But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
The gift Christ gave each of us is according to His measure, as He recognizes our differences in our abilities and capacities. (For example, look at the Parable of the Talents, in Matthew 25: 14-30.)
His gifts seem to be related to His descending and ascending. Let's look at this:
Therefore it says,
When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men (Psalm 68: 18).(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the Earth?
He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)
Let us look also at Colossians 2: 14-15 for more information about this. It says,
...nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.This tells us that, when Jesus had finished His sacrifice on the cross and His body was buried in the tomb, then He "descended into hell," or actually Sheol, the Place of the Dead. Jesus described this place in the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus, as having two distinct areas, the Paradise side which He called Abraham's Bosom, and the fire side, which we refer to as Hell.
Since the blood of animals cannot wash away sins, but only cover them, then the Old Testament saints could not go to Heaven, so they went to Paradise. Then when Jesus' blood splattered the sides of His altar, the cross, then their sins were washed away, as He fulfilled the personal sacrifice.
So while His body was in the grave, He descended into Sheol to organize all the saints there into a triumphal procession in full view of all the rebels and demons on the fire side, and led the whole Paradise side into Heaven.
Now the only part of Sheol that is there is the fire side, or Hell.
Now, since Christ's blood has washed us thoroughly pristine clean, we can dwell with God where He lives, without suffering damage.
I also discuss this in my entry, What Was Jesus Doing?
O my Father, You are so wonderful to Love us so much to send Your own Son to be our Savior. Your Love is so deep and wide and long and high that we cannot even fathom how far it will reach! I know that the blood of Christ can cleanse even the worst serial killer or depraved degenerate to be crystal clean!
Please send me, send my words, send my body out into the world, proclaiming Your Gospel of Truth to all those who are wanting to know You. Lead me to those lost sheep who are tangled or trapped to rescue them, drawing them into the safety and protection of Your one fold with one Shepherd.
Fill Your house to be overflowing, Father, with all of your uncountable children, that every place at Your grand Banquet Table will be filled, that we all will enjoy fellowship with You and one another forevermore.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Son, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
