Easter at Free Chapel Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, April 5



In this powerful Easter message, Pastor Jentezen Franklin traces God's magnificent plan of redemption from the curse in the Garden of Eden all the way to the cross. Discover how ancient Old Testament types and shadows perfectly point to Jesus' death and resurrection as the ultimate victory over sin and death.  

Jesus, the lifted-up Savior, still brings life today — and you can experience the hope of your own resurrection! 

 

Puntos clave 

Throughout the Bible, types and shadows of His sacrifice point to the coming Savior who would redeem mankind. 

  • Jesus is the Brass Serpent Just as the Israelites were healed by looking at the bronze serpent on a pole, we receive healing and eternal life by looking to Jesus on the cross, who took our sin upon Himself. 
  • Jesus is the Ram Caught in the Thicket The ram Abraham sacrificed, caught by its horns in thorns, points to Jesus wearing the crown of thorns — He took the curse so we could be blessed. 
  • Jesus is the Red Heifer The rare, spotless red heifer was burned to provide cleansing. Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, was offered so we could be cleansed from sin and death. 
  • Jesus is the Scapegoat Like the scapegoat that carried away the people’s sins into the wilderness, Jesus took our guilt so we could be set free while He was put to death. 
  • Jesus is the Scarlet Cord The red cord that turned white as snow shows how Jesus washes our scarlet sins completely clean, making us white as snow. 

Jesus, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, offered His sacrifice to heal you, set you free, and cleanse you from all sin.  

 

Introducción 

Before time began, before the foundations of the earth were laid, God already had a plan. Redemption was not an afterthought — it was intentional, precise, and powerful. As the Scripture says, Jesus was “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.” 

But to understand the beauty of that plan, we must go back to the beginning — the Garden of Eden. 

In that perfect garden, humanity was given dominion. Adam and Eve were created with both body and spirit, giving them authority on the earth. But Satan sought access. Through deception, sin entered, and with sin came the curse — affecting all of mankind. 

What looked like a moment of defeat was actually the stage for God’s greatest victory. 

  • What stood out to you from Sunday’s message? 

Even in that moment, a prophecy was spoken: the serpent would bruise the heel, but the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. That promise pointed forward to Jesus — God in a body — who would come legally into the earth to undo what sin had done. 

And on the cross, that promise was fulfilled. 

Jesus didn’t just die — He became the curse. He took on the weight of sin, the symbol of the serpent itself, and defeated it. The bondage of sin was crushed by sacrifice. 

And when you truly see it — when you understand the precision, the prophecy, and the power of the cross — you can’t help but say: “That alone was worth getting up and coming to church for.” 

  • What does it mean that Jesus was “the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world”? How does this show God’s plan was never a backup plan?  
  • In what ways do you see the “curse” still affecting life today? How does knowing Jesus took the curse on Himself bring you hope? 

 

How Would Redemption Come? 

Redemption comes through the cross. Jesus Himself explained this truth to Nicodemus, a religious leader who came to Him at night seeking answers. When Nicodemus struggled with the idea of being “born again,” Jesus pointed back to an Old Testament story: 

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:14-15) 

In Numbers 21, the Israelites were bitten by poisonous snakes in the wilderness because of their rebellion. Many were dying. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten could look at the bronze serpent and live. 

This event was a powerful picture of what Jesus would do centuries later. The serpent on the pole represented the curse of sin. On the cross, Jesus — who knew no sin — became sin for us. He took the full weight of our curse upon Himself. As Galatians 3:13 says:  “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.” 

Just like the Israelites were healed not by working harder or trying to fix themselves, but simply by looking in faith at the lifted-up serpent, we are saved and healed today by looking to Jesus on the cross. It is not our effort that saves us — it is our faith in what He has already done. 

