He descended into hell.
This line from the Apostles Creed always puzzled me as a child. I could understand what came right before it – “Was crucified, dead, and buried” but, hell? What was that about?
Later I learned that some of our Christian tradition (mostly Orthodox, Roman Catholic and some Anglicans) holds that this refers to what is known as the Harrowing of Hell by Jesus Christ which occurred on this day in the calendar- Holy Saturday. The painting below, by Fra Angelico, depicts this event in a strong and wonderful way. It shows the triumphant Christ beating down the door with unstoppable force– notice especially the demon under the door and the cracks on the floor.
It’s helpful to understand that Hell -referred to in the Old Testament as Sheol - is not the same as Gehenna or Hades – the place of torment. Sheol is the place of the dead – a kind of holding place. In some times past, Sheol was also referred to as Limbo.
The teaching is that, in his victory over death, the Lord has utterly destroyed Sheol and freed the righteous (Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Elijah and so many others) who dwelt there so that they could be eternally united with God who had called them into being. (1 Pet. 3:19-20; 1 Pet. 4.6, Eph. 4.9). I rejoice in this.
Today, though, what speaks to me most is that this is a most lovely example of the hidden work of God. In his death, Christ stepped outside of the bonds and burdens of chronological time, and was at work. Laid in the tomb, he had vanished from our sight and yet he was at work.
On occasion in this life, we are given glimpses of our God at work in and around us. More often, though, we are called to trust that, even unseen, God is present and at work . From time to time, we may be, in retrospect, blessed with understanding what that work has been. Most often, though, we may only understand on the other side of Eternity how God has been at work in and through us. The Harrowing of Hell seems to say to me today that even in the midst of pandemic, anguish and death, our God is at work. May we trust this more deeply and rest in its truth. And, on this Holy Saturday, may you and yours know the explosive joy and freedom of Resurrection power anew!
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