EASTER WEEKEND SPECIAL

Join us as we explore the profound significance of Easter through the biblical account of Jesus' resurrection, emphasizing its impact on faith and daily life. Pastor Gary and Daniel Mamora share insights, personal stories, and a call to action for believers and seekers alike.

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SPEAKER_00 0:22

Alright.

SPEAKER_04 0:24

This time you did it. You gave me a hard time about coughing right when the show starts. And here and everyone heard it. Daniel just did it.

SPEAKER_00 0:35

This is why we don't edit our shows. And so, because we keep it raw and relevant. In that case, happy uh Easter weekend. I know it's a Saturday. Yesterday was Good Friday. And tomorrow is Easter Sunday. I hope uh uh you guys are doing um very well and um hope you guys were doing the uh Passion Week challenge, uh just walking through uh the Easter story in the Word, and um and just like encourage you guys, you know, to kind of read ahead, you know, instead of waiting to listen to us, you don't have to listen to us, so like listen to the Lord, listen from the Lord and get in the word so that you can hear the Lord and see the Lord work and just take you down through quote unquote memory lane. Um, and so um we're gonna pick it up because last week, uh because it's Palm Sunday, uh, we talked about Jesus' triumphal entry in uh in Matthew's gospel. Now we're gonna pick up actually in the John's Gospel. Uh so basically, let's just for the sake of discussion talk about yesterday, Good Friday, right? Jesus is arrested, he's already facing Pilate, and he's sentenced to death. And so um he's flogged by Roman soldiers, the soldiers mock him, placing crown of thorns on his head, purple rhodomet, hailing him as king of the Jews, right? And then um he pilot presents Jesus to the crowd, uh hoping to release him, but the crowd demands his crucifixion. And Pilate ultimately hands Jesus over to be crucified, and so and he's right in the middle. There's three crosses, there's him right in the middle, in between two criminals, right? Um, if you look in John chapter 19, um, but even before that, he carries his own cross uh to Golgotha, and uh and and Pilate has a sign um uh uh for him, right? It says Jesus of Nazareth, right, King of the Jews. And uh Jesus speaks from the cross, right? What does he say? The three words uh it is finished. And uh uh told us die. And um and then, of course, at the end of uh that chapter, uh am I correct? Yes, I am, and uh that's when he dies, and uh, but actually, let me take you back before he dies, right? He looks up to to one of those guys, right? And then the criminal asks Jesus, will you remember me? And then geez, what did Jesus say, Today you will be with me in paradise? And so, and then that's when Jesus dies, right there. And so now we continue and go on to chapter 20. And um, Gary, I think you have a word about that in chapter 20. So I hopefully that's a good setup to kind of like where we're going here in this Easter message, and so um, and um and just so you know, too, Peter has already denied Jesus three times.

SPEAKER_04 3:53

Yeah, and so that's important for where we're gonna go.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

So let's keep that in mind too as we're as we go into the word here. So in John chapter 20. So go ahead, Gary.

