Easter 2026: The Jesus Way

 Easter 2026

Introduction:

Good morning church. My name is Stuart Davidson and I am the pastor here at Eastern Shore Baptist Church. Happy Resurrection Sunday to you and your family. I am privileged to to worship with all of you this morning. Easter Sunday is my favorite Sunday of the year because it reminds me of the global, interconnectedness, of the church…the Body of Christ. Christians from every corner of the globe, Christians of every tribe, ethnicity, tongue, and location are all celebrating the greatest news, the greatest story, the final victory. We are all celebrating the news that Jesus is ALIVE! 

He is RISEN!

He is RISEN INDEED! 

Friends if today is your first time with us this morning, let me tell you about our prayer line. If you have a prayer request, send us a text message to 251-222-8977. A member of our prayer team will pray for you instantly. Again, welcome. If you are watching online, I am so glad that you are with us as well. Happy Easter. 

Today every person on the planet wrestles with the same question. Why is the tomb of Jesus Christ empty? Did Jesus really raise from the dead? 

Maybe He didn’t die. Maybe Jesus swooned or fainted. Maybe the Romans just thought that Jesus died and they were just fooled. The Roman executioners took a living man off the cross and Jesus simply recovered in the borrowed grave of Joseph of Arimathea. 

That doesn’t hold up. 

The Romans were very good at killing criminals. Remember friends, before Jesus was ever placed on the cross, He was beaten with rods. This beating broke down His muscles. They beat Jesus on His front and on His back. He would have been bruised badly from head to toe. After that, He was flogged with a cat of nine tails. This likely shredded Jesus skin into bloody ribbons. 

Following that, he was hit, kicked, and spit upon and then forced to carry His cross beam, a beam that scholars estimate to weigh roughly 125 pounds some three city blocks. Scripture tells us that Jesus had lost so much blood, His body so badly beaten, that He was unable to carry His cross. A man named Simon of Cyrene was forced to carry the cross for Him. Folks, did you know that there is not one single story, not one tall tale, not one legend of a man or a woman surviving Roman crucifixion. Not one. When someone was nailed to the cross, they died on that cross. 

Maybe Jesus did die but His followers stole the body! Nah, that doesn’t hold water either. Scripture tells us that Jesus’ disciples scattered after Jesus’ capture. They fled to the shadows. They were worried and scared that their Master’s fate might befall them. One would have to believe that after Jesus’ death that His disciples suddenly were overcome with bravery and courage. These uneducated fisherman, failed tax collectors, and religious zealots were somehow able to overcome trained Roman soldiers who were guarding Jesus’ tomb. Not likely. Another question arises concerning the followers of Jesus. Let’s just say that all of that is true. They did steal Jesus’ body and create a fantastical story about His resurrection to form their own religion. Down deep these men would have know that Jesus’ resurrection is a lie. Each man, each disciple, all died martyr’s death. Stoned. Beheaded. Crucified. Exiled. Why would these men who knew that Jesus actually died, die themselves for a known lie. That’s insane. No, the disciples did not steal Jesus away. 

You know what, maybe the women who discovered the empty tomb just went to the wrong tomb. That’s it. Those ladies were just to into their own grief that they went to the wrong tomb and they thought that Jesus raised from the dead. We know the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. It was a well known place even then. If it was the wrong tomb, why didn’t Rome just produce the body of Christ therefore disposing and disproving the claim of Jesus’ resurrection? No, the wrong tomb theory doesn’t work either. 

Ok, there is one more explanation. Jesus’ disciples and the women just flat hallucinated the entire thing. They just hallucinated Jesus’ resurrection. That’s it. 

Maybe their grief was so deep, their hearts so broken, that they hallucinated the risen Jesus. Maybe what they thought they saw wasn’t real at all.

