Why You Need to Understand Jesus Crucifixion

Jesus followers everywhere hold His crucifixion on a cross for their sins and that God the Father raised Him from the dead three days later. They demonstrate faith in that truth by the lives that they live. Every departing missionary is an act of faith in the resurrection. When you forgive your enemy, feed the hungry, and defend the weak, you believe in the resurrection.¹ When you pray to a God you cannot see, when you believe you receive from Him your need met, you believe in the resurrection. When you walk in love towards others, when you forgive your enemies, when you hold your tongue when other’s speak ill of you, you believe in the resurrection. These beliefs are essential but God wants you to understand the depth of it all. And so He gave in His Word some of the details about what happened after Jesus was crucified. Today, we are going to take a look at some of this as we focus on Why You Need to Understand the Crucifixion of Jesus, all on this week’s Light on Life.

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Question: How do you see the the behind the scenes events of what took place after Jesus committed His spirit to God? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Emery committed his life to the Lord Jesus Christ over 48 years ago and has served as both a full-time pastor and an itinerant minister. He and his wife Sharon of 44 years emphasize personal growth and development through the Word of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is the focus and the hallmark of their mission. Read more about them here.

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Podcast Notes

Prayer

Well, again welcome.
Let’s pray.

Father God in the precious Name of Jesus, open our spiritual eyes to see. Anoint the eyes of our understanding with the Holy eye salve of the Spirit. Thank you for doing this so the great truths of your great plan can dawn upon our spirits. We thank you for it in Jesus Name, Amen.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Intro

We are in the book of First Peter today.

1 Peter 3:18–20 (ESV) — 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

What happened to Jesus at Calvary?
What is the behind the scenes story?
You know, He gave it to us in His Word.
Mankind has had all kinds of witty inventions throughout it’s time on Planet Earth yet none of them are spelled out for us in the Bible.
Where are cellphones in the Bible?
Where are the mechanics of the internet mentioned in scripture?
The newest thing in the world today is AI.
The scripture doesn’t have any details of these things and knowledge of them won’t get you to heaven nor help you know God.
But the facts of what happened to Jesus, are in the Bible and are transformational truths for your life.
So, we’re going to continue looking behind the scenes on what happened at Calvary — I say continue because we did a previous podcast on this and we talked about the fact that Jesus was made sin for us.
That’s Second Corinthians five and verse twenty-one.
That’s a transformational piece of information for your life.
The life Jesus lived, He lived for you.
The life you should live, should be for others.
We don’t need more ‘me time.’
What we need is ‘other people time.’
Jesus was made sin.
He died spiritually for you.
Look at First Peter three.
Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.
We could easily substitute the word ‘his’ for the word ‘the.’
Jesus was put to death in ‘his’ flesh but made alive in ‘his’ spirit.
Why would Jesus have to be made alive, if He hadn’t died?
Now if the concept that Jesus becoming sin bothers you, then consider the effect of being made sin.
Sin means separation from God.
Adam and Eve were separated from God after they sinned.

Genesis 3:22–24 (ESV) — 22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Jesus was separated from God as well.

Matthew 27:46 (ESV) — 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Again, what depth of feeling do you have as you understand all that Jesus went through for you?
Spiritual death means separation from God.
Jesus went though that for you.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Where Did Jesus Go After he Died?

Luke 23:46 (ESV) — 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

Okay, where did He go?
His dead body remained on the cross until it was taken down and placed in a tomb.
His spirit, however, went elsewhere.
But where?
Well, His spirit could have gone directly back to God who gave it.
That’s what Ecclesiastes twelve teaches us.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 (ESV) — 7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

But, that’s not what happened.
We know that after three days, Jesus spirit and His body were reunited.
That’s the gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:1, 3–4 (ESV) — 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you… 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

So there are three days and nights that we have to account for?
Where was He for that period of time?

Matthew 12:40 (ESV) — 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Jesus didn’t go directly up to heaven, at least not right away.
He spent three days and three nights down in the heart of the earth.
Now as we look at this Bible, it’s helpful to understand how God communicates generally.

The Crucifixion of Jesus and Walking by Faith

He communicates in pieces.
Think of puzzle pieces.
God never lays out the whole story with every single detail spelled out.
The Lord will gives us just enough information to keep us headed forward trusting Him.
If you feel like you have all the pieces and you know the whole story from beginning to end, you missed God, that’s for sure.
That’s not how He operates.
If He did operate that way, He would violate His own Word.