SPEAKER_04 4:05

Okay, John chapter 20, verse 1, it says, Now, the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it is still dark, it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they had laid him. Let's pray. Father God, as we come before you, Lord, as we look forward to the celebration of your resurrection tomorrow, Lord, may we just uh be those that that remember your sacrifice, that remember your victory, that know and walk and relish in the victory that you have won over sin and death, Lord. We Lord live looking back on the cross, knowing what you've accomplished. Let it have an impact on us now. In Jesus' name, amen. So we see Mary on on uh early on a Sunday morning now headed to uh to the tomb, and when they had buried Jesus' body in in um Joseph Arimathea's tomb, that that they didn't have time to properly anoint him. And so so we know from the other gospel accounts that they were going to really anoint his body and and um because they couldn't do it before because of the Passover. And so she came there and she saw that the stone, there was a large stone that they had rolled against the the tomb, and not only had they rolled against the tomb, that against uh the tomb, but they had sealed it and um and put guards there because they were afraid that someone would steal that that Jesus' disciples would steal his body. They didn't know that his Jesus' disciples were just gonna run, you know, and and really uh at this point are are kind of I'm sure discouraged, depressed, fearful, and and so um, you know, stealing his body was the last thing from from their their minds. And so now the they uh she she heads to the tomb. Um we know that there were other women with her. Interesting, isn't it, that it's a women that went to the tomb, yeah, and that you know the the guys were nowhere to be found, and and she finds that you know John just focuses on one of the women, Mary Magdalene, who got who Jesus had had delivered from uh demonic possession, and and so um she went and she saw that the tomb was empty, the stone was rolled away. We know on the way there they talked about you know, there's this giant stone across. How in the world will we ever move it? Because even three or four women, there's no way that they could have moved that stone, and so um, you know, she gets there, she finds the stones removed, and that um and and that the the tomb is open and empty. And so in verse three, she goes out, she says, uh I mean she goes out and tells the the disciples, you know, they that the they've taken away the Lord, he's missing, and we don't know where they they laid him. And Peter therefore went out and the other disciple and they were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down, looking in, saw the linen cloth lying there, yet he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there and the handkerchief that had been around his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who came to the tomb first went in also and saw him believe, but as yet they did not know the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. So then the disciples went away again to their own homes. So now we have Peter and John coming to the tomb uh running, and uh, you know, maybe a little bit of commentary there from from John since he's writing it. Hey, by the way, I beat Peter. You know, I I got that verse. And uh and and they see the linen cloth line there. Now, now we need to get the picture of this. It's not like they they these strips were unwrapped and laying in a pile on the floor, you know. It it it probably most likely was still in the form as if it was wrapped around him, and then with the exception of what was over his head, and and that was folded up, but the other was probably still in the shape of a body, as Jesus had just you know been resurrected through that. Um, it's also important to note that the stone wasn't rolled away so Jesus could get out. You know, he didn't need it, he didn't need the he can pass through walls at this point. The stone was rolled away so that others could come in and see that he was not there, and so so they saw that he was gone. They you know there was something that that told them, hey, it's they didn't steal his body, something is going on here that is supernatural. And because it says that that uh they saw and believed not just that he was gone, but that something's going on, but they didn't quite understand. So Mary obviously went back with them. She stood outside the tomb weeping, and then she saw um two angels sitting, verse 12, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, Why woman, why are you weeping? And she said to them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have laid him. So she's not thinking he's alive, she's just thinking he's his body is missing. And and then when she said this, it says she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, Sir, if I have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. And Jesus said to her, Mary, she turned and said to him, Raboni, which is to say, teacher. It says in verse 17, Jesus said to her, Do not cling to me, for I am not yet ascended to my father, but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my father and your father, and to my God and your God. So so Mary um remains there weeping at the tomb, not understanding what's going around. She turns around. You know, first she sees the the angels, and we know from other accounts they said, Why do you seek the living among the dead? And then she's still not comprehending. And of course, you know, how could they ever comprehend that Jesus would come back from the dead? Even though we have said that, they didn't understand. And so um she saw a man, she's supposed him to be the gardener. Why didn't she recognize him? We don't know. I mean, it could be because you know, we know that that um leading up to the crucifixion, Jesus' beard was plucked out. We know that he was beaten about the face, and that says the word scripture tells us he didn't even resemble a man. So, you know, it could just could be that he didn't look like him, or that she was just head down weeping and didn't look up. And so, but what she recognized was his voice saying to her, Mary. And and you know what? May we all take courage in that because you know, sometimes we say, if only Jesus was here in the flesh, then I would believe, then I then I would have strength, then I would be able to walk with him in victory. And and here's here's the key here that it was his voice. In John chapter 10, Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice and they follow me. Jesus still speaks today, and we can still hear his ver voice speaking to us through scripture, through you know, our times of prayer, through words of wisdom and knowledge that he gives to our prophecy that he gives to others. Um you know, it I I remember just a quick story that one time that um and this is going back years when when I was you know just praying about starting our church there in Rancho Santa Margarita, you know, I I I was listening to other teachers, you know, Pastor Chuck, Raw Reese, Mike McIntosh, you know, and I was going, man, I can never teach like them. I I I I