1 Peter 3:18-22

“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…” vss. 18b-19a

It’s not easy to know what Peter was referring to as he wrote to the suffering exiles in Asia Minor. He was obviously familiar with the basic message of the early church, that Jesus had suffered on the cross as a sacrifice for the sins of all the unrighteous. Here Peter says that after his death Jesus went in the spirit and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison. No one really knows precisely what this means but the phrase got into the Apostle’s Creed as “he descended into hell,” now sometimes translated as the “place of the dead.”

Through the centuries, as believers have struggled with Peter’s intention, many have come to understand these words as a beautiful expression of God’s unconditional love and mercy. No one, even those long dead, are excluded from the forgiveness that is the heart of the Christian message.

So if we are ever wondering about who is included under the blanket of salvation, it’s worthwhile remembering that after Jesus’ resurrection the first to hear the message of eternal life were those living in the valley of the shadow of death. Even if we struggle with the symbolism we have to admit that it’s a powerful metaphor for the ultimate victory of life over death.

Thought for the Day: Why don’t we just update the ancient creeds?