Pick up almost any Christian book. Watch almost any Christian sermon. The focus is on heaven. On love. On blessing. On the good stuff.
But that was not how Jesus preached. Jesus talked about hell more than anyone in the Bible. More than Revelation. More than Paul. More than any Old Testament prophet.
The Words of Jesus
In the Gospels, Jesus uses the word "hell" over twenty times. He talks about the "fiery furnace" and "eternal fire" and "outer darkness."
One of His most famous parables is about Lazarus and the rich man. And it does not end well for the rich man:
"In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'"
Luke 16:23-24In agony in this fire. That is Jesus talking. Not some fire-and-brimstone preacher. Jesus.
Gehenna
Jesus uses a specific word for hell: Gehenna. This was a real place. The Valley of Hinnom, outside Jerusalem, where trash was burned continuously. A place of perpetual fire and destruction.
Jesus says things like:
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Matthew 10:28The One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. That is who we should fear. Not people. God.
The Uncomfortable Truth
Why do we not talk about this? Because it makes people uncomfortable. Because it sounds harsh. Because it does not fit our picture of a loving God.
But Jesus did not seem to share those concerns. He talked about hell constantly. He warned about it. He described it in vivid detail.
Why? Because He knew it was real. And He wanted people to take it seriously.
Jesus used the word "hell" (Gehenna) more than twenty times in the Gospels. He talked about eternal punishment, the fiery furnace, the worm that does not die, and outer darkness. This was central to His message, not a side note.
The Narrow Gate
Jesus also talked about how few would be saved:
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Matthew 7:13-14Wide is the gate that leads to destruction. Many enter through it. Only a few find the narrow road that leads to life.
That is not a popular message. But it is the message of Jesus.
Try This Today
Hell is not a popular topic. But it was a central topic for Jesus. He talked about it more than heaven. He warned about it repeatedly. He described it in vivid detail. We cannot ignore what Jesus did not ignore.
Why This Matters
Here is why this matters. If hell is real, then the Gospel matters. If there is real judgment, then salvation matters. If there is a real hell, then the cross is not just about blessing. It is about rescue.
And that makes all the difference.
"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:9We are saved from wrath. Not just saved to blessing. Saved from something terrible. That is the Gospel.
Father, thank You for sending Your Son to save me from wrath. Help me to take seriously the reality of hell and the urgency of the Gospel. Give me a heart for the lost and a willingness to share the full message of salvation. In Jesus Name, Amen.
With honesty and hope,
Claire