don't measure up. And and so I I even I went home and I told Carol, I think maybe God's got the wrong guy. Maybe he's not calling us to the ministry. Maybe we're not supposed to start this church. And and so we we went to to church to to Big Calvary at the time, and Odin Fong um had a uh Bible study and you know, a time of letting the the spirit move. And there's probably four or five hundred people in there in the sanctuary. Way up in the front, I hear a lady clear as day, as if she was sitting next to me, saying, There is a man here that God is calling to the ministry, and he's comparing himself to other Christian leaders, and he's feeling like he doesn't measure up. And she said, God is telling you that he is calling you, that he is empowering you, that he will go with you, and not to turn to the left or to the right, but to go straight ahead in the way that he's giving you. I'm I mean, it was like it couldn't have been clearer. I heard the voice of God. Wow, and I recognized that it was it was Jesus' voice, he's calling me. And and so I'm going. And then, you know, from that point on, we didn't look back. We started the church and God blessed it and you know, brought fast forward, brought us here to where we are. So Mary hears Jesus just say her name, Mary, and and she recognizes him, and then she just you could tell she just hangs on to him, and and she's like, I'm not gonna let you go. Tells us two things. One that Jesus had a physical body, he was not a spirit, you know, and so because you can't hang on to a spirit, you can't hang on to a ghost. And and he said, Um, don't cling to me. And it's not like he didn't want her to hug him or or anything else, but he's saying, you know, you you can't stay here. I mean, for Mary, it's probably like I'm never gonna move from here. And Jesus is saying, No, I've got work for you. There's a message that you have to give to my brethren, let them know that I'm going to my father and and um and tell them that I rose. And so, verse 18, Mary came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things to her. As we go further, we see Jesus um coming to the disciples and and showing them his hands and his side with the sword. I mean, the the spirit pierced his side, the holes from the nails in his hands, and and you know, and um told them in in verse 22, and it says, and when he had said this, he re breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. And so it no, the Holy Spirit now, uh, as Jesus had said, he's leaving, the Spirit is coming. And so um, and then he told them that in his name, he's gonna they're gonna have the power to forgive the sins of any, and they are forgiven. If they retain the sins, then they're retained. In other words, as you go forth and share the gospel, the gospel has the power to to give people the forgiveness of sins. We see Thomas coming and saying, unless I touch the nails, the holes in his hands and in his side, I'm not gonna believe. God appears to Thomas and tells him to, you know, hey, go ahead and touch me. And that um, you know, and then ending in chapter 20, verse 30, and truly Jesus did many signs in the presence of the disciples. This is after he resurrected, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. And so, you know, I I want to kind of go and I want to end uh on at a certain point here, and it's actually where John, the Gospel of John ends in chapter 21. And um we find the the disciples going back to what they knew at first, they're they're fishing, and um they encounter Jesus, he tells them, you know, they're fishing, they call nothing, and he tells them, cast a net on the right side of the boat, and you'll find some. And then they pulled in this great catch of fish. And uh man, I'll tell you, I'm a fisherman, and and I love to catch fish, and it's like, oh man, this would be so cool. But, anyways, um, so Peter recognizes it is uh that it was him. Jesus prepares a meal for them, but then in verse 15, this is where I wanted to end, um it it says, So when they eat breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these? He said to them, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And he said, Feed my lambs. And he said to him again a second time, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? And he said, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And he said to him, Tend my sheep. And he said to him a third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you. And Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. And so what we see here in is in in all of its grace is the the resurrection, I mean that's sorry, the restoration of Peter, who had denied him three times, you know, with an oath and a curse saying, you know, basically, I swear that I do not know this man. So um, you know, and he went out after he had denied him three times and he wept bitterly. And so, you know, we never know from other gospel accounts that Jesus appeared to him privately. Um, but here is a public restoration of of Jesus. And um here's the key, and I I mean I I think we can, you know, you could go into you know the wording Jesus used, you know, Peter, do you agape me in the Greek? There's three words for love in the Greek. There's Eros, which is uh romantic love, phalao, which is brotherly love, and agape, which is God's love, and you know, from 1 Corinthians 13. So Jesus is saying, Peter, do you agape me? The first four two times he answers with, Lord, I phileo you. I I have deep affection, brotherly love for you. But he he couldn't say, you know, I love you unconditionally because he knew he had failed. And and yet Jesus says, I want to use you. I I want you to feed my lambs, I want you to to take care of of my sheep, and and I want you to feed my sheep. The lambs are the the young ones that could even be anything from youth to to those that are young in the faith. And then the the you know, 10 take care of, keep them healthy, you know, it would be teach them, um, grow them in me, and then then feed my sheep, bring them to to maturity. And and so um, you know, then he ends with um, maybe not the most encouraging words, but he says in verse 18, Most assuredly I say to you, when you are younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. This he spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when he had spoken to this, he said to him, Follow me. So let me tell you for those of us Christians. Christians who listen to this and maybe have been Christians for a long time, and how often have we heard Easter messages? And um, you know, my exhortation to all of us is to feed Jesus' lambs, to tend his sheep and to feed his sheep. Let's do the work that Jesus has given us to do to do. Let's let's follow him. This is this is God's call here, really. This is him saying, Who will go for me and who sh whom shall I send? Like Isaiah 6. And it's up to us to say, Here am I, send me. But he's not sending us ahead. Here's the key. He's saying, Follow me. I'll go in front of you. And and so um may as the word of God becomes alive in our hearts um this Easter, may it inspire us to follow him wherever he will lead us, um, to the least, the last, and the lost, wherever we might find them. Amen.

