“He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also-- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.”
Peter is heralding an announcement. Paul affirms this bedrock truth by stating 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,” He preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Why make the point that He was buried? This seems to be an important part of the dogma. What happened from the time Jesus died until He rose again? Scholars give us different answers.
I favor the thought of scholars that conclude He preached to those who died, revealing how He fulfilled the prophecies and brought the faithful Old Testament saints with Him to glory, but one thing is sure - Jesus was not resting. He was proclaiming victory.
His followers, Jesus’ burial was an event of sadness. It was the time to prepare His body for the tomb and grieve His physical death. It seemed as if all their dreams and hopes were also buried, but God was not done yet.
He pictures for us salvation by the picture-type of Noah and the ark. Judgment came. The water was the means of destroying the things on the earth. It was buried in water. God graciously provided an ark to save some of His creation and eight people. Before the “burial” of the earth, people refused to accept the message of repentance and faith.
Peter takes this picture and applies it to the New Testament preaching. The message of repentance and faith in Christ is preached and still many do not respond. As Noah was saved through water by the safety of the ark, so the baptized are passed through the water or made safe through Jesus Christ. Water didn't save them, the ark did. Water doesn't cleanse us, spiritually, is our trust in the works of Jesus Christ, not ours, and commitment of ourselves to Him.
Burial means the old is dead. Sin is destroyed for the one of faith. Our old nature is put to rest. The sin put upon Christ is also buried and gone!
Application: Praise God!
Prayer: Lord, these beautiful truths are more than I can fully comprehend. Yet, I know that I am crucified, buried and made alive again in Christ Jesus as I put my trust and faith in Him. With a heart of thanksgiving I will bless Thee O Lord.