2 Corinthians 5:6–7 (ESV) — 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

We walk by faith, not by sight — that’s the way of God.
That’s the way of revelation.
God’s communication with you will always keep you walking forward trusting Him for the next piece.
It worked that way for the writers of the New Testament.
They had to walk by faith and not by sight.
So, the different writers got different pieces of the mystery or the behind the scenes stuff of Calvary.
Peter got a piece — Paul got a piece — Jude got a piece on and on and on.
It’s pulling together all of the pieces that begins to form a picture of the puzzle.
And that’s why it takes some digging to get to the gold mine of the truth.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: God’s Preciseness

Now, the puzzle pieces He shares are precise.
He is that kind of God — extremely detailed in nature.
The more you understand that and the more detailed you are in working with God’s Word, the better things work.
Often times, we are not so detailed.
We get into auto-pilot mode — we pray stuff generically.
We talk to God copying how we’ve heard other people pray.
It sounds good — but we tend toward being religious when we pray.
I heard a pastor pray a prayer one Sunday morning in this religious kind of way.
Verbally, there was nothing wrong with what he prayed.
He prayed ‘Oh, God fill this place with your glory.’
And then he the rest of the staff went and took an offering and carried on with the rest of their planned service.
‘Oh, God fill this place with your glory’ — what’s wrong with that? — Nothing.
But do you know what would happen if God answered that prayer?
What would take place if God filled the place with Himself?
Your planned service would go out the window.
His glory is so heavy, your face would be plastered into the carpet.
Where is that in the order of service?
You understand what I’m saying: you wouldn’t be able to go on with your program.
I don’t think that pastor prayed expecting to receive that kind of answer — he just prayed something that sounded good.
You see we are not as exact in our praying and in our believing as we should be.
I was at the gym working out one morning and I heard this song — it was a great praise and worship song.
The special singer was trying to exhort the people before he sang — ‘he said, “Jesus is in the house tonight.”
Now, is that scriptural?
Well, sure it is.

Matthew 18:20 (ESV) — 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Jesus is here — in the house right now.
That’s not the question.
The question is now that He’s here, are you going to allow Him to do something for you?
Or are you going to say, “Jesus, I’m glad you’re here — sit on the front row while I finish singing my special song.”
You know that’s what we do — we go right along acting like Jesus is not even in the house.
I’ve been guilty of this myself.
In fact, one day He said to me, “Your praying is a little bit religious.”
Ouch!
I said all of this to make this point — God is exact in His dealings — and He shares those dealings in pieces.
You must know that as we look at the pieces of info we have on the Crucifixion of Jesus.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Descended

Okay — so let’s head out.
Here’s one of those pieces.

Ephesians 4:8–9 (ESV) — 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9 (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth?

This verse is an Old Testament quote from Psalm 68:18.

Psalm 68:18 (ESV) — 18 You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there.

That’s what Psalm 68:18 says.
Jesus ascended and He descended.
His spirit went up and down.
Now, in what order did He do this?
Did He go up first, or down first?
Well, Jesus descended first.
How do we know that?

Luke 23:39–43 (ESV) — 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Today you will be with me in Paradise, that’s what Jesus said.
Paradise pre-resurrection was down, not up.
Jesus first descended into the lower parts of the earth.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Key Piece

What are the lower parts of the earth?
Well, that’s where the story of the rich man and Lazarus comes in.
Jesus identified these lower parts for us.

Luke 16:22–23 (ESV) — 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side…

Luke 16:26 (ESV) — 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

The lower parts of the earth consist of two areas, Paradise and Hades.
Was this entire region one whole unit?
You know like an egg?
An egg consists of a yolk and whites — we call them egg whites.
Both are in the same shell.
Was Paradise and Hades in one shell separated by a great gulf?
One thing for sure is the upper part is where Lazarus went and where Abraham and all the Old Testament saints were.
The lower part, which could be seen across a great chasm, was Hades.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: The Thief and Paradise

Now, Jesus told the thief on the cross something we need to consider.

Jesus said, ‘Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”
What does ’today’ mean?
Was Jesus referring to today as an exact 24 hour period or a generalized period of time?
What do you mean by a generalized period of time?
If you made the statement, “Today is the dawn of a new day.”
How are you using the word ‘today?’
Are you specifically referring to a 24 hour period or are you speaking generally.
So, you see there are different ways to use the word ‘today.’

The Crucifixion of Jesus: He Went to Hell as Your Substitute

Now that’s an important distinction because the Word of God plainly tell us that Jesus spent time in Hades where the rich men went.

Acts 2:22–31 (ESV) — 22 “Men of Israel… 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him… 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption… 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Jesus was not abandoned to Hades.
Notice the language here — it’s very telling.
He was not abandoned to Hades – HE.
He means His spirit — your spirit is the real you.
We know that because Jesus flesh is differentiated from His spirit.
He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Did you get it? HE — HIS FLESH — two different parts.
His flesh was in the tomb.
It was not seeing corruption because He was only in the lower parts three days and nights and the Jews wrapped His body with spices.
So, the scripture plainly states that Jesus went to hell.
Of course, He did that as your substitute.
Here’s the gospel message in a nutshell.
Jesus went to hell in your place so you don’t have to go.
If you don’t have to go, why go?

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Preaches to the Spirits

Now Romans tells us that the Spirit of God raised Jesus from Hades.