SPEAKER_00 23:11

Amen. I also want to, yeah, a couple of thoughts just came to me too. Uh thinking about the last two chapters in Matthew's gospel, you know, when when when the guard, you know, there are guards guarding Jesus' dead body in the tomb. I'm just yeah, because you know, you you know, in in a humanistic mind, you would think, like, why would someone guard a dead body, you know, like in the at that time? I mean, it's not like he's going anywhere. And so, like, and then right when he right when Jesus rises up, right, and they just and then you know, they discover the uh the the empty tomb, and then how the guards were bribed to to lie about you know Jesus being resurrected. And then and then and even like when when John and Peter like looked at the you know, looked at the empty tomb, he's like I think they they were asking like why do they hate him so much even when he's dead? And so um but they just because that just shows the power of Christ, the power, the power of Christ that he has, that it cannot be described like fully. It's just so amazing. And then I love how at the end, right before at the end of that chapter, the end of that that book, right before Jesus goes to heaven, he gives the great commission right to the people. Go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all the things I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even into the end of the age. And go there, he goes to heaven. And and so um and let's just let that be. It's like, hey, let's make disciples. Mark's gospel says, Go into the world, preach the gospel. Matthew's gospel says, Go and make disciples of all nations. Amen. And that's what and that's what we're gonna do in Easter, you know. Hopefully, we could see not just converts, but see disciples being being made here. And so, um, and um, and so and Pastor Gary gave that invitation last week uh to everyone you that were listening or watching, because even if it's just one soul that receives this, um, you know, receives the gospel, it makes it all worth it. And um, and and I'm gonna ask Pastor Gary to share it again, like share that invitation to those people. Go for it, Pat.