Yet again, nope. Doesn’t work. Here’s why…

Hallucinations don’t happen to groups of people at the same time. They don’t show up in different places, at different times, to different people, all seeing the same thing. Scripture tells us that Jesus appeared to Mary, to the disciples, to two men on the road to Emmaus, and even to more than five hundred people at one time. Folks, hallucinations don’t eat fish. Hallucinations don’t invite you to touch their hands and their side. Hallucinations don’t sit down and have conversations. And hallucinations don’t transform scared, hiding men into bold preachers willing to die for what they had seen. No, this wasn’t imagination. This wasn’t grief. This was a real, resurrected Savior.

Introduction To Today’s Message:

So if He didn’t faint, if His body wasn’t stolen, if the tomb wasn’t mistaken, and if it wasn’t some mass hallucination, then there is only one explanation left.

Jesus really did die.

Jesus really was buried.

And…Jesus really did rise again.

The tomb is empty today because death could not hold Him. 

The grave could not keep Him. 

Sin could not defeat Him. 

Jesus Christ is alive.

Now listen closely, because this is where this message gets really personal for all of us this morning.

Easter is not just about what happened to Jesus. 

Easter is all about what His resurrection means for you. 

It’s about the life He now offers to you and me. 

It’s about the path He calls us to walk. 

It’s about the choice every single one of us has to make.

The same Jesus who walked out of that tomb now looks at you and says, “Follow Me.” You and I have been invited by Jesus to walk in His ways, to follow His example, to go the Jesus Way! 

Jesus is not inviting us to just admire Him, admire His teaching, admire His preaching. 

Jesus is not inviting us to make Him our homeboy.

Jesus is not inviting you to celebrate Him at Christmas or at Easter and that’s it. 

Follow Me.

That brings us to the heart of this message this morning, the title of my brief sermon today…“The Jesus Way”.

Today’s Message:

“The Jesus Way”

Introduction of Today’s Thought:

Speaking of Jesus’ way, look there on your outline. The part under “Today’s Thought”. Fill in these blanks for me this morning. Jesus’ way is not easy. Few embrace it. Yet…it leads to eternity. 

Do you believe that this morning friends. Jesus, in John 14:6, claims that He is THE WAY. That is a bold claim. The obvious question here is “the way to what”. Jesus claims that He is the way to heaven, to eternal life, to life everlasting, to the abundant life. Jesus claims that He is the only way to peace. He is the only way to God, His Father. That is a very bold claim. Jesus here is claiming exclusivity. If Jesus is the only way, all other ways lead away from God, from the abundant life, from life everlasting. That means your way, my way, isn’t the way. I don’t get to make up my own rules. Muhammad is not the way. Joseph Smith is not the way. From Judaism to Jehovah’s Witness, from Mormons and Muslims, they are all leading people astray. 

Jesus is the only way. The only life. The only truth. Jesus is it. 

Matthew 7:13–14 captures Jesus’ words saying, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Jesus claims quite clearly that few people walk His way. More people walk the way of destruction. However our culture claims the opposite. Our culture says that broad is the way and wide is the path that leads to life and many people find it but narrow is the way and very few people find it, the way that leads to hell. 

What path are you walking? Whose example are you following?

Oh friends, the Jesus Way leads to life, it leads to eternity. I want you to find that way this morning. 

Today’s Thought:

Jesus’ Way Is Not Easy. Few Embrace It. Yet…It Leads To Eternity! 

Introduction To Today’s Quote:

Oh how I love Dr. Adrian Rogers. I have been reading so much of him lately and listening to so many of his messages. What a gifted communicator of the Gospel was Dr. Rogers. Listen to what he says there for you on the section “Today’s Quote”.

Today’s Quote:

“Salvation is not a reward for the righteous, it is a gift for the guilty. Jesus did not come for those who think they have it all together, He came for those who know they are broken and in need of grace.”

Dr. Adrian Rogers from “Love Worth Finding Ministries”

Introduction of Today’s Scripture:

Well friends, we have finally arrived at our Scripture for today. We will be reading from I Peter 2:21–24. This letter was written by the apostle Peter to believers who were hurting These followers of Christ were being persecuted for their faith. These were not comfortable Christians sitting on padded pews. These were men and women trying to follow Jesus in a world that opposed them, mocked them, and in some cases actively hurt them. Peter writes to encourage them, reminding them that suffering is not a sign that God has abandoned them, but that they are actually walking in the footsteps of Jesus. In these few verses, Peter points us straight to the cross. He reminds us that Jesus not only died for us, but He also showed us how to live. He gave us a path, a way. He gave us an example to follow, He carried our sins to the cross. We can live a brand new life because of Jesus. Friends, this passage shows us what it really means to walk…The Jesus Way.

