Dennis R. Wiles

First Baptist Arlington

Easter Sunday 2026

2026: Flourishing Together:

Transformed on The Jesus Way

Gospel Guide: John

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

-Romans 12:1-2

LENTEN/EASTER 2026: The Good Shepherd

Ash Wednesday (February 18) – Easter Sunday (April 5), 2026

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

-Jesus (John 10:11)

He Lives!

John 20:1-10

Theme for 2026: Flourishing Together: Transformed on The Jesus Way

Theme for Eastertide 2026: Shaped by The Spirit

Theme for the Lenten/Easter Season 2026: The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

THE LAMB OF GOD: In a moment of prophetic clarity beyond his own full understanding, John the Baptist boldly said of Jesus, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

-John 11:49-52

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

-Isaiah 53:4-7

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

-Romans 5:8

THE LAMB OF GOD TODAY!

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

-Revelation 5:6

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

-Revelation 5:11-13

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

-Revelation 7:9-10

WHAT HAPPENED?

EASTER SUNDAY!

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ signals the fact that the Age to Come has been victoriously inaugurated on earth. Although sin still defiles, it has been defeated. Although death remains, it no longer reigns.

He lives!