The Shadow and the Resurrection

Introduction

Church, this message is about the resurrection of Christ, but I want to bring us to the shadow of the Cross.

Turn your Bibles to Isaiah 53:3-7:

Setting the Stage

1. Isaiah 53:3 — “He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”

Isaiah begins by pulling us straight into the suffering of the Servant. Not the empty tomb. Not the rolled‑away stone. Not the angelic announcement. He takes us first to the Man of Sorrows.

Your preaching flow: Church, this message is about the resurrection of Christ, but to understand resurrection power, we must stand for a moment in the shadow of the Cross.

He is despised. He is rejected. He is acquainted with grief. We hid our faces from Him. We esteemed Him not. We turned away from the only One who never turned away from us.

2. Isaiah 53:4 — “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows…”

Isaiah shifts the lens: from our rejection to His response.

He bore what crushed us. He carried what we could not carry. He stepped beneath the weight that would have destroyed us.

Gethsemane — The Crushing Begins

In Gethsemane, the pressure of our sin pressed Him until His blood broke through His skin. The Man of Sorrows was being crushed beneath the sorrow of every man.

The Garden became a winepress— where Jesus accepted the cup of wrath and began to bear the sin of the world.

Riff: If this were only suffering, it would have ended here. But this was atonement—so the Lamb of God went further.

3. Isaiah 53:5a — “He was wounded for our transgressions…”

Isaiah reveals the purpose: His wounds were not incidental. They were intentional. They were substitutional. They were ours.

Pilate’s Courtyard — The Stripes of Healing

In Pilate’s courtyard, the Roman flagrum tore into His flesh— iron, bone, metal hooks designed to shred muscle and expose bone.

But Isaiah had already declared it: “With His stripes we are healed.”

Every lash fulfilled prophecy. Every tear of flesh purchased a promise.

Riff: If this were only suffering, it would have ended here. But this was atonement—so the Lamb went further.

4. Isaiah 53:5b — “He was bruised for our iniquities…”

Bruised—crushed inwardly. The unseen agony. The internal breaking.

The Crown — The Mockery of Majesty

They pressed a crown of thorns into His holy brow until blood ran down His face— blood that would redeem your every rebellious thought.

The One who wore heaven’s crown willingly wore earth’s thorns.

Riff: If this were only suffering, it would have ended here. But this was atonement—so the Lamb went further.

5. Isaiah 53:5c — “The chastisement of our peace was upon Him…”

The punishment that purchased our peace fell upon Him.

Golgotha — The Nails of Judgment

At Golgotha, the hammer rang out— driving nails through the hands that healed the sick and the feet that walked on water.

He hung on a cursed tree, but Isaiah tells us the deeper truth: He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him.

The nails were not the torment. The cross was not the terror. The physical pain was not the true cup.

6. Isaiah 53:6 — “All we like sheep have gone astray… and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah exposes the universal guilt of humanity— and the universal grace of God.

We wandered. We rebelled. We strayed. Yet God laid the weight of every sin on His Son.

The Wrath — The Silence of the Lamb

“He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth.”

The Lion became a Lamb. The Judge stood in the place of the guilty. The Holy One took the place of sinners.

Darkness covered the land. The Lamb who knew no sin was made to be sin for us.

The wrath stored up for every lie, every betrayal, every addiction, every secret sin, every wicked thought— was poured out upon Him.

For the first and only time in eternity, the Son looked toward Heaven and found it silent.

The Father turned away His face.

And the loneliest cry in history rose: “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani— My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”

He endured the fullness of our Hell so we could enjoy the fullness of His Heaven.

Only then— after He had borne it all— did He cry, “It is finished.” And He gave up the ghost.

(Pause. Let the weight settle.)

The Aftermath

The word of God describes the aftermath of the weight and heaviness that the followers of Christ felt:

Sadness (Luke 24:17)

Mourning and Weeping (Mark 16:10)

His people were Troubled (Luke 24:38)

They remained in hiding from the Jews who persecuted Jesus (John 20:19)

There was a heaviness of lost hope, “We trusted that it had been he who should have redeemed Israel,” (Luke 24:21)

The Bible describes a “Slowness of Heart” (Luke 24:25)

Church, there was a suffocating darkness and heaviness over His people.

The world knows this feeling. It is the finality of a doctor's report. The finality of a gravestone. The finality of severed position may be a career, maybe a relationship, maybe a circle of friends. The world operates on the principle of finality. The world believes every story ends, and the most certainly will end is the grave.

I remember a saying growing up that only “Two things are certain in this life, death and taxes!”

Paul says in Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

Church— that’s the whole gospel in two words: BUT GOD.

We were dead— BUT GOD. We were bound— BUT GOD. We were lost— BUT GOD. We were drowning in sin— BUT GOD.

Rich in mercy. Overflowing in love. Not waiting for us to get better, not waiting for us to clean up, not waiting for us to come to Him— He stepped into the grave we were lying in and quickened us together with Christ!

You didn’t save yourself. You didn’t raise yourself. You didn’t rescue yourself. Grace reached down into death and pulled you into life!