Statement of Belief:

“We are opening the living and powerful Word of God…truth without error, breathed out by Him, and fully sufficient for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. It is our authority, our guide, and our hope. In honor of the God who gave us His perfect Word, I invite you to stand with me as we read it together.”

Today’s Scripture:

1 Peter 2:21-24 GNT

It was to this that God called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. [22] He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips. [23] When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but placed his hopes in God, the righteous Judge. [24] Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed.

Pastor: “This is the Word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His name. Praise His Holy name.”

What Do We Know About “The Jesus Way”?

We Know About His…Example vs. 21-23

Ok friends, what do we know about “The Jesus Way”? You can fill in the blank there on your first point. We know about His examples. Go back and check out verses 21-23. 

“Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example, so that you would follow in his steps. [22] He committed no sin, and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips.”

There on your outline is a quick explanation of our first point. 

“Jesus showed us how to live by responding to suffering, sin, and difficult people with grace, patience, and trust in God.”

Now let me just say this, the Jesus Way is not just something we admire, it is something we are called to follow. Jesus didn’t just come to save us, He came to show us how to live. When He was mistreated, He didn’t lash out. When He was insulted, He didn’t insult back. When He was suffering, He didn’t threaten. Instead, He trusted His Father. He responded with grace. He walked in patience. He loved when it was hard to love.

Now let’s be honest for just a moment. That is not our natural response. The Jesus Way is hard. It is difficult. When someone hurts us, we want to hurt them back. When someone talks about us, we want to set the record straight. When someone wrongs us, we want justice right now. The Jesus Way is different. The Jesus Way says, trust God. The Jesus Way says, respond with grace. The Jesus Way says, keep your eyes on the Father and keep your heart right.

Friends, can I encourage you this morning, you can live this way. You can live the Jesus Way. Not because you are strong, but because He is strong in you. The same Jesus who set the example now lives inside of you. He will help you walk this out in your home, in your workplace, in your relationships, even with the most difficult people in your life.

So what does the Jesus Way look like? Well it looks like Luke 6:28. 

Luke 6:28 (CSB)

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

What Do We Know About “The Jesus Way”?

We Know About His…Example vs. 21-23

We Know About His…Exchange vs. 24a

So, what do we know about “The Jesus Way”? We know about Jesus’ example. Now we also know about His exchange. 

Go back to verse 24. 

“Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.”

“Jesus took our sin upon Himself on the cross so that we could receive His forgiveness and righteousness.”

Just a few years ago in Fort Worth, Texas, there was a police officer named Matt Pearce. You’ve probably never heard of him. During a routine call, things went sideways. A suspect pulled a gun and opened fire. Another officer was directly in the line of fire, no time to react, no time to escape.

Without hesitation, Officer Pearce stepped in front of his fellow officer and took the bullets himself. He was shot 6 times. He nearly payed the ultimate price to save his partner. Thankfully, he survived. 

He didn’t have to.

He chose to.

He absorbed the impact so someone else could live.

As you hear that, something inside of you says, “That’s sacrifice. That’s love.”

When you hear something like that, something inside of you says, “That’s incredible.” Something inside of you says, “That’s love.”

You’re not wrong by the way. You’re not wrong but what Jesus did is infinitely greater.

Jesus didn’t just step in front of physical danger. Jesus did far more than take bullets. Jesus stepped in front of the full weight of our sin. All of our sin. Sin from the very beginning of time to the very end of time. Every single sin. Sin that deserved death. He didn’t just risk His life, He gave His life. He didn’t just take a hit, He took the punishment that you and I deserved.

Here is the truth of the Gospel.

