostles Creed rather than interpreting it in a way that is more acceptable, as Calvin did.

Did Christ Ever Descend to Hell?

Is it true that Christ ever went to hell?There are two passages in the New Testament that, when read together, would appear to support the notion that he did.One example is seen in Ephesians 4:9, which states that Christ descended into the lowest regions of the world.This most likely indicates that he descended to the earth’s surface, which corresponds to the lowest sections of the planet.

1. The preposition ″of″ does not imply that he is traveling beneath the ground.
2. As a result, I do not believe that the text justifies the conclusion that he sank into hell.
3. The other passage is 1 Peter 3:18-20, which states that Christ went to speak to the spirits who are now under the control of the devil.

• They have died—having lived during the days of Noah—and are now held in servitude; and Christ went to them in person in order to talk with them.
• Some interpret this to suggest that between Good Friday and Easter, Christ went to hell and proclaimed the gospel there.
• Others interpret it to mean the opposite.
• However, I do not believe that this is the intended sense of the passage.

I believe this indicates that when these individuals were alive during the days of Noah, Christ communicated to them in the Spirit through the preaching of Noah, and that they are now in jail as a result of this communication.As a result, I have come to the conclusion that there is no scriptural foundation for thinking that Christ fell into hell.As a matter of truth, when hanging on the cross, Christ declared to the thief, ″Today you will be with me in paradise.″ The only thing we know about Jesus’ activities between his death and resurrection is what he was doing at the time.It was his words, ″Today—this Friday afternoon, once we’re both dead—you and I shall be in heaven together,″ he declared.I don’t believe the thief went to hell, nor do I believe that hell is known as paradise.

I believe he was taken to heaven and that Jesus was there with him there.As a result, when I repeat the Apostle’s Creed, I do not include the sentence ″he fell into hell.″ But look into it for yourself and see if you believe there are any other grounds for it as well.As for me, though, I believe that the biblical grounding for that specific language in the Apostle’s Creed is a little tenuous.

Did Jesus Spend Saturday in Hell?

″He was crucified, died, and was buried,″ according to the Apostles’ Creed.He was sent into the depths of hell.″On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead again.″ This sentence can be interpreted in a variety of ways.I merely want to contemplate the conventional interpretation that Christ went to the land of the dead in order to preach the gospel to Old Testament saints in order to set them free to enjoy the fullness of the experience of eternity.

1. This is the viewpoint expressed in the Catholic Catechism, as well as by many Protestants.
2. This does not appear to be what the New Testament teaches, in my opinion.
3. The majority of the argument is based on two verses in 1 Peter.

• Jesus Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to reconcile us to God.
• He was put to death in the flesh but raised to life in the spirit, in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison because they had previously refused to obey, while God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared and in which only a few people, namely, eight people, were brought safely through the water.
• When you do not join them in their revelry, they are taken aback and begin to defame you; but they will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 3:18-20) and they will be brought before him.
• For this reason, the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, despite being judged in the body in the same way that humans are, they may live in the spirit in the same manner that God lives.″ 1 Peter 4:4-6 (New International Version) In reference to 1 Peter 3:19, I interpret these words to signify that Christ, via the voice of Noah, went and spoke to that generation, whose spirits are now ″in jail,″ that is, in hell, according to my interpretation.

So, Peter does not claim that Christ preached to them while they were imprisoned, as some have suggested.He claims that he preached to them once before, during the days of Noah, and that they are now in prison as a result.In light of what Peter said earlier about the spirit of Christ speaking through the prophets of old, I believe this is the more natural interpretation of the verse that is being promoted.They examined and investigated thoroughly, trying to determine who or when the Spirit of Christ in them was suggesting when he foretold the sufferings of Christ and the future glories that were to be yours, in order to bring you to this salvation that was to be yours.(10:10–11; 1 Peter 1:10–11) In reference to 1 Peter 4:6, I interpret the phrase ″preached to the dead″ to refer to individuals who have died after having heard the gospel preached to them.

