Descent, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ

Apostles' Creed: After Jesus' death, He descended to hell/death, resurrected on the third day, ascended to heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God.
Common Question: What happened during the three days between Jesus' death and resurrection?
Two Major Interpretations:
- Completion of victory over death.
- Preaching to souls who died before His death.

Source: 1 Corinthians 15 discusses resurrection and Jesus' death/resurrection as a prototype.
Paul's Statement: Death is swallowed up in victory.
Interpretation: Jesus conquered death.
Eastern Orthodox Icon: Depicts Jesus breaking the chains of death during those three days.

Source: 1 Peter 3:19 refers to Jesus preaching to souls in prison.
Interpretation: Jesus preached to those who died before they could hear the Gospel.
Icon Depiction: Adam and Eve being raised from tombs, Old Testament figures like Moses (holding tablets) and King David (with a crown).
Theological Question: What happened to those who lived before Christ?
Possible Response: Jesus preached the Gospel to them in the afterlife.
Note: Scripture doesn't provide a chronological narrative, but these are theological responses.

Reality of Death: Jesus was truly dead, not nearly dead or pretending.
Resurrection vs. Resuscitation: He was resurrected, not merely brought back to life.
Historical Event:
- The resurrection is a real historical event, not just a myth.
- Jesus was a historical person mentioned in sources beyond the Bible.

Empty Tomb:
- The Gospels mention the empty tomb.
- Soldiers started a rumor that disciples stole the body, acknowledging the empty tomb.
- No tomb with Jesus' bones has ever been found.
- If His body remained, His followers would have disbanded like others.
Women as First Witnesses:
- Gospels record women as the first witnesses.
- In the Roman Empire, women weren't considered reliable legal witnesses.
- If the story were fabricated, men would have been chosen as witnesses.
Varying Accounts:
- Gospels offer slightly different descriptions of events after the resurrection.
- Fabricated stories would have been consistent.
- Variations suggest the event actually occurred.

Fully Human and Divine: Jesus rose fully human and fully divine.
Humanity Intact: Part of being human is having a body.
Evidence:
- Thomas touched Jesus' wounds.
- Jesus walked alongside men on the road to Emmaus, who didn't immediately recognize Him.
- Jesus made breakfast for the disciples and ate with them.
Significance: Resurrection was both a human and divine action, preserving His psychosomatic unity.

Affirmation of Identity: Resurrection affirms Jesus' identity as the Son of Man/God.
Sign of Jonah (Matthew 12): $Jonah=3 days in fish \implies Jesus =3 days in the earth$
Sign of the Temple (John 2): Jesus said he would tear down the temple and rebuild it in three days, referring to the temple of his body (cf. destruction of the physical temple in 70 AD).
Direct Statement (Matthew 16:21): Jesus told disciples he must suffer, die, and be raised on the third day.

Ascension, Not Vanishing: Jesus ascended visibly into heaven.
Biblical Accounts: Recorded in Mark 16, Luke 24, and Acts 1.
Acts 1: Jesus was lifted up as they watched, and a cloud took Him out of sight. Two men in white robes assured them He would return the same way.

Humanity in God's Presence:
- Jesus' ascent brought humanity into the presence of God the Father.
- Contrast with Genesis 3, where sin caused alienation; now, we can approach God confidently.
Advocate Before the Father:
- Jesus is our representative in the final judgment.
- Like a lawyer, He pleads our case. Our sin has been judged on the cross.
- Christ vouches for those who have accepted Him, stating their sins have been taken away and they are innocent.