Text – Luke 16:22 (read vv. 19-24); 1 Peter 3:19 (read vv.18-22)
INTRODUCTION –
When I was very young, I remember asking my father: “Where did Jesus go for those three days after He got off the cross?” And I remember my father telling me: “Jesus went to preach the damned in Hell!” I don’t know about anybody else, but when I was a child I believed everything my father told me, but I remember saying to myself: “That don’t seem fair!”
I was taught by my father that once you were in Hell you could not get out, so I couldn’t understand why Jesus would be preaching to them because they couldn’t get saved from Hell now. So I remember having that thought on my mind for years.
When I got older, I learned a little bit more about Hell. That’s when I also understood that my father was a Georgia farm boy who might have had a third grade education at best; so when he would explain the Bible to me, he may not have been completely right . . . but he wasn’t completely wrong either. Let us look into our scripture lesson for today:
19 “There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16: 19-24 (KJV)
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made PROCLAMATION to the imprisoned spirits 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand – with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.”
1 Peter 3:18-22 (NIV)
“For Christ also hath 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: 19 By which also he went and PREACHED unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
1 Peter 3:18-22 (KJV)
It is important to know that the word “Preached” here means:
PREACHED – 2784. kerusso kay-roos’-so of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):–preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.
As we look at our text for today, I want to talk to you around the subject:
HEAR YE! HEAR YE!
POINTS –
- Luke 16:22 and 1 Peter 3:19 lets us know that Jesus went to Sheol to preach to those in Hades as well as those in Paradise.
- 1 Peter 3:19 lets us know that Jesus was not a dead spirit in Hades . . . He was alive!
- 1 Peter 3:21 confirms that the immersion in the water symbolizes the Believer’s commitment to the cause of Christ, and GOD’S commitment to man (expound).
CONCLUSION –
When Jesus went down into Hades (Sheol) it was not to preach a Salvation sermon, but as a Herald, Jesus was there to proclaim the “Good News!” that He was yet alive! To those who were alive before the LORD destroyed the world with water, Jesus reminded them that for 120 years Noah preached repentance to them, but they refused to hear and repent. And to those who had the opportunity to hear the gospel through Jesus and/or His Disciples; and still they refused to hear, repent, and believe in Jesus and His teachings, Jesus was there to proclaim to them that death and Hell may have imprisoned and captured them, but He is alive and has the keys to death and Hell.
But for those who died believing in Jehovah God, and looking forward to the coming of the Messiah; and to the thief He made a promise to, and to those who received the gospel teachings about, and from Jesus, Jesus was there to give them that Blessed Assurance that He was going to make good on His promises that they who believed in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life!
As for us who are alive today, we are blessed to be able to have this gospel written, taught, and preached to us today, and now we know that Jesus is yet alive and with all power in His hands He is still making intercession for us while preparing for a place for us. Even still there are some who have not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior! (Expound and conclude).