3790 — The Heart of the Earth
What explanation do you give to "the heart of the earth" as given in Matt. 12:40? For a full explanation of this, see "Questions and Answers," pages 28-34. There is no passage in Scripture which directly defines what is meant by "the heart of the earth." It is assumed by some to mean the grave, and after assuming that, it is contended that for three whole days and three whole nights Jesus was in the tomb. But there are several serious objections to this. On the other hand, if we take into consideration the fact that by "the heart of the earth" our Lord may have meant the Roman power, the powers of earth, "the world rulers of this darkness" under Satan, the thing is perfectly plain. In all the predictions concerning His suffering, our Lord included not alone His death and burial, but His apprehension. "And He began to teach them, that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again;" the "after three days" including not simply His death, but His suffering and His rejection. Our Lord places the beginning of that trial at the time of His apprehension. Previous to that, they had no power to take Him,—His hour "had not yet come." But when that hour did come, and the soldiers came to arrest Him, Jesus said, "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against Me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." This is in harmony with John 12:23, "The hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified." And again, verse 27, "Now is My soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." And there began the agony of Jesus. There began the time when He was delivered to the rulers of darkness of this world, and in their power would He be until God broke the chains of death, and delivered Him.