Comparison: 

  • Israelites were bitten by snakes → We are bitten by sin 
  • The bite brought physical death → Sin brings spiritual death 
  • Looking at the bronze serpent brought healing and life → Looking to Christ brings forgiveness and eternal life 

The bronze serpent didn’t heal anyone by itself. Healing came when the people obeyed God and looked up in faith. In the same way, we are saved when we look to Jesus, believe in Him, and trust that His sacrifice on the cross is enough. 

  • The Israelites were healed simply by looking at the bronze serpent in faith. In what ways is “looking to Jesus” on the cross similar for us today? What does that practically look like in everyday life? 
  • Jesus became sin for us on the cross so we could be healed and forgiven. Is there an area of your life right now where you need to “look to Jesus” and trust Him for healing or freedom? 

 

Where Would Redemption Come?  

Redemption would take place on a specific mountain — Mount Moriah — the very same mountainous region where Calvary (Golgotha) stands. This location was no coincidence. In Genesis 22, God told Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited son Isaac on this mountain. 

Abraham obeyed, making his son carry the wood up the mountain — a three-day journey that pictured Jesus carrying His own cross. At the last moment, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. That ram, entangled in thorns, was a powerful shadow of Jesus, who would wear a crown of thorns on the cross. God provided a substitute for Isaac, but He did not spare His own Son. Jesus became the perfect substitute for us. 

Another beautiful picture is found in the red heifer sacrifice in Numbers 19. A spotless red heifer (without even one hair of another color) was killed, its blood sprinkled seven times, and its body burned outside the camp along with cedar wood (symbolizing the cross), scarlet cloth, and hyssop. The ashes were collected, sealed in a container, and stored for purification from the defilement of death — the ultimate result of sin. 

Jesus fulfilled this picture perfectly. He bled from seven places on the cross (hands, feet, side, head, back, face, and beard). He was crucified outside the city walls, offered as a spotless sacrifice. His body was placed in a sealed tomb by Joseph of Arimathea. Only the High Priest was allowed to break such a seal — and Jesus, our eternal High Priest, broke the seal when He rose from the dead, proving He has the power to cleanse us from sin and death. 

All of these Old Testament types and shadows — the ram in the thicket, the red heifer, the sealed ashes, and the sacrifice outside the camp — point directly to Jesus at Calvary as the true Redeemer! 

  • Why is it significant that God chose the same mountain (Mount Moriah) for both Abraham’s test with Isaac and Jesus’ crucifixion? What does this show about God’s plan? 
  • The ram caught in the thicket wore “thorns” so Isaac could be spared. How does the crown of thorns on Jesus’ head help you understand what He did for you? 
  • The red heifer was burned outside the camp and its ashes used to cleanse people from the defilement of death. In what ways does Jesus’ sacrifice outside the city walls cleanse you today from sin and its effects? 
  • Abraham was willing to offer his only son, but God provided a substitute. God did not spare His own Son for us. How does this truth affect the way you view God’s love for you? 

 

When Would Redemption Come? 

Redemption was always in the Father’s mind. God set His redemption plan in motion before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19-20; Acts 2:23). Jesus “set His face like flint” (Isaiah 50:7) to fulfill that plan. Jesus had complete confidence in His Father. He would not shrink back, and He went with sheer determination and unwavering resolve to accomplish the work of salvation despite the agony and mockery of the cross (Luke 9:51). 

  • How does Jesus’ example of setting His face like flint encourage you when you face difficult or painful situations? 
  • In what areas of your life do you need to trust the Father’s plan with the same confidence Jesus showed? 

Redemption Rode In 

Two thousand years ago, people may not have realized it, but they saw redemption riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem for Passover, He effectively announced Himself as the Messiah, fulfilling Zechariah’s words: “Behold, your King comes to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). 

  • What does it say about Jesus’ character that He chose to enter Jerusalem humbly on a donkey rather than on a war horse? 
  • How does this humble entrance challenge the way we sometimes expect God to show up in our lives? 

