📣 Introduction to God’s Road:
On this Resurrection Sunday or Easter Sunday, before we rejoice in the empty tomb, we must walk the road that led there. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection didn’t happen by chance. God planned it before the foundation of the world.
The crucifixion wasn’t a tragedy—it was a victory. And this morning, we’re going to see the undeniable thread of prophecy, purpose, and power leading us straight to the cross and out of the grave.
Let’s go back—before Easter, before Calvary, before Bethlehem—and trace the road to the resurrection.
🟥 I. The Lamb Was Slain Before the World Began
Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
🔍 Explanation: Before God made man, He knew man would fall. God knew we would sin. And before the first sin was ever committed, the plan for redemption was already settled in heaven. Make sure you know this. His plan was from eternity. God’s plan was always there to save us through Jesus Christ. Jesus wasn’t “plan B”—He was always the plan.
We see God’s plan all the way back in Genesis – the first book of the Bible.
Genesis 3:15 was the first prophecy of a coming Savior:
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus crushed the power of Satan at the cross.
📌 Application: You are not an afterthought in God’s plan. God had a solution before you ever had a problem. He brought you here with the life he gave you. And he gave you a simple and easy way to get to heaven. We’re talking about the Road to the Resurrection. Point 1 is Jesus was slain before the world began. All of God’s promises are good as if they have already happened.
🟥 II. The Suffering Servant Was Foretold
Isaiah 53:1-3
Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:4-6
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:7-8
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
Isaiah 53:9-10
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:11-12
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
🔍 Explanation: Isaiah 53 is a chapter that reads like it was written after the crucifixion—yet it was penned 700 years before Jesus was born. What you just heard was written about long before it happened. Make sure you understand that. The Bible shows itself to be true thousands of times. Yet people still call the Bible a lie.
- Verse 3 – He was despised and rejected.
- Verse 5 – He was wounded, bruised, chastised, and striped.
- Verse 7 – Like a lamb led to the slaughter, He opened not His mouth.
- Verse 10 – It pleased the Lord to bruise Him.
- Verse 11 – He shall justify many.
💡 Real-Life Illustration: Imagine someone today predicting the exact method, motive, and meaning of a specific person’s execution in 2725 A.D. – 700 years from now. Can you imagine that? I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. But God tells us 700 years ahead of time with perfect precision and accuracy.
That’s how precise Isaiah was. No other book in history contains prophecy like the Bible. There is no comparison. None. The Bible stands alone. Remember, we are talking about the Road to the Resurrection – God’s plan from the start. Point 1 is the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. Point 2 is the Suffering Servant was foretold in prophecy.
🟥 III. Jesus Knew the Plan and Embraced It
People ask me why Jesus was baptized. Jesus knew what his baptism was picturing. He already knew he was going to die, be buried, and arise from the dead. He told his disciples this. His baptism was a picture of his death, burial, and resurrection BEFORE it happened. He got baptized about 3-1/2 years before he died on the cross.
And then he told his disciples over and over again that he would die and be raised from the dead. Look at Matthew Chapter 16.
Matthew 16:21
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Now look at Matthew Chapter 17.
Matthew 17:22-23
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.
The disciples heard him, but they didn’t want to believe this. We hear things from the Bible such as warnings but we don’t want to hear it.
Matthew 20:18-19
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.
Jesus is showing them and telling them over and over again that he is going to die, be buried, and arise from the dead. We need to open our eyes to the Word of God. Jesus already knew the plan. His baptism showed that he already knew the plan. The night before he becomes the Passover Lamb, he implement’s the Lord’s Supper.
Matthew 26:28
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
In Matthew 26, at the Last Supper, Jesus wasn’t surprised—He was in control. He offered His body and blood willingly. He could have stopped it any time, but he didn’t. He loves you. He decided he would die for you to save you.
Matthew 26:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
He could’ve stopped it—but He didn’t. Why? Because of you. Because the road to the resurrection required a cross. We are talking about the Road to the Resurrection. Point 1 is Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. Point 2 is the Suffering Servant was foretold. Point 3 is Jesus himself knew the plan and embraced it.
Jesus died on the cross for you and I. If we could get to heaven by our own good works, Jesus didn’t need to come.
🟥 IV. Buried in a Rich Man’s Tomb – Just As It Was Written
Everything happened just as it is written in the Bible. Isaiah Chapter 53 is fulfilled perfectly.
Isaiah 53:9
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
He made his grave with the wicked. He died amongst criminals crucified with him. He suffered the punishment of the wicked. He died and his soul was not left in hell. We are sinners and he took our place.
The Bible says right there, “with the rich in his death.”
Matthew 27:57-60
When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Matthew 27:57-60 tells us that Joseph of Arimathaea, a rich man, laid Jesus in his own new tomb. Once again, prophecy fulfilled with perfection. Remember, we’re talking about the Road to the Resurrection. Jesus was taken care of by a rich man and laid in a NEW TOMB – the burial of the rich.
Point 1 is Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. Point 2 is the Suffering Servant was foretold. Point 3 is Jesus himself knew the plan and embraced it. Point 4 is everything happened exactly how it was written in the Bible.
🟥 V. The Silence – When Faith Is Tested
A horrible thing happened to Jesus. His friends, followers, and family watched the promised Messiah die on the cross. This was a huge blow to their faith in Jesus. And it would have been to yours too. Jesus told them what would happen, but they didn’t listen. We need to remember this as our faith is tested in our life.
Matthew 27:62-63
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Matthew 27:64-66
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Jesus was dead. The tomb was sealed. The disciples were scattered and afraid. Silence comes. Tears come. Unbelief comes. This is where many believers stop—between the cross and the resurrection. Don’t stop there. Don’t give up. Don’t quit in your life.
Your life is a picture of this same thing. There is a resurrection coming in the future for you. Understand that. You’re going to be okay. Don’t give up like the disciples who were scattered, silent, and sad.
📌 Application: Just because God is silent doesn’t mean He’s absent. The darkest day of your life may just be the eve of a miracle. Remember that. The day Jesus died was an unbelievably sad day. The days to follow were filled with silence and sadness. But a great miracle was about to happen.
Psalm 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
We’re going to have tough times. At times, we’re going to think we’re finished. We’re going to think there’s no way we’re getting out of this. I am sure the disciples were in unbelief of what happened. But then a great day is coming. Resurrection day. Easter morning.
Point 1 is Jesus was slain from the foundation of the world. Point 2 is the Suffering Servant was foretold. Point 3 is Jesus himself knew the plan and embraced it. Point 4 is everything happened exactly how it was written in the Bible. Point 5 is faith is tested. You faith will be tested. Bad things will happen. You have to know that God is here. Good things are coming.
🔚 Conclusion and Transition
None of this was an accident just as you being here today isn’t an accident. The death and burial of Jesus was the plan. A promise. A prophecy fulfilled. But the best part of the story is still to come. And we’re going over the best part in the next service.
“We’ve seen the Lamb led to the slaughter, the tomb sealed tight, and the world waiting. But in just a few moments, we’re going to walk into that tomb with the women—and find it empty. Get ready. The King isn’t dead. He’s alive.”
We are on the Road to the Resurrection – God’s Plan from the start.
Let’s pray.
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