Romans 8:11 (ESV) — 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Where did Jesus go after He was raised?
Well go back to our opening text in First Peter.

Where did Jesus go after He was raised?
He went and preached to the spirits in prison.
Who are these spirits?
Are they the fallen angels, the Nephlim, that were locked up by God — the ones that fornicated with man back in Genesis six and verse four?
Jude describes that God locked these angels up in Hades.

Jude 6–7 (ESV) — 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Did Jesus preach to these spirits informing them that their plan to subvert man was officially derailed?
Or Did Jesus cross the great chasm and preach to the Old Testament saints that were in Paradise?
Now we know He was there at one point because Ephesians four tells us Jesus led captivity captive.
I’m not going to argue one way or the other but just know Jesus preached to the spirits.
So we know, Jesus was in both areas of the lower regions: Paradise and Hades.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Makes a Pit Stop on Earth

Let’s go back to the sequence of events.
The Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead.
What happened next?
Jesus ascended to Planet Earth and made a pit stop there picking up His glorified body and making an appearance to Mary.

John 20:11 (ESV) — 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

The angels are sitting there the scripture says where the body of Jesus used to be.
Drop down now to verse 14.

John 20:14 (ESV) —14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Mary is upset about the missing body of Jesus.
She didn’t know what happened to His body.
Drop once more down to verse 16.

John 20:16–17a (ESV) —16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me,

The King James says ‘do not touch me.’
“Why Jesus? Why can’t I touch you?”

John 20:17a-18 (ESV) — 17 for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

So, Jesus comes out of hell, picks up His body, talks to Mary and tells Mary — don’t touch me.
I have not ascended to my Father.
So next the step in the sequence is Jesus going up to heaven.
Hebrews nine tells us why.

Hebrews 9:18–24 (ESV) — 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood… 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

Jesus purifies the heavens with His own blood.
The effect of Adam’s rebellion reached all the way into heaven.
It had to be cleansed.
Don’t you clean your house before guests arrive?
Jesus is bringing the saints who have been in Paradise in the lower parts of the earth there.
Jesus purifies heaven with His own blood and then goes back down into Paradise, grabs those saints and leads them up to heaven shutting down Paradise in the lower parts of the earth forever.
Hell is still open there.
Now, when born again people die today, they go up to heaven not down to Paradise.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: the Job Is Finished

After all this, man it’s been a busy three days, Jesus appears to the disciples back on Planet Earth.

**Luke 24:36–39 (ESV) — 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Now, Jesus says, “You can touch me now, the job is finished.”
All of these details are part of the gospel story.
They are part of what happened behind the scenes at after the crucifixion of Jesus.
You can see in these facts that it was all very precise.
And every step was necessary and needed and this is your legacy as a Jesus follower.

Lord, our hearts are filled with praise and adoration for great plan of redemption — how we cherish all that you did to set us free. We love you Father God — We worship you Jesus.

Why You Need to Understand Jesus Crucifixion
You guys have a great God week and we will see you next time for another edition of Light on Life.

What Jesus Teaches about Who Is Locked Away in the Lower Regions

__________
References:

Adapted – Elesha Hodge, ed., Today’s Best Illustrations, vol. 1–4, Today’s Best Illustrations (Christianity Today International, 1997). ↩

emeryhorvath.com

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Why You Need to Understand Jesus Crucifixion

Podcast: Light on Life Season Twelve Episode Thirty

by Emery Horvath

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Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to iTunes

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources: How Jesus Style Perserverance Can Make You a Winner

We are currently teaching in the book of First Corinthians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

Prayer

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Intro

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Where Did Jesus Go After he Died?

The Crucifixion of Jesus and Walking by Faith

The Crucifixion of Jesus: God’s Preciseness

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Descended

The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Key Piece

The Crucifixion of Jesus: The Thief and Paradise

The Crucifixion of Jesus: He Went to Hell as Your Substitute

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Preaches to the Spirits

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Makes a Pit Stop on Earth

The Crucifixion of Jesus: the Job Is Finished

Listen to the Audio

Click to Listen | Right Click to Download |Subscribe to iTunes

Read the Notes

Accept the Challenge

Join the Conversation

Episode Resources: How Jesus Style Perserverance Can Make You a Winner

We are currently teaching in the book of First Corinthians. You can click on the links below to listen to some of these podcasts.

About Emery

Subscribe to the Podcast

Share the Love

Podcast Notes

Prayer

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Intro

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Where Did Jesus Go After he Died?

The Crucifixion of Jesus and Walking by Faith

The Crucifixion of Jesus: God’s Preciseness

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Descended

The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Key Piece

The Crucifixion of Jesus: The Thief and Paradise

The Crucifixion of Jesus: He Went to Hell as Your Substitute

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Preaches to the Spirits

The Crucifixion of Jesus: Jesus Makes a Pit Stop on Earth

The Crucifixion of Jesus: the Job Is Finished

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