The Bible tells us that every single one of us has sinned. We have all lied, all fallen short, all gone our own way. Romans 3:23 says that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That means we are guilty. That means we are separated from God.

And the consequence of that sin is serious. Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death. Not just physical death, but spiritual separation from God forever.

But here is where the Jesus Way changes everything.

Jesus stepped in.

Jesus took your place.

Jesus carried your sin in His body on that cross. Every lie, every failure, every regret, every moment of rebellion, He took it upon Himself. The punishment that should have fallen on you fell on Him instead.

That’s the exchange.

Your sin for His righteousness.

Your guilt for His grace.

Your death for His life.

Friends, the invitation today is simple.

Romans 10:9 says that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Not might be. Not could be. You will be saved.

You don’t clean yourself up first. 

You don’t fix your life first. 

You come just as you are, and you trust in what Jesus has already done.

When you do, everything changes.

That my dear friends is the Jesus Way. The path to everlasting life. It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 5:21. 

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

What Do We Know About “The Jesus Way”?

We Know About His…Example vs. 21-23

We Know About His…Exchange vs. 24a

We Know About His…Effect vs. 24b

Well friends we have finally made it to our last point. What do we know about “The Jesus Way”?

We know about His example, His exchange, and lastly, His effect. 

“Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. It is by his wounds that you have been healed.”

Again, there is a short explanation of that point on your outline. 

“Following the Jesus way means we are called to die to sin and live a new life that reflects His righteousness.”

Friends, Jesus didn’t go to the cross just to forgive us. He went to the cross so that we could be changed. The Jesus Way is not only about what He did for us it’s about what He now does in us. He carried our sins so that we could die to sin. He rose from the grave so that we could walk in brand new life.

This is the power of the resurrection! The same power that rolled the stone away and raised Jesus from the dead is the power that raises us from a life of sin and sets us free to live for righteousness.

Listen to what Paul says in Romans 6:4:

“Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”

Did you catch that? “So we too may walk in newness of life.” That’s the effect of the Jesus Way. We don’t stay the same. We don’t keep living like we used to live. We don’t keep chasing the old habits, the old anger, the old addictions, the old selfishness. The Jesus Way calls us to die to all of that and rise to something far better.

Now I know what some of you are thinking: “Pastor, that sounds hard.” You’re right brothers and sisters. It is hard. Any preacher that says that it is easy is lying to you. 

Jesus never said His way would be easy. Few embrace it. Yet it leads to eternity.

Dying to sin is painful. Letting go of our old life hurts sometimes. Yet, on the other side of that death is real life, the kind of life Jesus promised.

A life of freedom. 

A life of peace. 

A life that actually pleases God and blesses the people around us.

Church, the empty tomb isn’t just proof that Jesus is alive. It’s proof that you and I can live a brand new life because He is alive. His wounds have healed us. His resurrection has empowered us. Now He calls us to follow in His steps.

So here’s the question I want to leave with you this Resurrection Sunday:

Will You Go The Jesus Way Today?

Will you trust Him with your sin and receive His forgiveness?

Will you die to the old life and walk in the newness of life He offers?

Will you stop trying to do it your way and start following His way, even when it’s hard, even when it costs you, even when few around you are walking it?

At the end of the Jesus Way is not just forgiveness.

At the end of the Jesus Way is not just heaven someday.

At the end of the Jesus Way is a life that is truly alive, a life healed by His wounds and filled with His resurrection power.

He is risen!

He is risen indeed!

Because He lives, you and I can live the Jesus Way.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Let’s pray.

Closing Prayer

Father God, thank You for this Resurrection Sunday. Thank You that Jesus is alive, the tomb is empty, and sin and death have been defeated. Lord, help us walk the Jesus Way, to follow His example, to trust You when it’s hard, and to die to sin so we can live for righteousness.

Father, I pray for anyone here today who has never been saved. If that is you, pray this from your heart, Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. Please forgive me, save me, and make me new. I surrender to You today. Help me follow You, the Jesus Way. Amen.

Lord, strengthen Your people, draw the lost to Yourself, and let us walk in newness of life because Christ is risen. In Jesus’ name, amen.