One of our favorite songs to sing this time of year is “Christ Arose.” It begins: “Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior, waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord.” I once had a friend ask me what Jesus was doing during those three days and three nights that His body was in the tomb. They asked, “He wasn’t just waiting for those three days and three nights to be over so He could come out of the tomb, was He?” On several occasions I have suggested an answer to this question. So, when I was asked the question again I began a deeper study and began writing an answer to it. That is what I want to share with you today. I call this “What Was Jesus Doing?” What was He doing during those three days and three nights that He was in the tomb? There is no single verse of Scripture that tells us what Jesus was doing between the time that He was crucified and dismissed His spirit from His body to and including the time that He came out of the tomb. However, several verses, when considered together, give us an insight into what was taking place during this time. Though I do not know, nor do I believe any man can know, ALL that took place during the time our Lord was in the tomb, I believe Scripture reveals at least two activities that occurred. We will consider both of them in order of what I believe is their importance.

I. FIRST IS THE ACT OF JESUS PRESENTING THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF BEFORE GOD.

II. THE OTHER ACTIVITY OF JESUS BETWEEN HIS CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTED IS FOUND IN FIRST PETER 3:18-20.