What happened between the death and the resurrection of Jesus?
Between the death and burial of the Lord and His resurrection we don’t have a lot of information. We do know that at the time of His death that the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom, and there was an earthquake (Matthew 27:50-51 says, – “Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.”) Also many graves were opened, and the bodies of these people laid there until the Lord arose from the dead. After the Lord’s resurrection, they then arose and went into the city. We read in Matthew 27:52-53 – “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”) Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus buried the Lord, as we’re told in John 19:38-41, which says, – “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.” The next day was the Sabbath so, according to the law, they all rested as we see from Luke 23:56 – “And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”
Another thought to consider is, where was the Lord between His death and resurrection? Scripture is not silent about this. The Lord’s own words from the cross show us that at His death, He went to be with his Father. Luke 23:46 says, “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” We also learn that the Lord went to Paradise at His death. Most of us are very familiar with the story of the two men that also were crucified on the day the Lord died for us. At the outset, both of these men ridiculed the Lord as we read in Matthew 27:39-44 – “And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” However, one began to recognize his own sinfulness and saw that this man, Jesus, hanging beside him was truly the Lord. Luke 23:39-43 says, “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” We learn here of our precious savior’s wonderful grace. He promised the one that was repentant and confessed Him as Lord that, not only was the Lord going to be in Paradise that very day, but that man would be with him. So, we can see from these passages that the Lord went to be with the Father in Paradise at the moment of His death. (2.1)