Welcome to our Holy Week devotional series! Each day, you can read reflections on the biblical events of Easter week and learn why they matter for us today. Below the Scripture Guide for each day, you’ll find a kids’ version that can be read together as a family, complete with a fun Easter-themed activity. You can also download the full week’s worth of Watermark Kids devotionals here. Make plans to join us at one of our Easter Services!
Holy Week: Saturday, April 16
As we cover the events of Holy Week, we know that Jesus died on Good Friday and was buried that evening (Matthew 27:57-61). And we know that He rose from the grave on Easter morning (Matthew 28:1-10). But what happened in between those days is less clear. Where did Jesus go on Holy Saturday?
The Bible doesn’t give many details about what happened that day, other than the fact that the tomb was guarded and sealed (Matthew 27:62-66). On Saturday, Jesus’s body was in the tomb.
However, on Good Friday, as Jesus was hanging on the cross, He told one of the criminals being crucified beside Him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). And then, as Jesus died, He called out, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). So, although Jesus’s dead body was in the tomb, His spirit went to be in paradise on Friday.
Right now, some of you may be wondering: if that’s the case, why does the Apostles’ Creed say that Jesus “descended into Hell” between His death and resurrection? Well, buckle up, because we’ve got some explaining to do.
To begin with, let’s talk about Hades. “Hades” is a Greek word that means “the place of the dead.” Where the Greek New Testament uses “Hades,” the Old Testament uses the Hebrew word “Sheol,” which also means “the place of the dead.” The two words are interchangeable, as can be seen in Psalm 16:10 and Acts 2:31.
Although it is common to think of “Hades” as just a more polite-sounding term for “Hell”—the “lake of fire” or “second death” where unrepentant sinners will be punished for all eternity—that is technically not the case. We know that Hades and Hell are not the same place because Revelation 20:14 says that “Hades” is thrown into “the lake of fire” at the final judgment. So, you could say that Hades becomes part of the lake of fire, but it is not that way initially.
We also know that Hades/Sheol is not a place of eternal punishment because, in the Old Testament, both righteous and unrighteous people are described as going down to “the place of the dead.” It was where all dead people went. In fact, many scholars think that there are two parts of “the place of the dead”: one part that is a place of comfort for righteous people, and one part where unrighteous people live in anguish. Jesus Himself talked about just such a division (Luke 16:19-31).
So, it seems that Hades/Sheol is a place that, at least before Jesus’s death and resurrection, all dead people went to. Some went to a pleasant part to await resurrection, while others went to an unpleasant part to await judgment.
There are a couple of places in Scripture that suggest Jesus went to this “place of the dead” between His death and resurrection. One of those is Ephesians 4:8-10:
“Therefore it says, ‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.’ (In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
The phrase “he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth” could refer to Jesus coming down to earth and living as a human (Philippians 2:5-7). However, other translations instead say that He “descended into the lower parts of the earth.” That suggests that Jesus went down not to earth, but into the earth, to “the place of the dead.” The Bible repeatedly says that Sheol/Hades is a place that people went “down” to (Job 21:13; Luke 10:15), so calling it “the lower parts of the earth” would make sense.
And then 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 1 Peter 4:5-6 talk about Jesus going “in the spirit” to “the spirits in prison” and preaching the gospel “even to those who are dead.” Again, this is not 100 percent clear, but it seems likely that Jesus went in spirit to “the place of the dead” between His death and resurrection, preaching to those who had already died. Those on the good side of Hades/Sheol had trusted God and were considered righteous before Jesus came (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:1-40); He was able to proclaim to them the good news that He had paid for their sins on the cross. When Jesus told the criminal on the cross that “today you will be with me in paradise,” He may have been referring to this good side of Hades/Sheol.
That is why the Apostle’s Creed talks about Jesus descending between His death and resurrection. However, where some English versions of the Apostles’ Creed say “descended into Hell,” a more accurate translation would be “descended to those below,” or to “the place of the dead.” That’s why other versions of the Apostles’ Creed do not say “Hell”; they either say Jesus “descended to the dead” or leave the line out entirely.
