Mark 16:1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. WEB
This appears to be the same Mary that Mark mentioned in 15:40 that describes Mary as the mother of James the less and of Joses. Salome (also mentioned in Mark 15:40) is the name of James and John’s mother so this is likely her. The reference to James the Less implies that we are not talking about the brother of Jesus nor are we talking about John and his brother James (the Greater). As the Sabbath runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown, the women can’t do anything until Sunday morning. At that time, they come to anoint the body to be sure that His body is properly prepared.
The question naturally arises as to where is Jesus during this time gap from Friday sundown until Sunday morning while His body is in the tomb? The traditional answer begins with the thought that we are bodies and souls – an inner and an outer. Death is the moment these two things that have been together are torn apart (with the expectation that they will be brought together again, utilizing a new body, through the future resurrection). Jesus experiences everything we will and that means going to the place of the dead (Sheol in Hebrew, Hades in Greek).
The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches have insisted that the saving work of Jesus continues on Saturday. These churches routinely teach that after death, Jesus goes to Hades and gathers up the people who had some response of faith and takes them to Paradise. The Orthodox icon of the harrowing of Hell shows Adam holding Christ’s right hand and Eve holding His left. There are broken locks and keys, with the devil being bound and other saints nearby on the bank. There is no mention of that in Mark although Matthew hints at it.
Matthew 27:51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. WEB
Mark’s authority for telling the story comes from Peter but we also find sermons of Peter in Acts and there are two letters from him that we can draw from.
1Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who before were disobedient, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, while the box-shaped vessel was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved by means of water. 21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you–not the removal of dirt from the body, but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, NHEB
1Peter 4:6 For this reason also the Good News was preached to those who are now dead, that they might be judged according to man in the flesh, but might live according to God in the Spirit. NHEB
Acts 2:29 Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him an oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses. BSB
This is a controversial area among commentators and these verses are often cited as support for a harrowing and also to deny a harrowing (depending upon your personal position). Protestants generally ignore a harrowing of the faithful from Hades because we just don’t have a clear word from Christ on the matter. We aren’t the only ones who have problems with this as the Nicene Creed deletes the wording “descended into Hell” that was part of the older Apostle’s Creed. The pushback is that the Apostle’s Creed came first and the idea of Jesus going into Hell was universal among 2nd century Christians.
1Corinthians 15:4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, WEB
Revelation 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the first and the last, 18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades. WEB
Buried sounds a little strange to us but this could be a reference to the fact that He actually died. Buried also makes it into the creeds.
N.T. Wright was once asked if he believed in life after death. His reply was that not only does he believe in life after death but also in life after life after death. Revelation begins with the assurance that death doesn’t get the last word and that should be our primary takeaway here.