By grace you are saved! Not by works. Not by effort. Not by performance. By grace!

Church, if God can raise you from spiritual death, what can’t He do tonight? If grace brought you out of the grave, what chain can’t break? What addiction can’t fall? What darkness can’t flee?

Somebody shout— BUT GOD!

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (57) “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Absolutely—here is a Pentecostal, resurrection‑charged, theologically precise riff on 1 Corinthians 15:55 & 57. No theatrics. No empty hype. Biblical. Christ‑centered. Victory‑anchored.

🔥 PREACHING RIFF — 1 Corinthians 15:55 & 57

“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? … But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Church— Paul is not boasting in emotion. He is boasting in atonement accomplished. He is standing on the finished work of Christ and declaring the legal defeat of death itself.

Death once had a sting— because sin had a claim. The grave once had a victory— because guilt had a sentence. But when Jesus died as our substitute and rose as our victorious King, He stripped death of its weapon and emptied the grave of its authority.

So Paul looks at death— the ancient enemy of every generation— and he says, “Where is it now? Where is your sting? Where is your victory?”

It’s gone. Not because we are strong, but because Christ is risen.

And then Paul shouts, “Thanks be to God!” Why? Because the victory Christ won is the victory Christ gives.

Not earned. Not achieved. Not deserved. Given.

Given to the believer. Given through the cross. Given by the resurrection. Given in Christ alone.

So church— if death has no sting, you don’t have to fear tomorrow. If the grave has no victory, you don’t have to bow to darkness. If Christ has conquered, you can stand in the same power.

Lift your voice and declare it— “Thanks be to God! We have the victory through Jesus Christ!”

Church, I am here to tell you that the tomb was empty. That we have a risen King!

The Kingdom of God does not operate on finality, but on the power, presence, and promise of a Just and Faithful God that gave His people the very evidence, the receipts, of an empty tomb!

Main Sermon

Open your Bibles to Matthew 28:1–6. “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

And Matthew 28:7 “And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead......”

Bridge

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the bedrock of your salvation, your hope, and your authority. If you remember nothing else, remember this.

Romans 4:25 “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

Church That means:

Absolutely, Justin. Here is a cleaner, tighter, theologically precise version of your line— same fire, same punch, but with smoother flow and no distractions from the Cross or the Resurrection.

🔥 REFINED PREACHING SECTION

THE BLOOD CANCELLED THE DEBT; THE RESURRECTION IS THE SEAL OF GOD’S PROMISE.

Church— some of you are still trying to pay a debt that has already been canceled. Some of you are still living under a judgment for which God Himself has already issued the declaration: “Paid in full.”

The Word of God declares: “He was delivered for our offenses” —that’s the blood of Jesus canceling the debt of sin.

“And was raised again for our justification” —that’s the resurrection standing as the divine proof, the confirmation, the seal that the payment was accepted.

Glory to God— The blood accomplished the work, and the empty tomb is the evidence that Heaven stamped it “approved.”

Not a theory. Not a symbol. Not a feeling. A finished transaction backed by the authority of the risen Christ. Of our Risen King. Of the Messiah Yashua Hamashiach!

🔥 Main Sermon

Point One: The Seal of the Law and the Power of the Blood

Church, I want you to consider that, prior to the fulfillment Isa 53, we were under a seal of sin through the Law, and that seal held us captive.

The Word of God declares in Hebrews 9:22, "...without shedding of blood is no remission." Remission from what? From the debt we owed because of the holy law of God.

Paul describes this debt in Colossians 2, verse 14. He calls it the "handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us."

In other words, the legality of sin illuminated our spiritual debt, being written about us - every sin you ever committed, every thought, every word, every deed. It was sealed by divine justice, and it demanded your death.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death..”

This was the true seal that bound a fallen world to a fallen Hell.

But behold the Lamb of God! On the cross, He did not just suffer; He atoned. The scripture says He took that handwriting, that list of your failures, and"took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."  (Col 2:14) Every drop of His precious blood was a payment that cried out "Paid in full!"

The cross was not just an execution; it was a divine atonement where the debt of a fallen world was paid in full.

Church that means, that the blood of Jesus did not just cover your sin; it canceled the yokes of bondage that held you captive to the world - broken, bound, and defeated BUT “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ!”

Point Two: The Seal of the Tomb and the Power of the Resurrection

Oh......but Church, remember the world believes in the lie from the pit of hell. That lie of finality. The lie that is contrary to the Kingdom of God. And because of this lie, we see the arrogance of man and devil - their pride that demonstrates that lie from the father of lies.

In Matthew 27, verse 66, we read: "So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." Church, evil conspired to seal the Holy One, the Messiah. The very One who just canceled our debt! The very one who shattered the Seal of the Law and birthed grace into his people.

BUT GOD WHO IN HIS RICH MERCIES

But what is a Roman seal to the King of Kings? What is a stone to the Rock of Ages? What is a legion of soldiers to the LORD of Hosts?