His remarks do not include the act of preaching to them after they have died.According to J.N.D.Kelly, the context implies this type of understanding: As a result of their conversion, they may have faced scoffing queries from pagan neighbors, as well as worrisome concerns from one another, such as, ″What is the point of your becoming Christians if you appear to die like other men?″ The writer’s response is that, far from being ineffective, the preaching of Christ and his gospel to those who have since died had just this goal in mind: that, despite the fact that they appeared to be condemned according to human reckoning, they would in reality enjoy life forever.″ The Epistles of Peter and Jude (A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and Jude, 175) As a result, I believe that there is no textual basis in the New Testament for the assertion that Christ spent the time between Good Friday and Easter teaching to people who were imprisoned in hell or the underworld.There is a textual foundation for Jesus’ statement that he would be with the repentant thief in Paradise ″today″ (Luke 23:43), and one does not get the idea that he is referring to a faulty location from which the thief must subsequently be released via more preaching and admonition.For these and other reasons, I believe it is preferable to remove the phrase ″he fell into hell″ from the Apostles Creed rather than interpreting it in a way that is more acceptable, as Calvin did.

Theology Thursday: Where Did Jesus Go When He Died?

Dr.Valerie J.De La Torre contributed to this article.When it comes to Jesus Christ, who is the second member in the Trinity, the second article of the Apostles’ Creed is a broader grouping of assertions that are centered on him.

1. This section reveals Christ’s birth, suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, as well as his predicted return to judge all of mankind (Matthew 25:31-46).
2. In order to understand the short word that proclaims that Jesus ″descended into hell,″ we must first understand what it means.
3. Over the years, theologians and laypeople have debated the meaning of these few words and the implications they hold.

• We discover early references to Christ experiencing human mortality, whether viewed literally or symbolically, which makes it a fascinating factor to consider (Acts.
• 2:27-31; Romans 10:7; Colossians 1:18; I Peter 3:19, 4:6; Ephesians 4:9).
• So, what exactly happened to Jesus when he passed away?

Did Jesus Go to Hell?

The location referred to as ″hell″ in this creedal declaration was formerly referred to in the Bible as Gehenna, which means ″the land of the dead″ in Greek.It is seen as a region of perpetual torment for individuals who are rejected at the final judgment….The Hebrew name Sheol is used to describe the location in the Old Testament, and it alludes to the grave — a place far removed from God’s presence where the virtuous and the wicked both stay — in the Old Testament.As a result, the issue must be raised as to whether this is the location where Jesus was taken after his death.

1. A common early interpretation of Jesus’ journey into this ‘underworld’ location across interpretative camps was that he emancipated those who had previously been bound by the bonds of mortality.
2. According to a subsequent interpretation, this site of descent represents Christ’s victory over the Kingdom of Satan, which was accomplished in death.
3. Afterwards, the Creed declares Christ’s victory in rising to new life and ascending to the heavenly realm, where he now rests in eternal triumph at the right hand of God the Father.

• That is, the promise of the approaching judgment at Christ’s return, in which the final victory over death and evil will be revealed, is supported by this second viewpoint.
• According to Augustine, one of the early Christian writers, Jesus did not preach to those who died before his coming, nor did he make salvation available to those who died before his advent.
• Although a later medieval opinion argued once more that only Christians of the pre-Christian time were in fact recipients and beneficiaries of Christ’s preaching in Hades, as intimated in Matthew 27:52 and again in Hebrews 12:23, this position was rebutted by a later medieval view.
• Then there’s John Calvin, who regarded this term as a portrayal of Christ’s inward suffering as someone who had endured complete and total separation from God.

In other words, the anguish of the crucifixion alone was a vicarious suffering of what it could be like to be separated from God in hell.

Resolution in the Context

When spoken as part of one’s baptismal vows in ancient times, this credo was intended to draw attention to the Trinitarian nature of the ceremony, and we must examine this fact.This was seen as a profoundly symbolic and representational experience of dying and rising, which it was.The old life was now dead, and the new life was now being physically performed in the same way that Jesus’ death and dying, as well as his resurrection from this real grave experience, had been modeled.It seemed like life had triumphed over death all over again.

1. As a result of this baptism, we see the same saved life that Jesus lived, closing the gap between us and God, or what we know in the vernacular as ‘hell,’ and ushering in a new era of peace and prosperity.
2. When considering this essential portion of the Apostles’ Creed, let us also take into consideration an updated version of the phrase which states: ″he descended to the grave.″ In the following creedal statement, the emphasis is on Christ’s resurrection on the third day, which points to the larger picture of this creedal declaration as a whole, and leaves no mistake as to its goal.
3. So, Jesus’ experience of the grave was real, just as it will be true for us, but much more so will be our experience of the resurrection, which will last throughout eternity.