Remember that the Apostles’ Creed is not Scripture. Although it is a helpful reminder of the core truths that all Christians should be able to agree on, it is not infallible, and this difference in wording is a prime example of that.
Saying that Jesus “descended into Hell” can give the impression that Jesus was punished in Hell for our sins, but that is not the case; He paid for our sins fully on the cross, and stated at His death that “It is finished” (John 19:30). We are saved by His blood (Ephesians 1:7), and not by any actions of His spirit after death.
Also, saying that Jesus preached to the dead does not mean that dead people get a second chance. Jesus could go proclaim the good news to those who were saved through faith, but those who rejected God in life have no way of changing their situation after death (Luke 16:25-26).
To summarize: while Jesus’s body was in the tomb, His spirit went to be in what He called “paradise.” This “paradise” may have been the good side of “the place of the dead,” or Hades/Sheol. But He did not go to Hell to be punished. And, most important to our own lives today, there is no second chance to accept Jesus as Savior after death. The application is to trust in the gospel now, and share the good news of Easter with others while you can.
Holy Week for Kids: Saturday, April 16
Teach your children the story of Easter with these kid-friendly Holy Week devotionals, discussion questions, and fun family activities. You can download the full week’s worth of devotionals below.
Jesus in the Tomb
Theme: Waiting
Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66
Story:
After Jesus died on the cross, His body was taken down and placed in a tomb. The tomb was like a cave carved into solid rock. A big stone was rolled in front of the entrance to close the tomb. The stone was so big and heavy that it would take many people to move it (Mark 16:3). The tomb was sealed, and guards were placed in front of it to make sure that no one could open it. Jesus’s disciples were afraid and went into hiding. But Jesus had promised them that He would come back to life, and Jesus always keeps His promises.
Questions:
- What do you think Jesus’s friends were feeling after He was buried?
- What do you think you would have done that day?
Activity:
Bake “empty tomb rolls” as a tasty way to talk about Jesus’s death and resurrection. You’ll need these ingredients:
- Crescent roll dough
- Marshmallows
- 1 stick of butter, melted and then slightly cooled in a small bowl
- 1 cup of cinnamon sugar (about ¾ cup sugar mixed with ¼ cup cinnamon, although you can adjust that to taste) in a small bowl
- Baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat or parchment paper
- Oven preheated to 375 degrees
Here's how to help your child make the empty tomb rolls:
- Have your child pick up a marshmallow. Explain that, in this activity, the marshmallow represents Jesus. The marshmallow is pure white, which reminds us that Jesus was completely pure and without sin. He never did anything wrong or deserving of punishment, but He died on the cross to pay for our sins.
- Tell your child that, back in Bible times, people who died were anointed in oil and spices before they were buried. Help your child dip the marshmallow in the melted butter, or the “oil,” coating it fully. Then roll the buttery marshmallow in the cinnamon sugar “spices” until it is thoroughly covered.
- Jesus’s body was put in a tomb. Help your child wrap the marshmallow in a piece of crescent roll dough, representing the sealed tomb. (It’s probably best for a parent to do this part, because you want to carefully seal the dough all around the marshmallow, leaving no holes.)
- Put the dough “tombs” on the lined baking sheet and bake them for 10-15 minutes, checking them occasionally. Talk to your child about how Jesus’s friends had to wait while Jesus was sealed in the tomb. They were very sad that He was dead.
- When the rolls are done, they will have puffed up and the dough will look golden. Take them out of the oven and let them cool briefly.
- When they have cooled, cut open one of the rolls and have your child look inside. The marshmallow will have melted, leaving the “tomb” empty. Discuss with your child how it must have felt to find Jesus’s tomb empty on the third day, and to learn that Jesus was alive!
- Let your child eat their empty tomb roll and enjoy the sweetness of God’s love for us.
