The Significance of Jesus' Death

The Death of Jesus was a payment to satisfy the wrath of God on sin (1 Peter 3:18a)

Explanation: Peter continues to encourage the Exiled Pilgrims by pointing them to Jesus. Even the Redeemed can benefit by reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus; the Gospel is not just for the Lost! Peter is reminding them of their common ground with the Savior in that Jesus also experienced suffering as they were. By focusing on Jesus’ suffering and His corresponding Resurrection, Peter is encouraging these exiles by reminding them that their suffering is not permanent, and that they too will be resurrected.

Argument: While their are similarities, the sufferings of the Redeemer are not identical to those of the Redeemer. The suffering of Jesus was for the sins of humanity and are magnitudes of degree beyond ours. The sufferings of Christ for sins was a unique, one-time, non-repeatable event.

To start with, Jesus was perfectly innocent of sin. He never experienced sin that was caused by His own doing. As the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus fully understood the Holy righteousness of the Father, and Jesus also understood that human sinners could never satisfy God’s standards on their own. As Redeemer, Jesus, the One who knew no sin, took on the sin of others (). The death of Jesus was a penal substitutionary propitiation. He paid the penalty (penal) in the place of sinners (substitution), and His sinless sacrifice actually appeased the wrath of God against sin (propitiation)

Application: Believers can and do experience genuine peace with God through faith in the finished work of Christ. And this is why that only Jesus will do as a Savior. No one else can do or did do what He alone accomplished

The Death of Jesus has the Purpose of bringing sinners to God ()

Explanation: Peter reminds the Exiles of the purpose for the Crucifixion. Though it was cruel, unjust, and extremely painful, God wrought a beautiful purpose. The death of Jesus actually brings lost sinners to God. Through sharing this reminder, the Exiles were hopefully encouraged to trust that God had a purpose for their suffering as well

Illustrate: Drunk driver who killed a pastor’s wife. The pastor forgave the man and shared the Gospel with the driver, who received Christ

Argument: We don’t always get the answer to the question of WHY. Sometimes we have to wait for years, but sometimes the reason /purpose is never revealed (at least in this life) Joseph’s brothers almost killed him, and the did sell him into slavery. Only later did God reveal the reason for his suffering ()

Application: Your suffering is not pointless, and your pain has purpose. Trust God to bring good through your suffering, even when you don’t understand.

The Death of Jesus involved a Proclamation of His Victory over the evil spirits ()

Explanation: These next three verses are among some of the most misunderstood in all of the NT. Many have used vv. 19-20 (along with ) to teach that Jesus actually went to Hell during the period between His death and Resurrection. This teaching has been reinforced through the wide-spread and long-time use of the Apostle’s Creed (…was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into Hell … ).

While this text does have those who support this position, a better interpretation lends itself to the idea that through the agency of the Holy Spirit, Jesus proclaimed His victory over the evil angels who have been sentenced to prison. [These would be the fallen angels who had sexual relations in the days of Noah, an abomination that quickened God’s judgment on humanity ()]. In context, this interpretation fits better with the reference to the time of Noah, and it also fits with and .

The reference to baptism as that which now saves you is also a confusing statement. Taken by itself, it has been used by many to present baptism as a sacrament, meaning that the act itself bestows grace on the one being baptized. While baptism is important, the overall biblical teaching is that Baptism is a symbol for the death, burial, and resurrection (cf., ).

This understanding fits well with the context of 1 Peter in which he references the eight people who were saved through the waters in the Ark. The water was God’s judgment, but He also used the water to “cleanse” the remnant. Peter’s comment about the effects of baptism are not “removal of dirt from the body” also seem to reflect a more spiritual understanding of baptism than a literal reference to baptism as a sacrament of Grace.

Application: It is not good to spend an inordinate amount of time attempting to clarify what has eluded more capable scholars for thousands of years. Instead, it is best to focus on the big picture: The death of Jesus seemed like a victory for the forces of evil. Instead, it was a victory, one that was proclaimed even in the prison cells of the fallen angels!! We too can proclaim the Victory in Jesus!

The Death of Jesus led to His Exaltation through the Resurrection ()

Explanation: Peter finishes this section by reminding the Pilgrims to look up! Jesus who died, is now seated at the Father’s right hand on High and has been and is being EXALTED by the host of Heaven (; ).

Argument: This glorious truth could not help but encourage and empower believers who were scattered and discouraged. Just being reminded that they had a better future waiting on them through death or Christ’s return, would be of tremendous benefit. Oh how we need to be reminded that this present world is not our home and that the true rewards wait for us in glory.

Application: Our hope is not in this world, not even in our country. Our hope is to be in Jesus, not our political party. All of these things are going to fall, and those who trust in them will experience disappointment. Place your hope in things above () and set your focus on the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13)