• As a result, we can argue that Jesus came from the highest reaches of heaven only to descend to the lowest depths of hell on our behalf, ensuring that this would never become our permanent home.
• Do you want to know more?
• View all of the articles from Theology Thursday and check back each week for a fresh post.
• Check out our website to learn more about the College of Theology and the degree programs offered by Grand Canyon University, or fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

These are the author’s own views and opinions, and they do not necessarily reflect those of Grand Canyon University.The views and ideas stated in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the university.Any sources that were quoted were up to date at the time of publication.

How Early Church Leaders Downplayed Mary Magdalene’s Influence by Calling Her a Whore

She was Mary of Magdala, one of Jesus of Nazareth’s early disciples, and she was one of the most famous women in the world.It is said that she journeyed with him, witnessed his Crucifixion, and was one of those who were informed of his Resurrection, all according to the Scriptures.Everybody, from early church officials and historians to authors and filmmakers, has contributed to the revision and expansion of the tale of Mary Magdalene throughout history.On the one hand, they downplayed her significance by stating she was a prostitute, a wrecked woman who repented and was rescued by Christ’s teachings.

1. On the other hand, they emphasized her value by claiming she was a prostitute, a ruined woman who repented and was saved by Christ’s teachings.
2. Mary Magdalene, on the other hand, is represented in several early Christian scriptures as more than just a mere follower; she is also depicted as Jesus’ close companion—which some have taken to suggest his wife.
3. Which begs the question: is there any truth to either of these tales?

• What exactly do we know about Mary Magdalene, the lady who is considered to be the most intriguing woman in the Bible?
• WATCH: Jesus: A Biography on the HISTORY Vault

What the Bible Says About Mary Magdalene

However, only the Gospel of Luke discussed Mary Magdalene’s role in Jesus’ life and ministry, listing her among ″some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities″ (Luke 8:1–3).All four canonical gospels of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) noted Mary Magdalene’s presence at Jesus’ Crucifixion, but only the Gospel of Luke discussed her role in his life and ministry.According to Luke, when Jesus drove out seven devils from her, Mary joined a group of women who went with him and his twelve disciples/apostles, ″proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.″ They were ″proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.″ However, although Magdalene is not a surname, it is associated with the city of Magdala, which is located in Galilee, in the northernmost area of ancient Palestine, and from whence Mary hailed (now northern Israel).In the words of Robert Cargill, an assistant professor of classical and religious studies at the University of Iowa who is also the editor of the Biblical Archaeology Review, ″Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus’ early followers.″ ″She was mentioned in the Gospels, which indicates that she was significant.

1. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of followers of Jesus, but we don’t know the names of the majority of them, according to what we know.
2. As a result, the fact that she has been identified is significant.″ Mary Magdalene had an important role in the tale of the Resurrection, which took place after Jesus’ crucifixion, which she observed from the foot of the cross with many other women, and after all of Jesus’ male disciples had fled from the scene.
3. In accordance with the gospels, she went to Jesus’ tomb on Easter Sunday, either by herself (according to the Gospel of John) or in company with other women, and discovered that the tomb was vacant.

• The ladies are the ones who go to the disciples and inform them what has happened, as Cargill points out.
• That’s crucial since they were the ones who found that Jesus had resurrected from the dead.
• According to the Gospel of John, Jesus personally comes to Mary Magdalene after his Resurrection and urges her to inform his followers of his appearance (John 20:1-13).
• READ MORE: What Did Jesus Look Like When He Was Alive?

Mary Magdalene as sinner

Because of Mary Magdalene’s obvious significance in the Bible—or maybe because of it—some early Western church leaders attempted to minimize her power by presenting her as a sinner, notably as a prostitute, according to the Bible.In Cargill’s words, ″There are many academics who think that because Jesus empowered women to such a great extent early in his career, it made some of the males who would govern the early church uncomfortable later on.″ In response to this, there were two different reactions.She was to be turned into a prostitute, for example.″ Early church leaders conflated Mary with other women mentioned in the Bible in order to portray her as the original repentant whore.These women included an unnamed woman, identified in the Gospel of Luke as a sinner, who bathes Jesus’ feet with her tears, dries them, and applies ointment to them (Luke 7:37-38), as well as another Mary, Mary of Bethany, who also appears in Luke.

