Christ’s Humiliation in Death: A Reflection on the Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 50

In a world swirling with uncertainty and competing voices, we find steadfast truth in the timeless words of Scripture, as we explored in our earlier devotional on the reliability of God’s Word Sufficiency and Dependability. Likewise, our purpose as believers—to glorify God and fully enjoy Him forever, as discussed in our reflection on the first question of the Westminster Larger Catechism Journey Through the Westminster Larger Catechism—grounds us in the hope that sustains us. Today, we turn to the 50th question of the Westminster Larger Catechism to meditate on the depth of Christ’s humiliation, even after His death, and what it means for us as His people.

The Westminster Larger Catechism asks,

“Wherein consisted Christ’s humiliation after his death?”

The answer is profound:

“Christ’s humiliation after his death consisted in his being buried; and continuing in the state of the dead and under the power of death till the third day, which hath been otherwise expressed in these words, He descended into hell.”

This truth invites us to pause and marvel at the extent of our Savior’s humility, a humility that did not end at the cross but continued in the grave. Let us explore this truth through the lens of Scripture and consider its implications for our lives.

The Depth of Christ’s Humiliation After Death

The Scriptures paint a vivid picture of Christ’s humiliation after His death. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, Paul declares, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.” The burial of Jesus was no mere formality; it was a deliberate act of humility. The King of glory, who took on flesh and endured the cross, allowed Himself to be laid in a tomb, submitting to the finality of death’s grip—for a time. This burial fulfilled the prophecy of Jonah, as Jesus Himself said in Matthew 12:40: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Psalm 16:10, echoed in Acts 2:27, assures us that God would not abandon His Holy One to the grave: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” Yet, for those three days, Christ remained under the power of death, fully submitting to its reality. Acts 2:24 tells us that “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.” The phrase “He descended into hell,” as the Catechism notes, does not mean Christ literally entered a place of torment but signifies His full experience of death’s curse, bearing the weight of our sin even in the grave. This was the lowest point of His humiliation, the moment when the Creator of life lay silent in death’s domain.

Why This Matters

As we reflect on Christ’s humiliation after His death, we are reminded of the completeness of His sacrifice. He did not merely suffer and die; He endured the full consequences of sin, including the state of death itself. Romans 6:9 proclaims, “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” His submission to death was temporary, but it was real. In those three days, Christ identified fully with our human condition, tasting death so that we might be freed from its ultimate power. This truth deepens our gratitude for His sacrifice and strengthens our hope in His resurrection.

Our previous devotionals on Christ’s humility—His humble life in fulfilling the law, Christ’s Humility in Life, and His humility in the incarnation, Humility in the Incarnation—point us to the same Savior who humbled Himself beyond comprehension. From His birth to His burial, Christ’s life was marked by humility, culminating in the grave before His glorious resurrection. This pattern of humility challenges us to live not for our own glory but for the glory of God, as the Larger Catechism’s first question urges us to do.

Living in Light of Christ’s Humiliation

The Catechism’s emphasis on Christ’s humiliation after death calls us to a life of trust and obedience. Just as we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30), we are to trust in the One who bore the full weight of death for us. His burial assures us that no part of our human experience is beyond His reach. Are you facing a season of darkness or trial? Christ has been there—in the tomb, under the power of death—and He emerged victorious. His humiliation guarantees that our trials are not the end of the story.

Moreover, as we noted in our reflection on Scripture’s reliability, we are called to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). The hope of Christ’s resurrection, rooted in His humiliation, equips us to share this truth with gentleness and respect. Let us make it our habit, as we are exhorted in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, to keep these truths before our eyes, teaching them diligently and living them out in every moment.

A Challenge to Reflect and Act

As we close, let us take to heart the challenge from our earlier devotional: “We are what we repeatedly do.” Let us repeatedly meditate on Christ’s humiliation—His death, burial, and victory over the grave. Ask yourself in every situation: Does my life reflect the humility of my Savior? Am I trusting in the One who endured the grave for me? Let us make it our habit to glorify God and fully enjoy Him, knowing that our hope rests in the One who was buried but rose again.

Soli Deo Gloria