SPEAKER_04 25:42

Yeah. So, you know, here's the key for those that that there's still people today that say, well, they stole his body or whatever, and you know, this is all a lie. Well, first of all, one, they've never found his body, you know, is is the tomb still empty? No one's ever found a tomb or anything that that said Jesus is now Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph, is buried here. Um, so uh, and not only that, but nobody, you know, of all those that witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, not one recanted. And of all the the the disciples, um, eleven and then then, you know, really Paul, I would say, replaced Peter and I mean replaced uh Judas. And and so none of them recanted, even though they were tortured. Um, they they all except for John died violent deaths. I mean, they tried to kill John, they put him in boiling oil and it didn't kill him. And he was exiled, but not one of them said, Hey, okay, you know, I lied, and Jesus is really alive. Not one of them recanted, and so, and we don't hear stories of anyone, you know, saying, Oh, yeah, I was there, I was part of the 500 that witnessed the resurrected Jesus at one time, and and yeah, that didn't really happen, or it was mass hysteria or whatever, but but you know, there is no recanting of the story as we look at history. Jesus was a real historical figure. We have that in extra-biblical context and letters, even written by Pilate himself and Pontius Pilate, and and yet um, and and nobody has ever said, Hey, we found his body, hey, you know, really we stole it. So, so take heart. Jesus is God, he really died for our sins, for your sins and mine, and he rose again from the grave. And so there is no better time. You know, it's Saturday, tomorrow's Easter, you know. And knowing that your sins are forgiven and you're on what your way to heaven. All of those um struggles um in in terms of you know, doing life on your own are gone. Not that it's gonna be easy because I don't want to say, hey, you come to Christ and all your problems are gonna be solved. That's not true. You know, um, matter of fact, Jesus says when we come to him, Satan then becomes our enemy and we have opposition. And so life is is still hard. We still have tribulation in this life, but but here's the key we don't have to fear because Jesus said, I've overcome the world. So for those who are out there that want to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, you don't know if you died today whether you would go to heaven, would you pray this prayer with us? Dear Jesus. I know that I'm a sinner.

SPEAKER_01 29:02

I know that I'm a sinner.

SPEAKER_04 29:05

And I thank you for dying on the cross for me.

SPEAKER_01 29:08

I thank you for dying on the cross for me.

SPEAKER_04 29:10

I ask you to forgive my sins. I ask you to forgive my sins to come into my heart, to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior, and be my Lord and Savior, help me to walk with you, help me to walk with you all the days of my life, all the days of my life, and be able to follow you to be able to follow you with all my heart and all my life, and all my life in Jesus' name I pray.

SPEAKER_03 29:43

In Jesus' name we pray.

SPEAKER_00 29:45

Amen. Amen. Hey guys, best decision you can ever make in your life. Congratulations to whoever accepted it. And if you have, please reach out to us. Um, we would love to send you a free Bible and to plug you into a great church near you. Um, you there's ways you could communicate with us. You could follow us on Instagram, message us there. You could um text our texting thread to 949-uh text air to 949-384-9282. You can also text us your prayer requests and just say, hey, I followed, I decided to give my life uh to the Lord today. Uh uh can I can you send me a Bible? And we'll love to connect with you. Or if you just want to send a prayer request there, you're more than welcome to. And um, and also we have our blog spot, anchorrelief.blog, our website, anchorrelief.org. You can also give there and uh pray about joining us in any one of our mission trips that are coming up in Nepal and Uganda in these next few months. So um, and I want to encourage you guys, tomorrow's Easter Sunday. Please go to church somewhere. Please go to church and worship the Lord, our risen Savior Jesus Christ. And so, um, and and please between now and tomorrow, encourage someone, invite someone, bring them with you, and especially a non-believer, because we and we don't want them to be just going just on Christmas or Easter, but to be planted, as Psalm 92 says, those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish. And so, um, so please pray about who you can invite, who you can bring. And uh, if you're near the San Clomana area or South Orange County area, join us at the outlets at 10 a.m. Uh, but come early because it will fill up. Bring a chair, bring beach chairs with you. We'll be in the parking lot at the outlets. And um, if you need need if you need to know where to go or just need a recommendation where to go, and you don't know where to go, please reach out to us. We would love to tell you where to go at a church near you that we would that we love and trust. And so we have partner churches around, and so we would love to connect you uh with them. So um, with that being said, happy Easter. He is risen. Happy Easter. God bless you guys, and uh, and uh please go worship somewhere and let's just praise the Lord Jesus for his resurrection and think and praise the Lord that the tomb is empty and he lives for me. Amen. He is risen indeed. Yes. Happy Easter, everybody.