“The descent of the Son of man reaches its lowest point in a human tomb, but also finds there its passage and transition to his ascent to glory, though the signs that point out this transition in Jesus’ entombment only become visible in the light that is still to come, ‘on the first day of the week,’ the first words of the next chapter.” (Herman Ridderbos, The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary, p. 628).
“We can say, then, that the line of Christ’s humiliation does indeed descend to the grave, but that it there effects the strength which will exalt Him again. . . . And he who is buried with Him has already been glorified with Him, arisen with Him, and been placed in heaven.” (K. Schilder, Christ Crucified, p. 560).
Quotes in preparation for this evening’s Bible study on John 19:38-42 at Trinity Presbyterian Church of the OPC.