Passover Foreshadows Jesus 

The Father is always pointing to something greater—His Son. The Bible has many types and shadows that point to Jesus, along with over three hundred prophecies of Jesus from His birth to His crucifixion. From the Passover preparation to the Passover meal itself, it all foreshadowed the Redeemer—Jesus Christ. 

In the life of an Israelite, on the tenth day leading up to Passover, every man took a lamb without blemish or defect for his household (Exodus 12:3). This was “lamb selection day.” The family would then keep and inspect the lamb for four days until the fourteenth day (Exodus 12:6), when it was killed and eaten. This annual ritual, which emphasized spiritual redemption, foreshadowed something (Someone) much greater. 

From Genesis—“God Himself will provide a lamb” (Genesis 22:8)—to Revelation—“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain” (Revelation 5:12)—the Bible declares that Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb! And, just to make sure we got it, God sent His Son into Jerusalem on the very same day that the Jewish people had been picking their lamb for the past 1,500 years. 

  • How does recognizing these Old Testament shadows and prophecies strengthen your confidence in the Bible as God’s Word? 
  • In what ways have you seen God’s plan unfolding in your own life that you didn’t fully understand at the time? 

If there is anything you are holding onto that you have been trying to “save” (manage or redeem) in your own strength, consider letting the Lamb of God save and redeem it and set you free from the burden. 

The Passover lamb was traditionally killed between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Jesus was crucified at 3 p.m. as the Lamb of God, fulfilling the sacrifice of the Passover lambs. 

  • Can you see how God might be moving you from feasting on “tradition” or “ritual” to truly feasting on the person of Jesus Christ? 
  • What “traditions” or “rituals” in your spiritual life might be keeping you from a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus? 

Foretold Redemption Came to Pass 

When would they see redemption? When Jesus fulfilled foretold prophecy and when the will of the Father was done. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29). 

God foretells things, He makes them known, He acts, and He makes them come to pass (Isaiah 48:3). God guides the destinies of the generations. He existed before history began. He is ever-present and unchanging (Isaiah 41:4). He is outside time and sees the conclusion of history just as clearly as its start because He is the Beginning and the End (Revelation 22:13). 

He is a God of detail and precision. Everything pertaining to His will and plan has been fixed since the foundation of the world. Every dot was connected and every piece of the puzzle fit exactly. He is good and does good (Psalm 119:68). 

  • How does seeing that God is sovereign help you to lean on Him and to trust Him completely? 
  • When have you experienced a situation where God’s timing or plan only made sense looking back? 
  • How does knowing that God sees the end from the beginning bring peace to areas of uncertainty in your life right now? 
  • What is one area where you need to release control and trust that God is working out every detail according to His perfect plan? 

 

Conclusion & Invitation 

From the Garden to the cross, from prophecy to fulfillment, one consistent truth shines through: God always had a plan to redeem you. 

Every detail points to Jesus — the Lamb, the sacrifice, the substitute. The One who took the curse so you could receive freedom. He bore the crown of thorns so you wouldn’t have to carry the curse. He was lifted up so you could be raised into new life. He died so you could live. 

And when He rose from the grave, He declared forever: Sin is defeated. The curse is broken. Victory is secured. 

But here is the most important part — your response. 

The message of the cross is not just something to admire; it is something to receive. You can know the story and still miss the salvation. You can hear the truth and still walk away unchanged. 

The invitation is personal:   

Will you receive the Lamb, or reject Him?  

Will you leave the cross behind, or let it transform your life? 

To reject Him is to carry the weight of the curse yourself. But to receive Him is to step into forgiveness, freedom, and a brand-new beginning. 

Today, you are invited to be born again — not by effort, not by religion, but by simple faith in Jesus Christ, the One who died and rose again for you. 

So don’t just be moved — respond. Open your heart. Surrender your life. Receive His grace. 

Let this be the moment where everything changes. 

Choose Jesus. Receive His sacrifice. Step into new life. 

And as you do, you will discover this unshakable truth: Because He lives… you can live also. 

 

Recursos