February 21st Reflection by Bill Lynch

1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Reflection
"He descended into hell." Or, maybe you prefer to hear it put "He descended to the dead."

Christ suffered for our sins to have this privilege. A privilege? Well maybe more a mission or God's plan. God loves us so much that God suffers for our sins and comes to us even in our death. God comes to us in our sin. God comes to us in this fallen world and in our fallen lives to save us. Yes, Jesus was put to death in order to gain the privilege, the opportunity, complete the mission, of making proclamation to all the spirits in prison and to proclaim a life that brings a huge change... a new life... to all of us who are dead.

In and through our baptism we are claimed and named Children of God. We are chosen and called and brought up in a new life. We come out of the water in death to new life in Christ. We open our eyes and our spirits to hear Jesus proclaim to us something new and something different. Jesus died and rose that we too may die and rise to new life in Christ.

Think about it... just think about that awhile... "He descended into hell... He descended to the dead." For me, for you, for all, past, present and future.

Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfB5wn1egZw
Here is our King - David Crowder Band
Prayer
Lord, give me pause... real silent pause... to think about how you descended into hell... descended to the dead. May I realize that that was for me. Yes, dear Lord, you wait patiently.... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen