GOOD SATURDAY

 I know, you've never heard of 'Good Saturday'.  I just made it up.  :-)

But, I would like to defend my postulation:  that we have something significant to reflect on during this day.  A day of massive conversions.  A day unlike any that had ever occurred before!  A day when the gates of Heaven were rushed by throngs that surely numbered in the tens of thousands - if not more!  

But, I'm already ahead of myself.  Let me try to bring you along on this journey of discovery...

We know the truth of Good Friday.  Jesus died on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for all our sins before and after.  It was one sacrifice for all time!  He was the spotless Lamb of God!  He did what no one else could ever do.  The Son of God laid down His life for everyone who chooses to believe in Him.

I think you probably agree with me so far, right?  

But let's look at the word "everyone".  

First, it meant everyone who was alive at the time of Christ.

Second, it meant everyone who would ever live from the time of the crucifixion and for the rest of the existence of humanity.

Third, it meant everyone who had lived and died before Christ's crucifixion.

Wait a minute...what did you say, Hal?

"It meant everyone who had lived and died before Christ's crucifixion."

That's what I thought you said.  But how could they all be saved?

How does anyone get saved?  They hear (or become aware of) the 'good news' and place their faith in Christ as their Savior.

Well then, how could all the people who had lived and died hear the 'good news' and respond [or not respond] to it?

That's easy.  The answer is right there in scripture.  Upon His death, Christ went and preached to these dead souls and they were given an opportunity to place their faith in Him.  Those who did, He led in a joyful procession into the gates of Heaven!  

No!  Where is that in the Bible?

Let's look at the evidence:

I Peter 3:18-19

For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago...

I Peter 4:6

For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.

 Ephesians 4:8-10

This is why it says:

[taken from Psalm 68:8]  "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."

(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions?  He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Now, although we may not understand every implication of these passages, it seems to make it remarkably clear that upon His death, Jesus went to the place where all the dead had accumulated and preached to them.  Those who chose to believe in Him were then led from the place of the dead into the celestial city!   

 Even our Apostle's Creed gives a nod at this truth when it says, "He descended into hell" which is immediately followed by "the third day He rose again from the dead:  He ascended into heaven, and sittith on the right hand of God the Father Almighty."  [Apparently it was a three-day revival!]

We should note again here that this was a one time caveat!  Those who have died since the crucifixion will NOT be extended this privilege.  They, like us, have had the opportunity to hear and know the truth of the gospel.  Those who have responded in faith and obedience will be eternally saved.  Those who reject or ignore the gospel message (or fail to take it seriously) will be eternally lost.

So, today, we remember 'Good Saturday' when Adam and Eve, those who perished in Noah's flood, the wicked and oppressive Egyptians, the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Romans, - literally EVERYONE who had lived and died before the crucifixion - heard the GREATEST SERMON EVER PREACHED from the very One who had paid the price for their redemption!  And many were saved!

This - perhaps more than anything else in scripture - shows us Christ's love and concern for lost people!  Do we mirror that love?  Do our churches?

If you needed a reason to say "HALLELUJAH" tomorrow morning, now you have it!