1. Pope Gregory the Great clarified this confusion in a sermon in 591 A.D., saying, ″We think that the Mary, whom Luke names the wicked woman and whom John calls Mary, is the Mary from whom seven demons were evicted according to Mark.″ ‘By becoming a prostitute, she has diminished in importance.’ It has a negative impact on her in some manner.
2. Look at what she did for a job, and you can see why she couldn’t have been a leader,″ Cargill adds.
3. ″Of course, the second option was to advance Mary to the next level.

• Some believe she was actually Jesus’ wife or friend, rather than his mother.
• ″She had a particular place in the world.″ READ MORE: The Bible Claims That Jesus Was a Real Person.
• Is there any further evidence?

Mary Magdalene as Jesus’s wife

While some early Christians sought to downplay Mary’s influence, others sought to emphasize it as a source of inspiration.Several centuries after Jesus’ death, the Gospel of Mary, a document dating from the second century A.D.that was discovered in Egypt in 1896, ranked Mary Magdalene higher in wisdom and influence than Jesus’ male disciples.She was also extensively featured in the so-called Gnostic Gospels, a collection of books thought to have been authored by early Christians as far back as the second century A.D.

1. but which were not discovered until 1945, near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi, and which were written in Greek.
2. According to one of these manuscripts, referred to Mary Magdalene as Jesus’ friend and said that Jesus loved her more than the other disciples.
3. This document is known as the Gospel of Philip.

• Possibly the most contentious statement in the scripture was that Jesus used to kiss Mary ″frequently on her.″ Damage to the writing rendered the final word illegible, while some scholars have substituted the word ″mouth″ for the unreadable term.
• In the years after its publication, Dan Brown’s enormously popular mystery The Da Vinci Code has been consumed by tens of millions of readers worldwide.
• The premise of the novel revolves around the long-held belief that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had children together.
• This concept was also at the heart of The Last Temptation of Christ, a novel written by Greek writer Nikos Kazantzakis in 1955 that was subsequently made into a film directed by Martin Scorsese, as well as the cinematic adaptation of the novel.

And then there was the discovery of a previously unknown papyrus fragment in 2012 that was considered to be a copy of a second-century narrative in which Jesus refers to Mary Magdalene as ″my wife,″ according to Karen King, a professor at Harvard Divinity School.She ultimately changed her mind after being bombarded with criticism and concluded that the so-called ″Gospel of Jesus’s Wife″ was most likely a fake after defending the document’s validity.

Mary Magdalene as trusted disciple

The Bible, on the other hand, provided no indication that Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife.One can’t get a sense of that type of connection from any of the four canonical gospels, despite the fact that they include the women who travel with Jesus and, in some cases, their husbands’ names as well.The depiction of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute endured for decades after Pope Gregory the Great declared it official in his sixth-century sermon, though neither Orthodoxy nor Protestantism embraced it once their respective religions separated from the Catholic Church later in the sixth century.At long last, in 1969, the Church acknowledged that the text of the Bible did not support such interpretation..

1. Mary Magdalene is now venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, and her feast day is observed on July 22nd in all four of these denominations.
2. According to Cargill’s conclusion, ″Mary appears to have been a disciple of Jesus.″ ″What’s noteworthy is that Jesus had both male and female disciples in his ministry, which was not often the case at the time,″ says the author.
3. He notes that while the prostitute and wife hypotheses have been around for centuries, they are tales and customs that have developed long after the fact: ″Neither of them is anchored in the Bible itself.″ MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT: The Evolution of Christian Thought

Three Days in the Tomb

Last spring, my wife and I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the Holy Land with a group of friends.On the last day of our trip to Jerusalem, we woke up early in the morning and proceeded to the Garden Tomb, which was our destination.We were completely alone in the garden, which was a pleasant surprise.Our emotions were overwhelmed with an overwhelming sense of respect.

