Did Jesus Suffer
When He Went to Hell?
TOPICS
Introduction
Strongest Supporting Verses Acts 2:26-27
The Burnt Offerings
Johah in the Whale’s Belly
Logical Argument (Closing)
Most people have heard about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is commonly known as the gospel. One thing that may come to a surprise to even professed Christians is that Jesus also went to Hell.
We have another category of believers who acknowledge Jesus went to Hell, but that he didn’t actually suffer because he went to a good part of Hell they call Abraham’s bosom. This is where that thinking comes from.
Luke 16:22 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.
A bosom is simply the breast of a human being. Lazareth was being held in Abraham’s chest for comfort. Abraham’s bosom is NOT a location.
Strongest Supporting Verses
Acts 2:26-27
Jesus absolutely suffered in Hell. When reading the bible’s clearest verse about this, it becomes obvious Jesus was eager to get out of Hell for the obvious reason that this was NOT a place of comfort.
Acts 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. skipping to vs 31… 31 He “David” seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ
Acts 2:26-27 is quoting David in Psalms 16:9-10 who prophesied of Christ. David himself would not be in Hell, and his body did see corruption.
The Burnt Offerings
In the Old Testament God commanded the children of Israel to carry out animal sacrifices. This was symbolic and a foreshadowing of how the coming Christ would one day die for our sins. Jesus is our sacrifice. He is the lamb of God.
John 1:29 – The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
The lamb of God was prophesized way back by Abraham when he was commanded by the LORD to sacrifice his son Isaac. Notice this would also be a burnt offering! It was to be burned by fire after killing it.
Genesis 22:8 – And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together
Sacrificing Isaac would be a picture of God the father sacrificing his son Jesus who would also be burned by fire. Abraham went to carry this out knowing if Isaac were to die, God was able to raise him up again. He had faith knowing God already promised him to be the father of many nations, and that promise would come through Isaac.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up
Jonah in the Whale’s Belly
Matthew 12:40 – For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
We see that Hell is currently located in the center of the earth. Later Hell gets relocated to the Lake of Fire “which is still Hell”. We also see a connection being made to Jonah’s experience in the whales belly.
Jonah 2:1 – Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish’s belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
The wording Johah uses is interesting because he actually says “out of the belly of hell”. It’s like how we would say “my day was Hell”. There is a double meaning though because it is also God using Jonah to prophecy Christ one day really being in Hell. The main point is we also see the connection being made to Jesus being in a place of affliction.
Logical Argument
(Closing)
If the punishment for our own sin is to suffer in Hell, why would Jesus “who is dying for our sins”, go to Hell but not have to experience suffering? That makes no sense. The truth is Jesus went to Hell and suffered in our place.
Hearing about what Jesus did for us on the cross, should increase our love for him. How much the more knowing he also suffered in Hell?