Bible Question: I understand that Jesus was giving the information to try to get sinners to repent, but that is not my question. My question is, "What was the Jesus' purpose in going to the center of the earth for 3 days?" It doesn't seem He could have been preaching repentance, because those in the center of the earth were no longer living and each person must choose to believe or not believe before he dies. Can anyone answer my question? Chusarcik |
Bible Answer: Chusarcik, 635. "Christ went down into the depths of death so that 'the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.'[Jn 5:25 ; cf. Mt 12:40 ; Rom 10:7 ; Eph 4:9 .] Jesus, 'the Author of life', by dying destroyed 'him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and (delivered) all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.'[Heb 2:14-15; cf. Acts 3:15 .] Henceforth the risen Christ holds 'the keys of Death and Hades', so that 'at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.'[Rev 1:18; Phil 2:10 Today a great silence reigns on earth, a great silence and a great stillness. A great silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. . . He has gone to search for Adam, our first father, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow Adam in his bonds and Eve, captive with him - He who is both their God and the son of Eve. . . 'I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. . . I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead.'[Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday: PG 43, 440A, 452C; LH, Holy Saturday, OR.]" 636. "By the expression 'He descended into hell', the Apostles' Creed confesses that Jesus did really die and through his death for us conquered death and the devil 'who has the power of death' (Heb 2:14.]." 637. "In his human soul united to his divine person, the dead Christ went down to the realm of the dead. He opened heaven's gates for the just who had gone before him. " The Catechism of the Catholic Church Emmaus |