1. We looked up at the hill Golgotha, which is known as the ″place of the skull.″ We may envisage the three crosses at that location, as well as the sign ″This is Jesus—the King of the Jews″ over the agonizing figure of the Savior.
2. (See Matthew 27:37 for further information.) ″Are we really worth all of his suffering for us?″ the question arises.
3. After that, we went to the tomb, which had been traditionally the property of Joseph of Arimathaea.

• Joseph and Nicodemus placed him in this location with the assistance of the ladies.
• His followers had abandoned him.
• Everyone left except for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who remained behind while the stone was rolled to close the entrance.
• (See Matt.

27:60–61 for further information.) They were crowded together near to the sepulchre.An alarm clock was then installed at the grave.According to tradition, there was widespread devastation in Jerusalem, with the curtain of the temple being ″torn in two.″ (See Matthew 27:51.) On this continent, though, the devastation was far greater.There were massive earthquakes and volcanic eruptions throughout the planet.Cities were devastated in three hours, with some being buried and others being burned.

Mountains arose in the places where cities had previously been.An enormous dense darkness blanketed the entire region as the storm turned into tempest and then into a hurricane.Three hours had passed since the beginning of the devastation, but it had been three days since the arrival of a voice, and it was simply a voice.When the voice addressed the audience, it identified itself as the voice of Jesus Christ, saying: ″Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God….″ I am the one who created the heavens and the earth, as well as all that exists in them.I have been with the Father since the beginning of time.In the Father, I am, and the Father is in me; and it is through me that the Father has exalted his own name.

″I arrived to my own, and my own did not greet me.In addition, the scriptures pertaining to my arrival have been fulfilled.″ 3 Ne.9:15–16.) (See also 3 Ne.

9:15–16.) He informed them that the disaster had occurred as a result of their immorality, and that only the more upright had been spared from the destruction.He urged them to repent and he would receive them, which might have been a prelude to his subsequent visit following his resurrection.The voice informed them that he had met the requirements of the Law of Moses.In addition, ″you must make no more blood sacrifices unto me; yes, your sacrifices and your burned offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and burnt offerings.″ ″And ye shall offer unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit as a sacrifice.″ 3 Ne.9:19–20; 3 Ne.10:19–20.) The following words were spoken by him on two consecutive times throughout his ministry: ″…

I will have mercy, and not sacrifice.″ (See Matthew 9:13 and Matthew 12:7 for examples.) Another important activity Jesus engaged in while his body was in the tomb was paying visits to the souls of individuals who had passed away.″Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God: and those who hear will live,″ he said on one occasion.″Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God: and those who hear will live.″ (See also John 5:25.) ″…Verily I say unto thee, this day shalt thou be with me in paradise,″ Jesus stated while on the cross, speaking to the convicted, believing thief.(See also Luke 23:43.) ″For Christ also once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: ″By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; ″Which sometimes were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.″ Peter Paul’s letter to the Philippians (3:18–20).This is a wonderful gospel idea to live by.

• This provides a chance for all of mankind to hear and receive the gospel, as well as to continue their spiritual development beyond death.
• The apostle Peter also informs us that, ″for this reason, the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so they could be judged according to men in the body, but live according to God in the spirit.″ (See 1 Peter 4:6.) So, while the corpse of Christ was still in the tomb, two great and wondrous things happened to him.
• The first is that the inhabitants of this continent heard his voice preaching to them and saying that sacrifices are no longer acceptable.
• Keep in mind that he had not yet been resurrected.
• In the days following his resurrection, he appeared to the people and taught them something.
• Two, he delivered sermons to the spirits of those imprisoned.

After three days had passed, an angel appeared and rolled aside the stone that had sealed the grave.My wife and I were going through the garden that morning and were able to readily see the stone that had been placed there.The entrance to the tomb was carved into the side of a hill that was perpendicular to the road.In front of the entrance was a trough into which the stone could be rolled to close or cover the door when it was in the proper position to do so.

We remembered how Mary Magdalene and the other women had arrived early in the morning of the first day of the week with spices to prepare the body, only to discover that the stone had been moved away by the wind.As they entered, an angel informed them that He had risen from the dead.He instructed them to go to the disciples and inform them that He had risen from the dead.Mary discovered and informed Peter and John.They were on the run.John, the younger, was the first to come, and he peeked into the tomb before entering after Peter had already done so.

