THE ROAD TO RESURRECTION: FREEDOM THROUGH CHRIST

 

TODAY IS EASTER.  And more than just a holiday, more than just a date on the calendar — it is the day everything changed. Because on this day, death lost its sting, sin lost its grip, and the grave lost its claim. The Son of God walked a road marked by betrayal, suffering, and sacrifice — and He did it for one reason: to set you and me free. Not free in part, but fully free. Free from sin. Free from shame. Free from fear. Free from death. 

The cross was not the end. The tomb wasn’t the final word. Because Jesus rose, and because He lives, you and I can live — truly live. Today, we walk with Him through that journey — from the shouts of ‘Hosanna’ to the cry of ‘It is finished,’ all the way to the empty tomb — and we remember what it cost to set us free.

Timeline to Easter

Jesus followed a timeline to Easter: 

- From Palm Sunday

- Through the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday

- To the agony of obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane

- Followed by the humiliation of trial, imprisonment and torture

- Culminating in the agony of crucifixion and death

- Proceeding to the victorious emptying of satan's kingdom of all encaptured souls

- after which the glorious resurrection took place

From the Cross to the Commission: A Journey of Love, Surrender, and Victory

This week, we have walked a sacred path — one paved with palm branches and thorns, with tears and triumph. This journey is not just the story of Jesus — it is the story of our redemption. Each step He took was for love. Every moment was for us. Let us walk this path together and be reminded: We are not just forgiven. We are transformed. We are not just saved from something — we are saved for something.

Palm Sunday – The Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1–11)

Jesus enters Jerusalem not on a warhorse, but on a donkey — fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9. The crowd shouts, “Hosanna!” They see a King — and He is a King — but not the kind they expected.

Even in glory, Jesus was riding toward sacrifice. He knew what lay ahead. He knew the cheers would turn to jeers. But He kept riding — for you. For me. True courage is not avoiding the cross, but walking toward it in love.

The Last Supper – A New Covenant (Luke 22:14–20)

Around the table, Jesus broke bread and poured wine — and consecrated them into His body and blood. He speaks of a new covenant — not one of law and ritual, but of grace and relationship.

Jesus did not run from the cross; He embraced it. He offered Himself willingly. This meal was more than tradition — it was a declaration: “You are worth the price I’m about to pay.”

Gethsemane – The Agony of Obedience (Matthew 26:36–46)

In the quiet of the garden, Jesus fell to His knees. The weight of the world was crushing, but He did not run. He wrestled. He wept. And then — He surrendered: “Not My will, but Yours be done.”

Freedom was not won on the battlefield. It was won in a garden, where love said “yes” to suffering so that we could say “yes” to life. Obedience cost Him everything — and it gave us everything.

The Cross – Love’s Ultimate Price (Luke 23:33–46)

Nailed to a tree, between two criminals, Jesus hangs — not defeated, but victorious. He speaks forgiveness. He offers paradise. And with His final breath, He declares: “It is finished.”

Inspiration:

The cross wasn’t the end — it was the turning point. Our sin was nailed there. Our shame was silenced. The veil was torn — heaven’s doors flung wide open. Love paid the ultimate price, and we are the reward.

The Resurrection – Victory Over Death (Matthew 28:1–10

Three days later, the is rolled away. The tomb is empty. The grave could not hold Him. Death is defeated. Jesus is alive!

This is more than a comeback - it is a new creation. We are not just forgiven - we are made new. The resurrection is not just an event in history - it is a promise for eternity. And it lives in us.

The Commission – Go and Tell (Matthew 28:18–20)

With nail-scarred hands, Jesus sends His followers: “Go. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach. And remember — I am with you always.”

We are not just saved from sin — we are saved for purpose. You carry the light now. You carry the message. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. So go — and change the world.

As we remember this sacred journey — from the gates of Jerusalem to an empty tomb — may we not just stand in awe. May we walk with purpose. 

May we live as if the cross matters. 

May we love as if the tomb is empty, and Love in the Form of Jesus Christ walks the world.

 And may we go as if the commission is ours — because it is.

“Hosanna in the highest.”

“It is finished.”

“He is risen.”

“Now go.”

                                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfhTOV7DK_o

With thanks to youtube