What Was Jesus Doing While He Was in the Grave?

For three days, the body of Jesus lay in the tomb. To the world, it looked like nothing was happening. But don’t be deceived—God is always at work. The silence of the grave did not mean inactivity. In fact, Jesus was very busy during those three days, accomplishing crucial realities in the unseen realm.

1. He Entered the Father’s Presence
The very moment Christ breathed His last, His spirit departed from His body and entered into the presence of His Father. Remember His words to the thief on the cross: “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). There was no soul sleep, no delay. Christ, in His spirit, was immediately in Paradise, affirming the promise of salvation to all who believe.

2. He Proclaimed His Victory to Evil Spirits
Peter gives us an incredible glimpse into what happened during this time:
"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared..." (1 Peter 3:18–20).

Who are these "spirits in prison"? Scripture gives us insight. Genesis 6 describes a time of great wickedness when fallen angels—demonic spirits—entered into human women, producing a corrupted offspring known as the Nephilim. This was Satan’s attempt to taint the human bloodline, preventing the arrival of the Messiah. But God intervened, bringing judgment through the flood.

2 Peter 2:4 tells us that these particular demons were cast into a place called Tartarus, where they remain bound until the final judgment. Jude echoes this, saying they are kept in eternal chains until that great day (Jude 6).

And in Revelation 9, we see that in the time of tribulation, these demonic forces will be released to wreak havoc upon the earth.

But before that, during His time in the grave, Christ went to them—not to offer salvation, but to declare His absolute victory. The very One they had sought to prevent had now completed His mission. Sin had been atoned for. Death had been conquered. Satan had been defeated. This was not a plea—it was a proclamation of triumph.

3. He Led the Righteous Dead into Heaven
Before the cross, the righteous dead of the Old Testament did not go directly into the full presence of God. Instead, they went to a place called "Abraham’s Bosom," also known as Paradise. We see this in Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31). The faithful were comforted, but they were waiting—waiting for the final, perfect sacrifice that would fully and finally atone for sin.

Paul explains what happened after Christ’s victory on the cross:
"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?)" (Ephesians 4:8–9).

With His work of redemption complete, Christ led these waiting saints into the presence of God. No longer would they wait in Paradise—they would enter into the fullness of heaven, their redemption secured by the blood of the Lamb.

The Triumph of the Cross
Jesus' work did not stop at the cross, nor was it idle in the grave. Even in death, He was fulfilling the plan of God—proclaiming His victory over sin, liberating the saints, and setting the stage for the most glorious moment in history: His resurrection.

And because He rose, we who trust in Him have this unshakable hope—death has no power over us. The grave could not hold Him, and it will not hold those who belong to Him.
He said it, and He did it.

Let us live in the confidence of His finished work, boldly proclaiming the gospel until the day He returns.

My name is Zach Terry. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are my own, with occasional interjections from my bride of nearly 25 years, Julie. This format of publication is meant to allow for engagement and interaction. Feel free to comment. But please, be nice.