1. Although the corpse had been removed, the linens were still there, nicely folded.
2. After that, John and Peter returned to their house.
3. ″Because they were unaware of the Torah, which stated that he must rise from the grave,″ says the author.
4. (See John 20:9) Mary, on the other hand, was outside the sepulchre sobbing; and while she grieved, she knelt down and looked into the sepulchre, ″and beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and another at the foot, where the body of Jesus had lay.″ ″And they say vnto her: Woman, why weepest thou?
5. It is because they have taken my Lord away and I have no idea where they have buried him that she speaks to them.

And after she had finished speaking, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, completely unaware that it was Jesus.″Jesus says to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ Who is it that you are looking for?She approaches him, assuming he is the gardener, and says, ″Sir, if thou hast brought him here, please tell me where thou hast lain him, and I will come and get him for you.″ ″Jesus says unto her, Mary,″ he says in a voice that was so familiar to her that she couldn’t miss it.She turned around and addressed him as Rabboni, which is another way of saying Master.

In response to her request, Jesus tells her, ″Do not touch me; for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and tell them, I climb unto my Father, and your Father; and unto my God, and your God.″ (See also John 20:11–17.) In addition to the other ladies who had arrived to the tomb, an angel had instructed them to go inform the disciples that He had risen from the dead.″All hail,″ Jesus said as he greeted them on their journey.And they came up to him, took his feet in their hands, and worshipped him.″ (See Matthew 28:9) They, too, were directed to inform his brethren of the situation.He appeared to everyone of the disciples, with the exception of Thomas and Judas, who had committed suicide by hanging themselves.

Afterwards, Christ appeared to all of the disciples, save for Thomas.’Thomas, since you have seen me, you have believed; happy are those who have not seen and yet have believed,’ says Jesus to him.(See also John 20:29.) Besides appearing to his disciples on multiple times and to 500 people in Galilee, Jesus also appeared to people in the continent of North America and South America.This is the account that we have from the Book of Mormon.Jeanne and I were the only ones in the garden as we went around.We took a few steps into the tomb.

• When Jesus stated, ″Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, so give I to you,″ we were witness to a spirit of peace.
• ″Do not let your heart to be concerned, nor should it be terrified.″ (See also John 14:27.) After then, as Jesus declared to Martha, ″…
• I am the resurrection and the life: he who believeth in me, though he were dead, shall live.″ We had received a testimony at that point.
• (See also John 11:25.) The resurrection of Jesus Christ has made it possible for all of humanity to progress in eternity.
• He paved the road for us to continue on and on and on and on indefinitely.

In fact, when I first arrived in the Sacred Grove in western New York, I felt the identical sensation as you describe.The witness came to me when I was walking through that grove early one morning by myself, and it confirmed that, yes, both the Father and the Son appeared to the young Joseph Smith, just as Christ had come to Mary in the garden.Truly, he is alive and has once again established his kingdom upon the world in order to prepare the way for his return in grandeur to reign over the whole planet.In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray that God would provide us with the knowledge and wisdom we need to discern his will, as well as the desire and strength we need to follow his teachings.Amen.

Jesus’ 33 Years

We’ve all had tough weeks at some point in our lives, and it’s normal.I am not aware of anyone who is impervious to difficult and/or trying circumstances.It has been my privilege to witness people suffer and die prematurely at various stages of their life.At this time of year, parents have reported missing children.

1. During this time of year, many children have lost their parents.
2. They have something special: they are sharing a loss with God at this time of year, which is unusual.
3. Death is difficult at any time of year, but I believe it is even more difficult when it strikes around Christmas or Easter, or around a birthday or anniversary.

• Jesus died when he was 33 years old.
• That appears to be very early in many people’s lives, and they are in the prime of their lives.
• Have you ever questioned why the number 33?
• In the Bible, numbers are generally associated with important meaning.

So, what is the significance of Jesus’ death at the age of 33, when He was in the prime of His life?One of my favorite lecturers would often respond to numerous unanswerable theological topics with the phrase, ″We just don’t know,″ as if he were speaking for everyone.What we do know is that at the age of 33, a number of key events occurred in His life,