The resurrection was not just a miracle; it was a public declaration that God the Father accepted that the payment of His Son. John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

It is God Almighty looking at all of Hell, at all of the world, and all of Heaven and declaring, "The debt is paid! The sacrifice is accepted! The Son is worthy! And all who are in Him are justified!"

This is the hope of our resurrection!

Paul says in Ephesians 1, verses 13 and 14: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession..."

The Roman seal was broken, but because of the empty tomb, you have been given a new seal that can never be broken: the seal of the Holy Spirit! That word "earnest" in the Koine Greek is arrabōn. "ah-ray-Bone"It literally means down payment. It is a deposit guaranteeing the full payment to come.

The Holy Ghost living inside of you right now is the legal, binding payment from God, guaranteeing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead will also quicken your spirit and raise your mortal body!

Ooooh, supernatural strength.

Point Three: Resurrection Power in the blood of Jesus!

🔥 PREACHING RIFF — BLOOD + SPIRIT + RESURRECTION POWER 🔥

Church, I’m not talking about ordinary strength. I’m talking about supernatural strength- I am talking Resurrection Power in the blood of Jesus — power that washes you, raises you, fills you, and sends you out in victory!

The Word of God says in 1 John 5:7–8 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. [This is the apostle John without question uniting, without question, The Father, the Son, and The Holy Ghost] And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” Do you hear that? Do you understand? The blood and the Spirit are not in competition. They are not separate revelations. They are one witness, one testimony, one agreement:

The blood declares the debt is canceled.

The Spirit declares the power is released.

And together they testify: as one that Jesus is alive! HE IS RISEN!

And Hebrews 9:14 tells us how deep this goes: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God…”

{sound, Hhhhgh]

There it is again — the blood and the Spirit working together in perfect unity. The blood made the sacrifice acceptable. The Spirit made the sacrifice eternal. The blood redeems you. The Spirit resurrects you. The blood breaks the chains. The Spirit fills you with Holy fire. The blood saves you. The Spirit empowers you.

So when I say Resurrection Power, I’m talking about a living, breathing, conquering, demonic‑defeating, sickness‑shattering, grave‑robbing, devil‑destroying POWER that belongs to every believer washed in the blood and filled with the Spirit!

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him [who, exegesis of this text reveals the who, it is the Accuser of the brethren!] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony [who the saints]; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Revelation 12:10–11 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The same explosive power that rolled away the stone, a declaration to the world -

“HE IS RISEN”

Church, it is not nothing [double negative] to walk out of a sealed tomb, leaving behind the grave clothes, and announcing to hell:

“Your power is broken! Your reign is over! Your victory is a lie!”

Our victory cry:

"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?... But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Ooooh

This is Resurrection Power — the power that takes a dead dream and breathes life back into it. The power that takes a broken body and makes it whole. The power that takes a bound mind and sets it free.

Addiction, Fear, Doubt, Anguish, Infirmity - the Word of God says “You are delivered.” “You are free.” “Rise up and walk.”

Because the SAME Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the SAME Spirit that wants to raise you right now!

Can you feel the quickening of your Spirit?

If you’ve been living defeated… If you’ve been walking in the shadow of your circumstances… If you’ve been telling God about your mountain instead of telling your mountain about your God…

The Blood and the Spirit bear the same witness of Resurrection Power.

🔥 FINAL PREACHING RIFF 🔥

And because of that empty tomb…

Because the blood of Jesus canceled the handwriting of ordinances that was against me, and every accusation was nailed to His cross — AND THAT SAME POWER LIVES IN ME!

Because He was not only delivered for my offences, but the Scripture declares He was “raised again for our justification,” breaking the chains of guilt and silencing every voice of condemnation — AND THAT SAME POWER LIVES IN ME!

Yeshua Hamashiach says in the book of Revelation, “Fear Not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death!”

Altar Call

Church— We have seen the Lamb wounded, bruised, crushed, and silent. We have heard Paul taunt death itself: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” And we have run with the women to the tomb in Matthew 28 only to hear the angel declare: “He is not here… He is risen.”

the blood canceled the debt, and the resurrection is the proof.

First—if you are not saved.

You are still carrying the iniquity Isaiah spoke of. You are still under the sting Paul spoke of. You are still standing outside the empty tomb without the life it offers. Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” says if you confess and believe, you shall be saved.

If you want to exchange the seal of sin for the seal of the Holy Spirit— move now. Don’t wait. Don’t negotiate. Come and be saved.

Second—this is for the church.

You know the Suffering Servant and Lamb of Isaiah 53. You know the victory of 1 Corinthians 15. You know the empty tomb of Matthew 28. But you’ve been living like the stone is still in place.

If you need resurrection power to break what’s been binding you, to revive what’s been dying in you— then come. Not as a sinner seeking pardon, but as a son or daughter claiming your inheritance.

✦ The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.

Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

The question is not whether the power is available. The question is whether you will respond.

Come now. Come quickly. Come in resurrection faith.

Church, that means that the blood of Jesus did not just cover your sin; it canceled the yokes of bondage that held you captive to the world - broken, bound, and defeated BUT “The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ!”

Communion

Matthew 26:26–28 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”