What happened between the cross and the resurrection?
Jesus died a real death, was buried, and descended into the realm of the dead; and in that hidden interval He was already Lord. The tomb was the proof of a finished work, and the resurrection morning was its announcement: death itself no longer had the keys.
Not a summary of these passages: the passages themselves. Read them, then come back to the study below.
The study
What the Scripture says
1
The work was finished on the cross
Jesus' last word from the cross was not defeat; it was completion: 'It is finished.' In the same hour the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, the earth shook, and the centurion confessed, 'Truly this man was the Son of God!' And to the thief beside Him came the immediate promise: 'Today you will be with me in Paradise.'
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.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;
When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
The earliest confession says it plainly: 'that he was buried.' Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus took the body down, wrapped it in linen with spices, and laid it in a new tomb. This was not an apparent death; the soldiers found Him already dead and did not break His legs, and the tomb was sealed and guarded. Whatever happened next, it began from a real grave.
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
After these things, Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked of Pilate that he might take away Jesus’ body. Pilate gave him permission. He came therefore and took away his body. Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred Roman pounds. So they took Jesus’ body, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. In the garden was a new tomb in which no man had ever yet been laid. Then because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand) they laid Jesus there.And after this Joseph of Arimathea, 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. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs.But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Paul reasons from the ascension to the descent: 'He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens.' Peter preached at Pentecost that Christ's soul was not left in Hades. Between Friday and Sunday the crucified Lord was active where death reigns, and 1 Peter says He went and preached to the spirits in prison. The exact scope of that proclamation is debated, but the direction is unmistakable: Christ went into the realm of the dead, and He was not its prisoner.
Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
The risen Christ could say of that weekend: 'I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.' And Paul draws the conclusion for everyone who ever asked where death leads: 'To this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.' Between the cross and the resurrection, death did not win a victory; it met its master.
and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
For to this end Christ died, rose, and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Matthew records that at the death of Jesus the tombs were opened, and after His resurrection many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and appeared to many. The resurrection did not happen in spite of what came before; it was the firstfruits of the harvest for which everything before had been prepared. The cross to the tomb was the planting; Easter morning was the first harvest.
The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.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.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Now this, “He ascended”, what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.