Did Jesus Die Spiritually?

Scripture shows that Jesus was resurrected physically from the dead. Not much controversy here, at least among Christians. However, Scripture also shows he was resurrected spiritually. For example, Peter said “His soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption” (Acts 2:31). Elsewhere, Peter said Jesus was “put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison” (1 Pet. 3:18–19; see also Rom. 1:4). These verses indicate that Jesus was resurrected spiritually.

And if Jesus was resurrected spiritually, then that means he had died spiritually. But how could Jesus have died spiritually, you might be wondering? That would mean he was separated from God…at least temporarily.

That’s right; that’s how much Jesus loves us. Jesus died in our place–spiritually–to restore our broken relationship with God (Rom. 5:8–9). Keep in mind, Jesus died physically too; but he also died spiritually.

That Jesus died spiritually can be shown in many ways: One, Paul said that Jesus “became sin” (2 Cor. 5:21, Gal. 3:13). Since sin cannot dwell in God’s presence (Isa. 59:2; Hab. 1:13; Ps. 5:4), therefore, Jesus must have been separated from God (temporarily) during this period. “Separation from God” is the very definition of “spiritual death.”

Two, while hanging on the cross, Jesus said: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 24:46). Jesus was quoting Psalms 22:1, a passage about the time David felt separated from God. The reason Jesus quoted this passage is that he, too, was (temporarily) separated from God. Sinless Jesus was dying in sinful man’s place in order to restore man back into the Father’s presence. That’s how much he loves us!

Three, Isaiah 53:10–12 says Jesus’s soul was an offering for sin: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him [Jesus]; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin” (italics mine). This, too, is a reference to spiritual death.

Four, Acts 2:31 says Jesus died/rose both physically and spiritually: “His soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.”

As these verses show, Jesus died spiritually. And he did this to restore our broken relationship with God. That’s how much he loves us.

For more about these issues, check out my book The End Is Here: How the New Testament’s Prophecies Were Fulfilled, available Summer 2024 at bookstores everywhere.

By Alex Polyak, Director of The Bible Fulfilled, 9/6/24