[RE]FOCUS Day 48
Week 7: Redeeming
Day 6: He Descended into Hell
By Miriam Hoerner
READ:
1 Peter 3:18-19 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, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison…”
About a year ago I bought several vouchers for Krispy Kreme donuts from a school fundraiser. In order to redeem a voucher I simply go to a Krispy Kreme store, hand them the voucher, and leave with a dozen donuts. The voucher confirms to the store that the donuts have already been purchased.
Eternal life for all people is much different than a dozen donuts. 1 Peter 3:18-20 tells us about Jesus’s descent into Hell after His death on Good Friday. As Jesus gave His perfect life on the cross, He paid for our debt. The blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross was redemption for our souls. After His death, Jesus went down into Hell to proclaim to the devil and all souls imprisoned in Hell that He had won. Jesus was and is victorious over death and the devil. Without the payment of His perfect life, we would have no hope. 1 Peter also tells us that the righteous was given for the unrighteous so that He might bring us to God. Our hope and our victory is in Christ alone.
PRAY:
Lord, Your victory lap reveals the depth of redemption. Guide me to point to Your victory in what I say and do, that others may believe what You confirm by faith: we are forgiven and free. Amen.
LIVE:
Jesus’ victory lap to the spirits in prison was just one a few stops. Where did He go after proclaiming victory to these spirits? (Hint: we celebrate it every year.)